JP2005302155A - Information reproducing apparatus, information reproduction method, computer executable program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing information by a proper method without necessitating complicated operation. <P>SOLUTION: An information reproducing apparatus 60 includes; a reproducing operation instructing part 78 which responds to a reproducing operation 64 by a user who is reproducing content information 62 and instructs a corresponding reproducing action to a content information reproducing part 80; a reproducing operation history management part 94 which manages the reproducing operation management information of a content based on the reproducing operation by the user who is reproducing the content and the reproducing action by the content information reproducing part 80; a reproduction method determining part 100 which determines the reproduction method of the information 62 based on the reproducing operation history information; and an automatic reproduction control part which controls the content information reproducing part 80 so as to automatically perform the reproduction of the content being an object of the reproduction according to the reproduction method determined by the reproduction method determining part 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus, an information reproducing method, a computer-executable program, and a recording medium that automatically determine an information reproducing method and reproduce information. In particular, the present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus that automatically determines a reproducing method without a user performing a special operation for determining the reproducing method.

  As a method of reproducing only a user's favorite part when reproducing information such as a moving image and sound, there is a method in which the user manually marks in advance a favorite part of the information to be reproduced. In this method, the user performs marking at both ends of the temporal recording position of the portion to be reproduced. The information reproducing apparatus detects a marked section of information to be reproduced and reproduces only the marking section.

  Further, Patent Document 1 described below discloses a reproduction audio / video data identification method for reproducing only the specified portion when the portion to be reproduced is specified. In this method, the user repeats operations such as fast-forwarding and rewinding in a mode called a special-purpose playback mode, skips an unnecessary part, and searches for a part to be reproduced. The part to be reproduced is reproduced by normal reproduction or slow reproduction. At this time, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 identifies a section in which normal reproduction or slow reproduction is performed as a section to be reproduced, and records the information on a recording medium on which content information is recorded or another recording medium. When playback is performed in another mode called the playback specific mode, playback is performed only in the section specified as the section to be played back when playback is performed in the specific purpose playback mode.

JP-A-11-213630

  In the conventional method in which the user manually marks, it is necessary for the user to find out the start position and end position of the part to be reproduced by repeating operations such as reproduction, fast forward, and rewind. This is a very troublesome operation for the user. Furthermore, since the marking is performed manually, the operation is complicated.

  In the method described in Patent Document 1, in order to specify a portion to be reproduced, it is necessary to change the mode to the specific purpose reproduction mode and reproduce. In this method, in order to specify a part to be played back in the special purpose playback mode, the user first searches the part to be played back by an operation such as fast forward or rewind, and further performs normal playback or slow playback of the part to be played back. Need to play with. This operation is very troublesome for the user. Further, in Patent Document 1, for example, a complicated reproduction in which normal reproduction is performed in a certain section among a plurality of sections specified in the specific purpose reproduction mode, but rewinding is performed in another section and normal reproduction is performed twice. Cannot set the method. Also, the playback method specified in the specific purpose playback mode cannot be used when other information is played back. Therefore, in order to perform reproduction in the reproduction specific mode, it is necessary to reproduce the same information in the specific purpose reproduction mode in advance.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information reproducing apparatus, an information reproducing method, a computer-executable program, and a computer-readable information that can reproduce information by an appropriate method without requiring a complicated operation. Is to provide a simple recording medium.

  An information reproducing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is configured to reproduce a content in any of a plurality of reproducing operations, and in response to a reproduction operation by a user during reproduction of the content by the reproducing unit, In order to manage the content reproduction operation history information based on the reproduction operation instruction means for instructing the reproduction means corresponding to the reproduction operation, the reproduction operation by the user during the content reproduction, and the reproduction operation by the reproduction means. Replay operation history management means. The reproduction operation history information includes a reproduction operation history including a combination of a reproduction operation and section specifying information for specifying a section of the reproduction operation designated by the reproduction operation. The information playback apparatus further includes a playback method determination means for determining a playback method of the content to be played back based on the playback operation history information managed by the playback operation history management means, and playback of the content to be played back. Automatic reproduction control means for controlling the reproduction means to automatically perform according to the reproduction method determined by the reproduction method determination means.

