JP2004348219A - Apparatus and method for reproducing content, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method for reproducing contents which can easily set a reproducing schedule of different image data, voice data, etc. when the same contents are reproduced according to the schedule and to provide a program thereof. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for reproducing the contents includes a contents storage means for storing the data of first contents and the date of second contents relating to the first contents, and a contents reading means for reading the data of the first contents and the data of the second contents independently from each other from the contents storage means according to a predetermined schedule. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content playback device, and more particularly, to a content playback device that plays back content according to a schedule.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional content reproducing apparatus 500, a schedule reproducing apparatus 1, and a Web server / LAN server 3.
[0003]
The conventional content reproducing device 500 is a device that reproduces content according to a schedule. The content reproduction device 500 is connected to the schedule generation device 1 and the Web server / LAN server 3, and receives a schedule from the schedule generation device 1, a schedule reception unit 8, and a schedule storage unit 9 that stores the received schedule. And a content reproduction start unit 10 that obtains a date and time, and starts reproduction of the content specified by the content identification information included in the schedule, according to the reproduction time information included in the schedule, and reproduces the content. A browser 11, an HTTP communication unit 12 for controlling a communication protocol for transmitting and receiving HTML documents, a content storage unit 13 for storing contents, a display device 14 for displaying data, and an audio output device 15 for outputting audio. Have.
[0004]
Note that the schedule generation device 1 includes a schedule generation unit 4 that generates a schedule for reproducing content, and a schedule transmission unit 5 that transmits the generated schedule to the content reproduction device 500.
[0005]
The Web server / LAN server 3 includes an HTTP communication unit 6 that controls a communication protocol for transmitting and receiving an HTML document, and a content storage unit 7 that stores an HTML document that is a content including operation data to be linked.
[0006]
Next, the operation of the conventional content reproducing apparatus 500 will be described.
[0007]
In the conventional content reproduction device 500, first, the schedule receiving unit 8 receives a schedule from the schedule generation device 1. Subsequently, the schedule storage unit 9 stores the received schedule. Then, the content reproduction starting unit 10 reads the schedule from the schedule storage unit 9, refers to the reproduction time information of the schedule and the content identification information, and the content exists based on the content identification information that has reached the reproduction time. Specify the URL.
[0008]
Subsequently, the content reproduction starting unit 10 specifies the URL, wakes up the browser 11, and reads out the corresponding content from the Web server / LAN server 3 via the HTTP communication unit 12.
[0009]
The content is described in a predetermined language, for example, HTML, and includes image data linked to the content and link information for specifying audio data and the like.
[0010]
The “sub content” is content such as image data and audio data, and the “main content” is content in which link information of the sub content is described.
[0011]
Then, via the display device 14 and the audio output device 15, the browser 11 reproduces the main content and the sub content.
[0012]
As described above, the conventional content reproduction device 500 reproduces main content and sub-contents according to a schedule (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0013]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-152672 (pages 7-9, FIG. 1)
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional content reproducing apparatus 500, the sub-contents are reproduced based on the link information described in the main content. Therefore, the same main content is reproduced, and the sub-contents (image data, audio data, etc. When only the content is changed, for example, when only the image data to be reproduced in a predetermined time zone is changed, it is necessary to correct the HTML document of the main content in which the link information of the image data is changed. For example, it is necessary to modify main content 1 to main content 1 '.
[0015]
Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional example, there is a problem that the procedure becomes more complicated as the time period for changing the sub-contents increases. That is, depending on the time zone, the sub-contents may be complicatedly changed. In this case, each time the sub-contents are changed, the main content 1 is corrected to the main content 1 ′, the main content 1 ″, and the main content 1 ′ ″. Since it is necessary, there is a problem that the procedure becomes complicated.
[0016]
Further, in the above conventional example, there is a problem that the more complicated the schedule data, the more complicated the procedure becomes and the higher the cost becomes.
[0017]
An object of the present invention is to provide a content reproducing apparatus, a content reproducing method, and a program that can easily set a reproduction schedule of different image data, audio data, and the like when reproducing the same content according to a schedule. Things.
