JP2004120038A - Contents distribution recording and reproducing system, and contents distribution recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust traffic in an in-home network to reduce the time required to transfer contents from a home server. <P>SOLUTION: A contents distribution system can be realized wherein a plurality of tuners and a plurality of recorders can be simultaneously utilized in parallel by transferring (moving) contents in advance to an apparatus with high possibility of viewing/listening of the contents whose video recording is reserved by respective AV apparatuses on the basis of a viewing/listening history to save a contents transfer (moving) time by a user going to start viewing/listening at present and to reduce the traffic in the in-home network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a distributed content recording / reproducing system and a content distributed recording method configured by mutually connecting AV devices having a digital interface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A digital AV system configured by connecting a plurality of AV devices via a conventional bus line uses a personal computer as a system controller to provide a display function of a television receiver, a recording / reproducing function of a video recorder, and a program control function of a personal computer. The broadcasting system is compatible with "high viewing frequency programs". (For example, Patent Document 1)
[0003]
In addition, in a conventional AV network system composed of a plurality of AV devices connected via a digital interface, a home server is arranged at the center of the AV network system to centralize management information and improve user operability. ing. (For example, Patent Document 2)
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-261549 (pages 2 to 7, FIGS. 1 and 2)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2002-83485 (pages 8 to 9, FIGS. 1 to 8, FIGS. 15 and 16)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The technology of Patent Document 1 described above connects each device with a wired high-speed digital bus, and is based on the premise that a single device having a display is used individually by a user. Further, the technique of Patent Document 2 does not particularly limit the type of the network, but, as in Patent Document 1, is based on the assumption that a single device having a user display in the system configuration diagram is used personally by the user.
[0006]
However, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is no problem in a system having only one device equipped with a display or a system limited to a relatively small area such as the same room. When configured, a wireless network is desirable even within the home.
[0007]
In wireless communication, for example, a maximum of 11 Mbps (4 to 5 Mbps in effective value) in IEEE802.11b which is a wireless LAN standard established by the IEEE of 2.4 GHz band, and a maximum of 22 Mbps in high-speed version IEEE802.11g and IEEE802 in 5 GHz band .11a has a maximum of 54 Mbps, but because the 5 GHz band is used, there is a problem that the transfer speed is reduced with an increase in the transfer distance, and there is a problem that the transfer speed is greatly reduced if there is a shielding object. There is also a report that a transfer rate of only about 12 Mbps can be obtained at a remote point. The video signal has a transfer rate of about 4 Mbps even in SD (Standard Definition) and about 24 Mbps in HD (High Definition). When this happens, the transfer speed of the network becomes a problem.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution system capable of adjusting traffic in a home network and saving time for transferring content from a home server.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a content distributed recording / reproducing system according to the present invention includes an interface, a plurality of first recording / reproducing devices for processing and recording audio and video information, and an interface, A second recording / reproducing device for processing and recording information, wherein the second recording / reproducing device centrally manages scheduled recording information of the content by the first recording / reproducing device, The destination information and the transfer start time of the content between the first and second recording / reproducing devices are centrally managed, and the content is previously stored in the first recording / reproducing device installed at a place where the user views the content. Characterized by having control means for transferring
[0010]
A plurality of first recording / reproducing apparatuses each including an interface for processing and recording audio and video information; a second recording / reproducing apparatus including an interface for processing and recording audio and video information; In the second recording / reproducing device, the scheduled recording information of the content is centrally managed from the plurality of first recording / reproducing devices, and the content is transferred between the first recording / reproducing devices; Control means for centrally managing transfer destination information and transfer start time of the content, and transferring the content in advance to the first recording / reproducing apparatus installed at a place where a user views the content. And
[0011]
Furthermore, a plurality of first recording / reproducing devices that include an interface and process and record audio and video information, and a second recording / reproducing device that include an interface and process and record audio and video information are provided. In the second recording / reproducing apparatus, the preprogrammed recording information of the content is processed by processing the audio and video information supplied via the first recording / reproducing apparatus, and is recorded in the second recording / reproducing apparatus. Unified management of scheduled recording information provided from the first recording / reproducing device, transfer of the content between the plurality of first recording / reproducing devices, and unified management of transfer destination information and transfer start time of the content The content recording apparatus further comprises control means for transferring the content in advance to the first recording / reproducing apparatus installed at a place where the user views the content.