  The reproduction operation history information is managed in response to various reproduction operations performed by the user during the reproduction operation without preparing a specific reproduction mode. The reproduction operation history includes a reproduction operation and section specifying information related to a section in which the reproduction unit reproduces content by a reproduction operation corresponding to the reproduction operation. Therefore, when this content is reproduced next time, the reproduction method can be determined using the reproduction operation history information, and the reproduction can be automatically performed. The content includes still image content, moving image content, music content, educational content, and the like.

  Preferably, the playback operation history management means specifies a playback operation section to be executed by the playback means in response to the playback operation based on the playback operation of the user and the playback operation by the playback means. Means for managing in association with specific information are included.

  More preferably, the content is made up of a plurality of parts that are reproduced in a predetermined order and that can be distinguished from each other by identification information, and the reproduction operation history management means is based on the user's reproduction operation and the reproduction operation by the reproduction means. Is made up of part identification information including the playback position of the content when the playback operation is received, and part identification information including the end position of the playback operation executed by the playback means in response to the playback operation. Means for managing in association with a set of section specifying information is included.

  When the content is composed of a plurality of parts, the section specifying information can be specified by identification information between the part including the position when the playback operation is performed and the part including the end position of the corresponding playback operation. . Each part may be divided at equal intervals in time, or may be divided into a group of contents regardless of time.

  Preferably, the content is made up of a plurality of parts that are reproduced in a predetermined order and that can be distinguished from each other by the identification information. The reproduction operation history management means is based on the user's reproduction operation and the reproduction operation by the reproduction means. Specifying the playback operation from the part including the playback position of the content when the playback operation is received to the part including identification information of the part from the part including the end position of the playback operation executed by the playback means in response to the playback operation Means for managing in association with the set of information.

  When the content is composed of a plurality of parts, the section specifying information includes identification information of a part including the position when the playback operation is performed, a part including the end position of the corresponding playback operation, and an intermediate part thereof. Can be identified.

  The information reproducing apparatus may further include a content analyzing unit that is connected to the reproducing operation history managing unit and analyzes the content of the content of the section specified by the section specifying information.

  Preferably, the reproduction operation history management means manages the content reproduction operation history information in association with the content analyzed by the content analysis means based on the reproduction operation by the user during the content reproduction and the reproduction operation by the reproduction means. Including means.

  By analyzing the content of the section and managing the playback operation history in association with the content of the section, for example, based on the playback operation history, the playback operation is determined according to the content of the section, and the number of playback repetitions is determined. It is possible to determine the playback method in various ways.

  Preferably, the content is composed of a plurality of parts that are reproduced in a predetermined order and that can be distinguished from each other by the identification information, and the meta information including the contents of the parts is attached to the plurality of parts. The means includes means for extracting the contents of the content of the section specified by the section specifying information using the meta information of the part included in the section specified by the section specifying information.

  As one method of content analysis, by adding meta information to each part of the content in this way, the content can be easily specified for each part.

  Preferably, the playback operation history management means specifies a playback operation section to be executed by the playback means in response to the playback operation based on the playback operation of the user and the playback operation by the playback means. And means for managing the specific information and the section in association with the cumulative reproduction information indicating the length of reproduction by the reproduction operation.

  The cumulative reproduction information represents a preference by the user, reflects a user's viewing progress, or represents a tendency of contents that the user does not see much. Therefore, by managing the accumulated reproduction information as the reproduction operation history information, an appropriate reproduction method can be determined according to the contents and the accumulated reproduction information.

  Preferably, the cumulative reproduction information includes cumulative time, cumulative number, or both of reproducing a section specified by the section specifying information in the past by a reproduction operation corresponding to the reproduction operation.