[0018]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, there is provided a content storage means for storing data of a first content and data of a second content associated with the first content, and the content storage means according to a predetermined schedule. A content reproducing apparatus having content reading means for reading data of one content and data of the second content independently of each other.
[0019]
Embodiments and Examples of the Invention
First, a configuration of a content reproducing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a content reproducing apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
The content reproduction device 100 includes a content storage unit 21, a schedule storage unit 22, a content reading unit 23, a content reproduction unit 24, an output unit 25, a reproduction control unit 26, and an operation acquisition unit 27.
[0022]
The content storage unit 21 stores data of a first content and data of a second content associated with the first content. The schedule storage unit 22 stores schedule data. The “schedule” describes when a content (= main content) belonging to which content group is to be reproduced.
[0023]
The content reading unit 23 reads the data of the first content and the data of the second content from the content storage unit 21 independently of each other according to the schedule.
[0024]
The content reproduction unit 24 reproduces data of the first content and data of the second content. The output unit 25 outputs the data of the first content and the data of the second content to the display device 28. The operation acquisition unit 27 acquires operation data via the operation device 29 operated by the user. The playback control unit 26 controls the operation of the content playback device 100 based on the acquired operation data.
[0025]
The “first content” is described in a markup language such as XML (Extensible Markup Language) and HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). The “second content” is, for example, content associated with the first content, and is image data, audio data, text data, or the like.
[0026]
In the following description, the first content is referred to as “main content”, and the second content is referred to as “sub-content”.
[0027]
In the schedule data stored in the schedule storage unit 22, the association between the link information of the main content, the link information of the sub content, and the time at which the main content and the sub content are reproduced is described in a predetermined language.
[0028]
The content storage unit 21 and the schedule storage unit 22 are configured by a magnetic disk, a magnetic optical disk, a semiconductor memory, and the like. The content reading unit 23, the content reproducing unit 24, the output unit 25, the operation obtaining unit 27, and the reproduction control unit 26 are configured by a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like.
[0029]
The storage unit that stores the data of the main content and the storage unit that stores the data of the sub content may be different storage units. Further, each data of the main content, the sub content, and the schedule may be stored in the same storage unit.
[0030]
Further, the content reading unit 23 may be connected to the Internet, and may read main content data and sub content data according to a schedule.
[0031]
For example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location of each of the main content and the sub content on the Internet is described in the schedule data, and the main content and the sub content specified by the URL based on HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). May be read by the content reading unit 23 according to a schedule.
[0032]
For example, the content reproducing unit 24 reproduces each data of the main content and the sub-content read by the content reading unit 23 by the browser, and outputs a reproduction signal to the output unit 25. The output unit 25 outputs a playback signal (moving image data, still image data, text data, sound data, and the like) from the content playback unit 24 to the display device 28.
[0033]
For example, when the user operates the operation device 29 having the cursor keys, the operation acquisition unit 27 receives an infrared signal or a radio signal based on the cursor keys.
[0034]
Note that the content storage unit 21 is an example of a content storage unit, and the content reading unit 23 is an example of a content reading unit.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the content reproduction device 100 will be described.
[0036]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content reproduction device 100.
[0037]
First, the content reading unit 23 reads the schedule data stored in the schedule storage unit 22 (S1). Subsequently, the content reading unit 23 reads the main content according to the schedule (S2).
[0038]
Next, the content reproduction unit 24 reproduces the read main content data (S3).
[0039]
Thereafter, the operation acquisition unit 27 determines whether or not an operation signal indicating that the user has operated the operation device 29 has been acquired (S4). If it is determined in step S4 that the operation signal has been acquired, the reproduction control unit 26 determines whether or not sub-content has been selected (S5). On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S4 that the operation signal has been acquired, the process returns to step S3.
[0040]
If it is determined in S5 that the sub-content has been selected, the content reading unit 23 reads the sub-content described in the data of the schedule (S6). On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S5 that sub-content has been selected, the process returns to step S3. Then, the content reproduction unit 24 reproduces the read sub-content data (S7).
[0041]
Next, in the above embodiment, the main content and the sub content will be described with specific examples.
[0042]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of main content and a display example of sub-contents in the above embodiment. FIG. 3 (1) shows a display example of main content, and FIGS. 3 (2) and 3 (3) show display examples of main content. It is a figure showing the example of a display of subcontents.