[0012]
Further, in the content distributed recording method of the present invention, a plurality of recording / reproducing devices having a built-in recording / reproducing function and a recording / reproducing device having a built-in recording / reproducing function serving as a center are connected to a home network via an interface, respectively. The viewing histories of the plurality of recording / reproducing devices are centrally managed by the recording / reproducing device of the center, and the content is transferred in advance from the recording / reproducing device of the center to the plurality of recording / reproducing devices having a high viewing history based on the unified information. And setting at least the plurality of recording / reproducing devices sent with the highest viewing history to a recording state.
[0013]
Also, a plurality of recording / reproducing devices having a built-in recording / reproducing function and a recording / reproducing device having a built-in recording / reproducing function serving as a center are connected to a home network via an interface, respectively, and the plurality of recording / reproducing transmission / reception viewing histories are connected. Is centrally managed by the recording / reproducing device of the center, and among the plurality of recording / reproducing devices having high viewing from the viewing history, transferring content from the recording / reproducing device in which the content has been recorded in advance to a corresponding recording / reproducing device. The recording mode is set.
[0014]
Further, a plurality of recording / reproducing transmissions with a built-in recording / reproducing function and a recording / reproducing transmission with a built-in recording / reproducing function serving as a center are connected to a home network via an interface, respectively, and the viewing history of the plurality of recording / reproducing transmissions is recorded. Whether the content is transferred from the recording / reproducing apparatus in which the content is recorded in advance to the corresponding recording / reproducing apparatus among the plurality of recording / reproducing apparatuses which are centrally managed by the recording / reproducing apparatus of the center and have high viewing from the viewing history. Or, among the plurality of recording / reproducing devices having high viewing from the viewing history, the content is transferred from the recording / reproducing device in which the content is recorded in advance to the corresponding recording / reproducing device, and is set to a recording state. And
[0015]
By the above-described means, the traffic of the home network is adjusted by transferring the content from the home server to the viewing device in advance based on the viewing history of the user, and the disadvantage of waiting for the content transfer time from the home server is eliminated. It can be eliminated.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system schematic diagram for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. This system concentrates and records content on devices such as a home server equipped with a large-capacity recording device, centrally manages the recorded content on a database, and records recorded programs to the device with the highest viewing history. This is a content reproduction (transfer) system that can be selectively transferred (moved).
[0017]
In FIG. 1, for example, a home server 20, a TV (television) 30, a TV 40, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) recorder 50, and an HDD recorder 60 are connected via a home network 10 with a built-in HDD (Hard Disc Drive) recording device. I have. The home network 10 uses IEEE802.11b, but the method is not particularly limited.
[0018]
Next, together with the flowchart of FIG. 2, the home server 20 centrally manages the reserved content recording information and the reproducible content information. The unified management of the content management information based on the operation information of the remote controller 24 that operates the home server 20 will be described.
[0019]
When an operation is performed by the remote controller 24 (S201), a command is transmitted to the home server 20. When the command is transmitted from the remote controller 24, the home server 20 determines the type of the command (S202 to S204) and performs a corresponding process (S205, S210, S220). When the recording reservation command is transmitted from the remote controller 24 (S202), the home server 20 extracts information such as a broadcast start / end time and a channel (S211), and uses an available EPG (Electrical Programming Guide) from the obtained information. It is determined whether there is information (S212), and if it is a digital broadcast or the like, information such as a genre and a program name is obtained from the obtained EPG (S213), and data is added to the recording reservation database (S214). If there is no EPG information in step S212, only the information obtained in step S211 is added to the recording reservation database (S214).
[0020]
Also, at the time of recording reservation, the device to which the recording reservation program is downloaded and the transfer start time are set. A viewing history database is created from the information described in the recording reservation database and the information of the device designated for download. When the broadcast of the program is started, the content is recorded in the recording device 21, and when the recording is completed, the recorded content is added to the content management database. The home network 20 is used to distribute content to the TVs 30, 40, the DVD recorder 50, and the HDD recorder 60. The viewing history information can store information for a fixed period in the past, and creates a database by overwriting old information.