  Any of the accumulated time and the accumulated number can be used to know the user's tendency regarding reproduction. If both are recorded, it is possible to know the reproduction time per time of each section. As a result, more diverse and appropriate playback methods can be determined using such information.

  Preferably, the reproduction method determination unit performs predetermined weighting for each reproduction operation in the reproduction operation history managed by the reproduction operation history management unit, and the content to be reproduced is based on the accumulated reproduction information and the predetermined weight. Means for determining the playback method.

  There are multiple types of playback operations, each of which has different importance for the user. Therefore, for different playback operations, it is desirable to be able to change how to determine the playback method according to the importance of the playback operations. Such a process becomes possible by the above-described configuration.

  Preferably, the content is composed of a plurality of parts that are reproduced in a predetermined order and that can be distinguished from each other by identification information, and the plurality of parts are provided with meta information including the contents of the parts, and the cumulative number of times Means for managing in association with the identification information of the part including the reproduction position of the content when the reproduction operation by the user is received based on the reproduction operation by the user and the reproduction operation by the reproduction means, and A set of section specifying information including part identification information including the end position of the playback operation executed by the playback means in response to the playback operation, and the length of the section specified by the section specifying information played back by the playback operation Means for managing in association with the cumulative reproduction information indicating.

  By managing the playback operation, the playback section, and the cumulative playback information played back by the playback operation as a playback operation history, the user's preference, the degree of user's viewing progress, the user's viewing tendency, etc. are determined can do. By determining the playback method using such information, the content playback method can be determined in a more diverse and appropriate manner.

  Preferably, the playback method determining means applies a predetermined weight to each part included in the section specified by the section specifying information according to the position in the section, and according to the cumulative playback information and the weight of the section. Means for determining a playback method are included.

  The reproduction operation by the user cannot always be performed at the position desired by the user. For example, in the case of fast-forwarding, normal playback may be instructed when fast-forwarding is performed to a position ahead of the position where it was desired to stop. Therefore, for example, for a section reproduced in a certain reproduction operation, a small weight is given to both ends and a large weight is given to the middle, and the start / end positions of a certain reproduction operation are determined based on these and the accumulated reproduction information. If so, a more appropriate reproduction method can be determined.

  Preferably, the reproduction method determining means uses the reproduction operation obtained by performing conversion by a predetermined conversion method on the reproduction operation in the reproduction operation history information managed by the reproduction operation history management means. Means for determining a playback method are included.

  For example, a part that has already been played back in normal playback is fast-forwarded next, so that the user can avoid seeing the same part of the content repeatedly against the will. On the other hand, a playback method in which the part fast-forwarded in the previous playback is normally played back in the next playback, so that the outline is played back once and the details are played back the second time. Therefore, with the above-described configuration, it is possible to determine a more diverse and appropriate reproduction method.

  Preferably, the plurality of reproduction operations include a plurality of reproduction operations selected from normal reproduction, fast forward, rewind, pause, slow reproduction, and frame advance. The reproduction operation may be an operation for designating at least one of the plurality of reproduction operations.

  More preferably, the information reproducing apparatus further includes a reproducing operation history writing unit for writing the reproducing operation history information managed by the reproducing operation history managing unit to a predetermined recording medium in response to occurrence of the predetermined event. Including.

  By writing the reproduction operation history information on the recording medium, the reproduction operation history information can be used in another device.

  Preferably, prior to determination of the playback method by the playback method determination means, playback operation history information preparation means for preparing playback operation history information for the content to be played back and providing it to the playback operation history management means is further included.

  By providing the means for preparing the reproduction operation history information for the content to be reproduced, it is possible to reproduce a large number of types of content using the reproduction operation history information.

  Preferably, the reproduction operation history information preparation means reads the reproduction operation history information in response to the reproduction operation history information being recorded in the recording medium on which the content to be reproduced is recorded, and reproduces the operation history. Means for providing to the management means.

  When the reproduction operation history information is recorded on the same recording medium as the content, it is considered that the reproduction operation history information is suitable for reproducing the content. By reading this information and using it as playback operation history information, the content playback method can be determined appropriately.