[0043]
FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the main content 40 and the sub-contents menu 41 displayed on the display device 28 provided in the ABC supermarket in the above embodiment.
[0044]
In the main content 40, business time information 40a and counter guidance information 40b are indicated by text, and a schematic diagram 40c of the counter is indicated by still image data. This still image data is produced by, for example, GIF (Graphics Interchange Format).
[0045]
On the other hand, in the sub-contents menu 41, a selection button 41a for selecting an item of “time sale”, a selection button 41b for selecting an item of “today's special sale item”, and a selection button for selecting an item of “notice” 41c is displayed. The user can select a desired item from the items displayed on the menu 41 by operating a cursor key provided on the operation device 29.
[0046]
FIG. 3B shows a display example of the sub-contents when the user selects the selection button 41a for selecting the item of “time sale” of the menu 41 in the above embodiment, for example, after 9 am. FIG.
[0047]
FIG. 3B shows the content 42 of the time sale held from 9:30 am to 10:00 am The content 42 of the time sale is a text including the price 42a of the product A and the price 42c of the product B, and indicates the photo 42b of the product A and the photo 42d of the product B by, for example, GIF data.
[0048]
FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a display example of the sub-contents when the user selects the selection button 41a for selecting the item of “time sale” in the menu 41, for example, after 1:00 pm.
[0049]
FIG. 3C shows the content 43 related to the time sale held from 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm. The content 43 of the time sale is a text including the price 43a of the product C and the price 43c of the product D, and indicates the photo 43b of the product C and the photo 43d of the product D by, for example, GIF data.
[0050]
The main content 40 shown in FIG. 3A is described in the schedule data so as to be reproduced from business hours of 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, and the content reproduction unit 24 reproduces the main content 40 in step S3.
[0051]
Further, in step S4, the user operates the selection button 41a for selecting the item of “time sale”, so that the sub-contents 42 shown in FIG. 3 (2) are obtained. The sub-contents 42 shown in FIG. 3 (2) are read from the content storage unit 21 independently of each other, and the content reproduction unit 24 reproduces the read sub-contents 42 in S7.
[0052]
Similarly to the above, in step S4, the user operates the selection button 41a for selecting the item of “time sale”, whereby the sub-contents 43 shown in FIG. 3 (3) is obtained. The sub-contents 43 are read from the content storage unit 21 independently of the sub-contents 43. In S7, the read sub-contents 43 are reproduced by the content reproduction unit 24.
[0053]
Next, an example of a script of a schedule in the above embodiment will be described.
[0054]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a script 50 which is an example of a schedule script in the above embodiment.
[0055]
In the following description, three types of main content described in the schedule are provided, and the times displayed in the three types of main content are 9:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 8:00 pm.
[0056]
In FIG. 4, a first script 51, a second script 54, and a third script 57 are shown as scripts 50 of schedule data.
[0057]
The first script 51 is a script associated with the first main content executed at 9:00 am The second script 54 is a script associated with the second main content executed at 1:00 pm. The third script 57 is a script associated with the third main content executed at 8:00 pm.
[0058]
Further, the first script 51 is executed at 9:00 am and includes link information 52 of the main content displayed at 9:00 am and link information 53 of the sub-content displayed by the user's selection.
[0059]
The main content link information 52 is the link information of the main content file name “abc”, and the sub content link information 53 is the link information of the three sub content file names “def”, “ghi”, and “jkl”. It is.
[0060]
For example, the link information of the main content 40 shown in FIG. 3A is described at a position corresponding to the link information 52 shown in FIG. That is, for example, the fact that the main content exists in the main content 40 (the location is abc) is indicated by “link src =. / Abc” 52 in FIG.
[0061]
The link information of the sub-contents 42 shown in FIG. 3B is described at a position corresponding to the link information 53b shown in FIG. That is, for example, the fact that one of the sub-contents exists in the sub-contents 42 (this location is ghi) is indicated by “link src =. / Abc” 53b in FIG.
[0062]
That is, the link information 53 of the sub content is described separately from the link information 52 of the main content, and is not described in the file of the main content as in the related art. , "Ghi" and "jkl" are read from the content storage unit 21 independently of the main content data "abc".