[0021]
If the command from the remote controller 24 is watching a program being broadcast, it is determined in step S204 whether or not the command is a channel selection command. If the command is a channel selection command or the like, channel selection information is extracted (S221) and used. If there is available EPG information, program information such as the program name and genre is obtained (S223), the viewing time is obtained from the operation time (S224), and the viewing history database is updated (S227). If there is no EPG information in step S222, the viewing history database is updated with the information obtained in step S221 and the viewing time obtained in step S224 (S227). If the command is another command, the corresponding processing is performed (S205), the time difference from the previous operation is obtained, the viewing time is obtained (S224), and the viewing history database is updated (S227).
[0022]
If the command from the remote controller 24 is a download designation command, the designation information / content designation information of the download designation destination is extracted (S225), the recording reservation database is accessed from the extracted content designation information, and the program information of the corresponding content is obtained. (Broadcast start / end time, program name, etc.) are obtained (S226), and the viewing history database is updated (S227).
[0023]
Thus, the viewing history database can be updated by using the operation command of the remote controller 24 as a trigger. A viewing frequency database for each device is created from the viewing history database. The time of the viewing frequency data may be set arbitrarily. For example, a viewing frequency database in which time is divided every 30 minutes may be created.
[0024]
In addition, for example, the user may be able to input an individual viewing tendency in advance, such as by setting a program name of a serial drama that is being watched every week. In that case, the initial value of the viewing frequency of the program is treated as 100%, and the viewing frequency database is created based on this.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for making a recording reservation. That is, recording information such as a broadcast start time, a broadcast end time, a broadcast station, a content transfer destination device designation, a content transfer time, and a recording mode for determining image quality is input (S301). The recording capacity required for recording is calculated from the input information (S301 to S302), and necessary processing is performed to determine whether the content can be recorded in the home server 20 (S317 to S328).
[0026]
If it is confirmed that the content can be recorded in the home server 20, the free space of the content transfer destination device is obtained (S304), and the free space of the transfer destination recording device and the individual reservation information of the device are inquired (S305).
[0027]
If there is an individual recording reservation in the corresponding device before the transfer start time of the transfer content, the capacity obtained by subtracting the estimated required recording capacity is set as the free recording capacity (S306 to S307).
[0028]
If the available recording capacity is insufficient for the capacity required to record the reserved program, the user is notified of the lack of the capacity on a screen display (S309 to S310), and the user is again asked whether to transfer the file to the corresponding device (S309 to S310). S311).
[0029]
If the user responds that the content is to be transferred to the corresponding device, a list of the contents of the content recorded in the recording device of the corresponding device is displayed together with the recording capacity required for recording (S312). At this time, the deletion candidate is displayed or the deletion candidate is changed from the one that has the same contents to the server, the one that has been viewed, etc., with the recording capacity (file size) so that the character color and the background color can be easily distinguished from others. Only the screen is displayed in a separate frame, and the user is allowed to select the erased content (S313).
[0030]
If the recording capacity of the device cannot be secured by the erased content alone, or if the content of the device is not desired to be erased, the user transfers the recorded content of the device to the home server to secure the recording free space.
[0031]
Furthermore, when the broadcast program is recorded as it is and the transfer cannot be performed due to lack of free space in the recording device, a message that is not transferred due to insufficient capacity as shown in FIGS. 400 or a message 500 indicating that transfer is incomplete is displayed on the screen in a superimposed manner for a certain time when the power of the corresponding device is turned on. Alternatively, the user is notified by setting a flag indicating that transfer was not possible to the recording reservation database of the home server and a flag indicating the reason that transfer was not possible due to insufficient capacity.
[0032]
In this embodiment, when the user views the content, the content is transferred in advance to the device installed at the place where the content is actually viewed, so that there is no need to wait for the time to transfer the content from the home server, thereby reducing the access time. Can be achieved. In addition, by designating the time at which the transfer of the content to the home network 10 is started, it is possible to avoid the collision of traffic and effectively use the communication band.
[0033]
In this embodiment, the user sets the transfer time of the recorded content at the time of recording reservation, but the transfer timing may be determined in advance. For example, it may be determined when the content recording ends, when the content recording ends 3/4 of the entire time, or when the transfer starts at 4:00 in the morning. Alternatively, the estimated transfer time calculated from the size of the content to be transferred and the estimated transfer speed at each time may be estimated, and the transfer start time may be calculated back from the history information indicating when the user is viewing the content. .
[0034]
In addition, the user sets the device to which the content is to be transferred (downloaded) at the time of the scheduled recording. However, based on the history information of the content downloaded from the home server 20, the download destination of the frequently viewed content is automatically determined. It may be set with.