  Preferably, the reproduction operation history information preparation means is for other content having a predetermined relationship with the reproduction target content in response to the reproduction operation history information created for the reproduction target content not being found. Means for retrieving the reproduction operation history information and providing it to the reproduction operation history management means.

  When the reproduction operation history information for the content to be reproduced is not found, the reproduction operation history information of the content belonging to a predetermined relationship with the content, for example, content belonging to the same genre is used. Then, for example, by analyzing the content, there is a high possibility that the content can be automatically reproduced by an appropriate reproduction method that matches the user's preference.

  When the computer program according to the second aspect of the present invention is executed by a computer, it causes the computer to operate as one of the information reproducing devices described above.

  By causing the computer program to be executed by the computer, the effects already described can be obtained.

  A recording medium according to the third aspect of the present invention records the above-described computer program. Therefore, the same effect as the computer program of the second aspect can be obtained.

  An information reproduction method according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a step of reproducing content to be reproduced using reproduction means for reproducing the content in any of a plurality of reproduction operations, and during reproduction of the content by the reproduction step. In response to the reproduction operation by the user, the step of instructing the reproduction means corresponding to the reproduction operation, and the content reproduction operation history based on the reproduction operation by the user during the content reproduction and the reproduction operation by the reproduction means Managing information. The reproduction operation history information includes a reproduction operation history including a combination of a reproduction operation and section specifying information for specifying a section of the reproduction operation designated by the reproduction operation. The information reproduction method further includes a step of determining a reproduction method of the content to be reproduced based on the reproduction operation history information managed by the step of managing the reproduction operation history, and a step of determining reproduction of the content to be reproduced. Controlling the reproduction means to automatically perform according to the reproduction method determined by the above.

  The reproduction operation history information is managed in response to various reproduction operations performed by the user during the reproduction operation without preparing a specific reproduction mode. The reproduction operation history includes a reproduction operation and section specifying information related to a section in which the reproduction unit reproduces content by a reproduction operation corresponding to the reproduction operation. Therefore, when this content is reproduced next time, the reproduction method can be determined using the reproduction operation history information, and the reproduction can be automatically performed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, based on the reproduction operation performed by the user in the past, the reproduction method of the content information to be reproduced is determined, and the reproduction is performed based on the reproduction method. There is no need to perform complicated operations such as mode switching for determination. Further, it is possible to appropriately determine the playback method based on the playback operation performed by the user in the past. It is possible to specify the playback operation section by the part that becomes the break at the time of playback. Also, an appropriate playback method can be determined by converting the playback operation based on past playback operation history information.

  Further, it becomes possible to reproduce the content information to be reproduced based on the content information reproduced in the past. Therefore, even when content information that has never been reproduced in the past is reproduced, an appropriate section can be reproduced with an appropriate reproduction operation. Even when a user performs a playback operation over a plurality of parts in content composed of a plurality of parts, by generating information indicating the contents for each part and determining a playback method based on the information In this section, it is possible to specify the content that is the reason for the user performing the playback operation and determine the playback method.

  Based on the cumulative reproduction information calculated based on the reproduction operation history information, it is possible to clearly determine what reproduction operation the user tends to perform in what section. Therefore, it is possible to determine a playback method that more reflects the playback operation based on the playback operation performed by the user. In addition, by accumulating the history of the duration and reflecting it when determining the playback operation, the playback method is appropriately determined even for playback operations that have a duration affecting the playback operation, such as pause. It becomes possible.

  By enabling the input / output of the reproduction operation history information, processing using the reproduction operation history information can be performed in another device. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the reproduction operation history information.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used for the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

(Overview)
An information reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment described below is an apparatus that reproduces content information including a moving image, a still image, audio, information obtained by combining them, or the like. When the content information is reproduced, the information provided to the user is output while continuously changing as time passes. Alternatively, a plurality of types of information that can be distinguished from others according to the provided contents are output while being sequentially switched.