[0063]
The above “reading independently of each other” means that, when the main content abc is reproduced, the main content abc is not reproduced even if the respective sub-contents def, ghi, and jkl are reproduced, and the sub-contents that are reproduced at the same time. Is an operation in which the main content is not involved in the reproduction of the sub-content and the sub-content is not involved in the reproduction of the main content.
[0064]
The second script 54 is executed at 1:00 pm, and includes link information 55 of the main content displayed at 1:00 pm and link information 56 of the sub-content displayed by the user's selection. The main content link information 55 is link information of the main content file name “mop”, and the sub content link information 56 is link information of two sub content file names “qrs” and “tuv”.
[0065]
That is, the link information 56 of the sub content is described separately from the link information 55 of the main content, and is not described in the file of the main content as in the related art. “qrs” and “tuv” are read from the content storage unit 21 independently of the main content data “mop”.
[0066]
Further, the third script 57 is executed at 8:00 pm and includes link information 58 of the main content displayed at 8:00 pm. As in the third script 57, the link information of the sub-content may not be described, and only the main content may be reproduced.
[0067]
As described above, the content reproduction device 100 reads the main content data and the sub content data from the content storage unit 21 independently of each other according to a predetermined schedule, so that the content of the sub content is frequently changed. Even when executing a schedule that is set to be played back, simply changing the description of the link information of the sub-contents in the script of the schedule can be easily dealt with. There is no need to change the content.
[0068]
Further, according to the content reproducing apparatus 100, the content reading unit 23 reads the data of the main content and the data of the sub-content independently from the content storage unit 21 according to a predetermined schedule, so that the same content is read according to the schedule. Even in the case of reproduction, it is possible to easily set a reproduction schedule for different image data, audio data, and the like.
[0069]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the definition of the main content and the definition of the sub content in the above embodiment.
[0070]
As shown in FIG. 5A, in the above embodiment, the content is associated as main and sub-contents by “content meta information”.
[0071]
The content abc is associated with the sub-contents def and the like, but the association with the def is not described in the content abc, but the “content meta information” existing outside the content abc includes Information of association is described.
[0072]
As a result, even if the sub-contents associated with the content abc are changed to xyz, the sub-contents can be changed only by changing the content meta information without changing the content abc. , The independence of the content is increased.
[0073]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the link information indicating the location of the data of the main content.
[0074]
A set of contents is called an item in the example of the figure. The item is composed of one main content and zero or one or more sub-contents. The content meta information is information indicating the relationship between the main content and the sub content.
[0075]
In the example shown in FIG. 6, the content abc and the content xyz are repeatedly reproduced during the period from 9:00 to 10:00. When the content abc is being reproduced, sub-contents called as necessary are the sub-contents def, ghi, and jkl.
[0076]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific use screen image of link information indicating the location of content data in the above embodiment.
[0077]
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the above embodiment in comparison with the operation of the conventional example.
[0078]
In both the conventional example and the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the main content 1 is set to the sub-content A at 10:00 to 11:00, and the main content 1 is set to the sub-content B at 11:00 to 12:00.
[0079]
In the conventional example, in order to change the link to the sub-content B, it is necessary to modify the main content 1 and create the main content 1 ', but in the above embodiment, the sub-content is changed without modifying the main content 1. can do.
[0080]
In other words, the content reproducing apparatus 100 is configured to store the first content data and the second content data associated with the first content with a content storage unit that stores the first content data and the second content data in accordance with a predetermined schedule. Content reading means for reading the data of the first content and the data of the second content independently of each other;
[0081]
Therefore, the content reading means reads the data of the first content and the data of the second content independently of each other from the content storage means according to a predetermined schedule. Therefore, when reproducing the same content according to the schedule, Reproduction schedules for different image data, audio data, and the like can be easily set.
[0082]
Further, in the content reproducing apparatus 100, the content reading means may read the first content from the content storage means based on link information indicating the location of the data of the first content and the location of the data of the second content. The data of the first content and the data of the second content are read independently of each other.
[0083]
Therefore, by referring to the linked data indicating the location of the data of the first content and the location of the data of the second content, the data of the first content and the data of the second content can be mutually exchanged. It is easy to read independently.