[0035]
In order to obtain program information such as a program name, the information may be obtained directly from a homepage or the like using an external network.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, recording reservation is performed in each device, and content is also recorded in the recording device of each device. Recording reservation information and viewing information (viewing history) of each device are centralized in a database on a home server. It manages and transfers (moves) the recorded program to the device with the highest viewing history at an arbitrary time after the recording is completed.
[0036]
Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the system diagram of FIG. 6, the packet diagrams of FIGS. 7 to 9, and the flowchart of FIG. 10 for explaining the operation procedure of FIG.
In FIG. 6, in order to collect recording reservation information or viewing information from individual devices such as the TV 30 and the HDD recorder 60 in the home server 20, operation information of each device is transmitted to the home server 20 using the home network 10. .
[0037]
Here, an example of recording reservation using the remote controller 64 in the HDD recorder 60 of FIG. 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When an operation is performed by the remote controller 64, a command is sent to the HDD recorder 60. When a command is input from the Ricoh and the controller 64, the HDD recorder 60 determines the type of the command (S901 to S904) and performs processing according to various commands (S905 to S908). The HDD recorder 60 that has received the recording reservation command transmits a packet 700 having a data structure as shown in FIG. 7 to the home server 20 via the network 10.
[0038]
On the other hand, the home server 20 monitors whether there is a packet addressed to the home server 20 of the home network 10 (S920). If there is a packet addressed to itself, it is determined whether the packet is a specific packet (S921 to S923), and the corresponding process is performed (S924, S930, S940).
[0039]
When the recording reservation information packet 700 is sent, information is added to the recording reservation database based on the collected packets (S930).
In step S930, the home server 20 extracts information such as a broadcast start / end time and a channel (S931), and determines whether there is program information or the like in the packet (S932). If there is program information, the information in step S932 is sent to step 933. If there is no program information, it is determined whether there is EPG (Electrical Programming Guide) information (S935). Data is added (S934). In step S935, if information such as a genre and a program name cannot be obtained from the EPG, only the information obtained in S931 is added to the recording reservation information (S934).
[0040]
Next, an example of the means by which the home server 20 collects the viewing history of the HDD recorder 60 will be described. When a tuning command is transmitted to the HDD recorder 60 using the remote controller 64, the HDD recorder 60 transmits a packet 800 having a data structure as shown in FIG. 8 to the home server 20 via the network 10.
[0041]
When the viewing information packet 800 is sent, the home server 20 calculates a viewing time based on the collected packets, and adds information to the viewing history database (S940).
[0042]
In step S940, it is determined whether the command is a tuning command. If the command is a tuning command such as a channel change, tuning information is extracted (S941), and it is determined whether there is program information or the like in the packet (S942). If there is no program information, it is determined whether or not there is EPG (Electrical Programming Guide) information (S945). If there is, the information in step S942 is sent to the step 943. The viewing time is acquired from the operation time (S944), and the viewing history database is updated (S948). As described above, the viewing time can be added to the viewing history database. If no information such as a genre or a program name is obtained from the EPG in S945, the viewing history database is updated with the information obtained in step S941 and the viewing time obtained in S944 (S948).
[0043]
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that recording reservation can be made by an individual device and the tuner of each device can be used, so that a plurality of counterprograms can be recorded at the same time. It is possible to view contents recorded by a tuner that the user does not have.
[0044]
All information may be added to the viewing history database, but only data for a certain viewing time or more (for example, 10 minutes or more) may be added to the viewing history database. Alternatively, in order to collect the recording reservation information or the viewing information from the individual devices in the home server 20, specific commands for provision of information (temporary recording reservation information providing command, viewing history information providing command) may be set in advance. . The home server 20 may connect to the network 10 by broadcasting a specific command to the home network 10 and collect information from devices holding the relevant information.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the content is previously transferred to the device installed at the place where the user views the content, the time for transferring the content from the home server can be saved, Access time can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system diagram for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining creation of a viewing history database according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining securing of storage capacity when content is transferred between the home server and the recording device according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an example of a display screen when content is not transferred to a transfer destination device.
FIG. 5 is an example of a display screen when the content is not partially transferred to the transfer destination device.