  The information playback apparatus according to the present embodiment receives the input of content information, determines a procedure for changing operations such as fast forward, rewind, slow playback, pause, skip, and normal playback, and follows the determined procedure. Play by movement. The information reproducing apparatus further receives an operation for selecting an operation relating to reproduction from the user while reproducing the content information, and changes the operation when reproducing according to the operation. The information reproducing apparatus holds a history of operations performed by the user in association with the content information being reproduced. The information reproduction apparatus determines the procedure for changing the operation related to reproduction based on the history of past operations performed by the user, which is held for the content information or other content information similar to the content information. .

  In the following description, operations that can be performed when the information reproduction apparatus reproduces content information, such as fast forward, rewind, pause, slow reproduction, and normal reproduction performed by the information reproduction apparatus, are referred to as “reproduction operations”. The user's operation for selecting these playback operations and causing the information playback apparatus to execute the selected playback operation is referred to as a “playback operation”. A history of playback operations performed by the user is referred to as a playback operation history. The procedure for changing the playback operation determined by the information playback device based on the playback operation history is called a “playback method”.

(Functional configuration)
FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of the information reproducing apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment in the form of a block diagram. Referring to FIG. 1, information reproducing device 60 includes content information input unit 70 for receiving input of content information 62 and content information storage unit for storing content information 62 input from content information input unit 70. 72. The information reproducing device 60 further receives a reproduction operation by the user via the input device 64 and inputs a reproduction operation instruction for generating a signal corresponding to the reproduction operation (hereinafter, this signal is referred to as “reproduction operation instruction”). Unit 74 and a reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 for receiving a reproduction operation instruction from the reproduction operation instruction input unit 74, specifying a user's reproduction operation indicated by the reproduction operation instruction, and storing and outputting the received reproduction operation instruction. Including.

  The information reproducing device 60 further receives a reproduction operation instruction output from the reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76, and based on the reproduction operation instruction, a signal for instructing reproduction in the reproduction operation selected by the reproduction operation (hereinafter, this signal is “controlled”. The content stored in the content information storage unit 72 by the playback operation selected by the playback operation in accordance with the control signal generated by the playback operation instruction unit 78 and the playback operation instruction unit 78. A content information reproduction unit 80 for reproducing the information 62 and a reproduction output unit 82 for outputting a signal of the reproduced content information 62 to the display device 66 are included.

  The information playback device 60 is further connected to the content information storage unit 72 and the playback operation instruction storage unit 76, and the section (hereinafter referred to as “playback”) of the content information 62 played back by the playback operation selected by the playback operation. The playback operation instruction point specifying unit 90 for specifying the start position and the end position of the operation section ”) and the information in the playback operation section specified by the playback operation instruction point specifying unit 90 are played back to the user. A playback operation section content analysis unit 92 for analyzing the contents of the information to be provided (hereinafter referred to as “content of (playback operation section)”) is included.

  The information reproducing apparatus 60 further receives reproduction operation instruction information, information indicating the reproduction operation section, and contents of the reproduction operation section from the reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76, the reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90, and the reproduction operation section content analysis unit 92. A reproduction operation history management unit 94 for generating, storing and managing reproduction operation history information indicating a history of reproduction operations by the user.

  The information reproducing device 60 further determines a reproduction method for reproducing the content information 62 stored in the content information storage unit 72 based on the reproduction operation history information managed by the reproduction operation history management unit 94. A playback method determining unit 100 is included. The reproduction operation instruction unit 78 receives information indicating the reproduction method determined from the reproduction method determination unit 100, generates a control signal for realizing reproduction of the content information 62 based on this reproduction method, and sends it to the content information reproduction unit 80. Has the function to give.

  The information reproducing device 60 further includes a reproducing operation history information writing unit 110 for writing the reproducing operation history information held by the reproducing operation history managing unit 94 to the recording medium 68, and a recording medium on which the reproducing operation history information is written. A reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112 for extracting the reproduction operation history information from 68 and supplying it to the reproduction operation history management unit 94. The reproduction operation history management unit 94 has a function of inputting / outputting reproduction operation history information between the reproduction operation history information writing unit 110 and the reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112.