[0084]
Further, the content reproduction device 100 acquires at least one of the first content data, the second content data, and the schedule data from the network.
[0085]
Therefore, for example, data of the first content, data of the second content, schedule data, and the like can be obtained from the Internet and reproduced.
[0086]
The above embodiment can be understood as a program invention.
[0087]
That is, in the above embodiment, the first content data and the second content data associated with the first content are stored in the content storage unit in accordance with a content storage procedure and a predetermined schedule. It is an example of a program for causing a computer to execute a content reading procedure for reading the data of the first content and the data of the second content independently from each other from the content storage means.
[0088]
In addition, the content reading procedure includes the step of storing the first content data and the second content from the content storage unit based on link information indicating the location of the first content data and the second content data. This is a procedure for reading data of the second content independently of each other.
[0089]
Further, in the above case, the program may cause a computer to execute a procedure for acquiring at least one of the data of the first content, the data of the second content, and the data of the schedule from a network. Good.
[0090]
The program may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD, DVD, HD, or semiconductor memory.
[0091]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when the same content is reproduced according to a schedule, it is possible to easily set a reproduction schedule for different image data, audio data, and the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a content reproducing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the content reproduction device 100.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a main content and a display example of a sub content in the embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a display example of main content, and FIGS. 3B and 3C are diagrams illustrating a display example of sub-content.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a script 50 which is an example of a schedule script in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a definition of a main content and a definition of a sub content in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of link information indicating the location of data of main content.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific use screen image of link information indicating the location of content data in the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the above embodiment and a conventional example in comparison.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional content reproduction device 500, a schedule reproduction device 1, and a Web server / LAN server 3.
[Explanation of symbols]
100: Content playback device,
21: Content storage unit,
22 ... Schedule storage unit,
23 ... Content readout unit
24 ... Content playback unit,
25 ... output unit,
26 ... reproduction control unit,
27 ... Operation acquisition unit,
28 display device,
29 ... Operation device,
40 ... Main content,
40a ... business time information,
40b ... sales floor guidance information,
40c ... schematic diagram,
41 ... Menu,
41a, 41b, 41c ... item selection buttons,
42, 43 ... sub-contents,
42a, 42c, 43a, 43c ... price,
42b, 42d, 43b, 43d ... Photos,
50 ... Schedule script,
51 ... first script,
52, 55, 58 ... link information of the main content,
53, 53a, 53b, 53c, 56, 56a, 56b ... sub-contents link information,
54 ... second script,
57: Third script.

Claims (9)

Content storage means for storing data of the first content and data of the second content associated with the first content;
Content reading means for reading the data of the first content and the data of the second content from the content storage means independently of each other according to a predetermined schedule;
A content reproducing apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The content reading unit reads the first content data and the second content from the content storage unit based on link information indicating the location of the first content data and the second content data. A content reproducing apparatus, which is means for reading content data independently of each other. In claim 1 or claim 2,
A content reproducing apparatus comprising: means for acquiring at least one of data of the first content, data of the second content, and data of the schedule from a network. A content storing step of storing data of the first content and data of the second content associated with the first content in the content storage means;
Reading a data of the first content and a data of the second content from the content storage means independently of each other according to a predetermined schedule;
A content reproducing method, comprising: In claim 4,
In the content reading step, the first content data and the second content data are read from the content storage means based on link information indicating the location of the first content data and the second content data. A content reproducing method, wherein the content data is read out independently of each other. In claim 4 or claim 5,
Acquiring a data of at least one of the data of the first content, the data of the second content, and the data of the schedule from a network. A content storage procedure for storing the data of the first content and the data of the second content associated with the first content in the content storage means;
A content reading procedure for reading the data of the first content and the data of the second content from the content storage means independently of each other according to a predetermined schedule;
A program that causes a computer to execute. In claim 7,
The content reading step includes the steps of: reading the first content data and the second content from the content storage unit based on link information indicating the location of the first content data and the second content data; A program characterized by a procedure of reading content data independently of each other. In claim 7 or claim 8,
A program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for acquiring at least one of the first content data, the second content data, and the schedule data from a network.

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