FIG. 6 is a system diagram for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for describing a data structure of the HDD recorder in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for describing a data structure of the HDD recorder in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for describing a data structure of the HDD recorder in FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining creation of a viewing history database according to the second embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 home network 20 home server 30, 40 TV
50: DVD recorder 60: HDD recorder

Claims (12)

A plurality of first recording / reproducing devices that include an interface and process and record audio and video information;
A second recording / reproducing device that has an interface, and processes and records audio and video information.
In the second recording / reproducing apparatus, the pre-programmed recording information of the content by the first recording / reproducing apparatus is integrally managed, and the transfer destination information of the content between the first and second recording / reproducing apparatuses is stored in the second recording / reproducing apparatus. A content distributed recording / reproducing system, comprising: control means for centrally managing a transfer start time and previously transferring the content to the first recording / reproducing device installed at a place where a user views the content. . 2. The contents distributed recording / reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein a user sets a transfer destination of the recording information. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a user sets a transfer start time of the recording information. 2. The content distribution recording / reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes a content transfer history database, and the content transfer destination specifies a high-frequency device from the content transfer history database. 2. The distributed content recording / reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes a content viewing history database, and the content transfer start time is specified from the content viewing history database. A plurality of first recording / reproducing devices that include an interface and process and record audio and video information;
A second recording / reproducing device including an interface, for processing and recording audio and video information;
In the second recording / reproducing device, the scheduled recording information of the content collected from the plurality of first recording / reproducing devices is centrally managed, and the content is transferred between the first recording / reproducing devices. And control means for centrally managing the transfer destination information and the transfer start time of the content and transferring the content in advance to the first recording / reproducing apparatus installed at a place where the user views the content. A content distributed recording / playback system characterized by the following. A plurality of first recording / reproducing devices that include an interface and process and record audio and video information;
A second recording / reproducing device that has an interface, and processes and records audio and video information.
In the second recording / reproducing apparatus, the recording / reproducing information of the content is processed in the second recording / reproducing apparatus by processing the audio and video information supplied through the first recording / reproducing apparatus, and Centrally managing the scheduled recording information provided from the first recording / reproducing device, transferring the content between the plurality of first recording / reproducing devices, centrally managing the transfer destination information and the transfer start time of the content, A content distributed recording / reproducing system, comprising: control means for previously transferring the content to the first recording / reproducing device installed at a place where a user views the content. 8. The content distribution recording / reproducing system according to claim 6, wherein the control means includes a content transfer history database, and the content transfer destination specifies a high-frequency device from the content transfer history database. 8. The distributed content recording / reproducing system according to claim 6, wherein the control means includes a content viewing history database, and the content transfer start time is specified from the content viewing history database. A plurality of recording / reproducing devices with a built-in recording / reproducing function and a recording / reproducing device with a built-in recording / reproducing function serving as a center are connected to a home network via an interface, and the viewing history of the plurality of recording / reproducing devices is stored in the center. Centrally managed by the recording / reproducing device, and based on the centralized information, the content is transferred in advance from the recording / reproducing device of the center to the plurality of recording / reproducing devices having a high viewing history, and at least the highest viewing history transmitted is transmitted. A content distributed recording method, wherein a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are set to a recording state. A plurality of recording / reproducing devices having a built-in recording / reproducing function and a recording / reproducing device having a built-in recording / reproducing function serving as a center are connected to a home network via an interface, and the viewing history of the plurality of recording / reproducing transmissions is recorded. The content is transferred from the recording / reproducing apparatus in which the content has been recorded in advance to the corresponding recording / reproducing apparatus among the plurality of recording / reproducing apparatuses which are centrally managed by the recording / reproducing apparatus at the center and have high viewing from the viewing history, and the recording state is set. A distributed recording method for contents, characterized in that: A plurality of recording / reproducing transmissions with a built-in recording / reproducing function and a recording / reproducing transmission with a built-in recording / reproducing function as a center are connected to a home network via an interface, respectively, and the viewing history of the plurality of recording / reproducing transmissions is stored in the center. Centrally managed by the recording / reproducing device, and among the plurality of recording / reproducing devices having high viewing from the viewing history, transferring the content from the recording / reproducing device in which the content has been recorded in advance to the corresponding recording / reproducing device, or Content distribution, wherein the content is transferred from the recording / reproducing apparatus in which the content has been recorded in advance to a corresponding recording / reproducing apparatus among the plurality of recording / reproducing apparatuses having high viewing from the viewing history, and set to a recording state. Recording method.

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