(Playback instruction)
The reproduction operation by the user, the reproduction operation instruction generated by the reproduction operation instruction input unit 74, and the reproduction operation are in a correspondence relationship. The reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 has a function of receiving and storing a reproduction operation instruction and giving the reproduction operation instruction to the reproduction operation instruction unit 78. The reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 has a function of giving the reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 a notification indicating that a reproduction operation instruction has been received. The reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 identifies a reproduction operation corresponding to the stored reproduction operation instruction, determines whether or not the reproduction operation is “normal reproduction”, and sends a notification indicating the determination result to the reproduction operation instruction point identification unit. 90.

  By the way, in general information reproduction, when the “pause” reproduction operation is started in accordance with the reproduction operation by the user, the “pause” reproduction operation is continued until another reproduction operation is started. In order for the playback method determination unit 100 to determine the “pause” playback operation as the playback method, it is necessary to determine the “pause” duration. Therefore, in response to the reproduction operation being “pause”, the reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 is given a duration of “pause”, that is, a reproduction operation instruction next, and performs a “pause” reproduction operation. It has a function of measuring the time until is released and giving information indicating the duration to the reproduction operation history management unit 94.

(Relationship between content information, playback operation section, and playback operation section contents)
The content information 62 is typically information in which information output by time information changes when reproduced, such as a moving image and audio. In the content information 62, there may be a mixture of parts having different forms of information output by reproduction. For example, there are cases in which audio included in the content information 62 includes a portion that is reproduced in a plurality of audio modes such as monaural, stereo, bilingual broadcasting, or audio multiplex broadcasting. Further, for example, a moving image portion and character information portion may be mixed. Based on the time information in the content information 62 to be played back, the playback operation instruction point specifying unit 90 specifies the start position and end position of the playback operation section, and shows information indicating the start position and end position by time information. It has a function to create and output. The playback operation section content analysis unit 92 has a function of analyzing the content of the playback operation section according to the form of information to be output and outputting information indicating the content.

  The content information 62 may be composed of a plurality of identifiable parts. When such content information 62 is normally reproduced, a plurality of parts are reproduced in a predetermined order. The playback operation instruction point specifying unit 90 has a function of specifying a playback operation section by part with respect to the content information 62 including a plurality of parts. The content information 62 further includes information (hereinafter referred to as “genre”) for classifying the contents of information provided to the user when the parts constituting the content information 62 are reproduced, an outline of the contents, And meta information indicating performers and the like. The reproduction operation section content analysis unit 92 has a function of analyzing the contents of the reproduction operation section by extracting meta information and outputting information indicating the contents.

  The content information 62 may be further attached with reproduction operation history information. The reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112 has a function of extracting reproduction operation history information from information stored in the content information storage unit 72.

(Playback history information)
FIG. 2 shows an example of the reproduction operation history information according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 2, the reproduction operation history information 130 is information in a table format created corresponding to the content information 62. The reproduction operation history information 130 includes, for each reproduction operation section, a “start position” item 132 and an “end position” item 134 for storing information indicating the start position and end position of the reproduction operation section, and the reproduction operation section. A “playback operation” item 136 for storing information indicating the playback operation, a “content” item 138 for storing information indicating the content of the playback operation section, and the number of times the same playback operation has been performed in the same playback operation section. And a “cumulative number” item 140 to be stored.

  In the “start position” item 132 and the “end position” item 134, information specified by the reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 is stored. The “playback operation” item 136 stores a playback operation instruction stored in the playback operation instruction storage unit 76. The “content” item 138 stores the content of the playback operation section analyzed by the playback operation section content analysis unit 92. The “cumulative number” item 140 stores the cumulative number counted by the reproduction operation history management unit 94. Note that the reproduction operation history information may include information indicating the duration of “pause”. Such reproduction operation history information will be described later in the sixth operation example.

(Configuration of Computer System for Realizing Information Reproducing Device 60)
The information reproducing device 60 according to the present embodiment is substantially realized by computer hardware, a program executed by the computer hardware, and data stored in the computer hardware. FIG. 3 shows an internal configuration of the computer system 150.

  Referring to FIG. 3, this computer system 150 includes a computer 160 having an optical disk drive 170 and a magnetic disk drive 172, a monitor 162, and a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as “remote controller”) 164.

  In addition to the optical disk drive 170 and the magnetic disk drive 172, the computer 160 includes a remote control interface (I / F) 166 that receives signals from the remote controller 164, a CPU (central processing unit) 176, a remote control I / F 166, a CPU 176, A bus 186 connected to the optical disk drive 170 and the magnetic disk drive 172, a read only memory (ROM) 178 connected to the bus 186 and storing a boot-up program and the like, and also connected to the bus 186, a program command, a system program And a random access memory (RAM) 180 for storing work data and the like.

  Although not shown here, the computer 160 may further include a network adapter board that provides a connection to a local area network (LAN).

  A program for causing the computer system 150 to realize the function of the information reproducing apparatus 60, content information 62 (see FIG. 1), and reproduction operation history information are all the optical disk 182 inserted into the optical disk drive 170 or the magnetic disk drive 172, or It is stored in the magnetic disk 184 and further transferred to the hard disk 174. Alternatively, the program, the content information 62, and the reproduction operation history information may be transmitted to the computer 160 through a network (not shown) and stored in the hard disk 174. The program is loaded into the RAM 180 at the time of execution. The program may be loaded directly into the RAM 180 from the optical disk 182, from the magnetic disk 184, or via a network.

  This program includes a plurality of instructions for causing the computer 160 to realize the function of the information reproducing apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment. Some of the basic functions necessary to realize these functions are provided by an operating system (OS) or a third-party program running on the computer 160 or various toolkit modules installed on the computer 160. Therefore, this program does not necessarily include all functions necessary for realizing the functions of the information reproducing apparatus 60 according to this embodiment. This program may include only instructions for executing control of the information reproducing apparatus 60 described above by calling an appropriate function or “tool” in a controlled manner so as to obtain a desired result. That's fine. The operation of computer system 150 is well known and will not be repeated here.

  A recording medium on which a program for realizing the functions of the information reproducing device 60, content information 62 (see FIG. 1), or reproducing operation history information is recorded is a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), MO ( The optical disk 182 such as Magneto-Optical disc (MD), MD (Mini Disc), and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) is not limited to the magnetic disk 184 such as FD (flexible disk) and hard disk. Tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, card-type recording media such as IC (Integrated Circuit) cards and optical cards, and semiconductors such as mask ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), and flash ROM It can be either memory. However, the computer system 150 needs to be equipped with a reading device for reading from these recording media.

(Program control structure)
The information reproducing apparatus 60 performs two types of processing roughly. That is, a process of determining a playback method based on the playback operation history information, playing back the content information by a playback operation based on the playback method, and a process of creating and storing playback operation history information based on the playback operation by the user It is. Hereinafter, a control structure of a program for realizing these processes by a computer will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Overall structure of processing)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program 200 that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to operate as the information reproducing device 60. Referring to FIG. 4, when content information is input to information reproduction device 60, program 200 is activated and proceeds to step (hereinafter simply referred to as “S”) 210. In S210, a playback method determination process is performed for determining the playback method based on the past playback operation history for the input content information, and the process proceeds to S212. Details of the reproduction method determination process will be described later.

  In S212, it is determined whether or not the reproduction method determination process in S210 is successful. If the reproduction method determination process is successful, the process proceeds to S214, where the reproduction of the content information according to the determined reproduction method is started, and the process proceeds to S218. If the playback method determination process in S210 fails because the past playback operation history information is not accumulated or the playback operation history information cannot be acquired, the control proceeds from S212 to S216, and playback in normal playback is started. Then, the process proceeds to S218.

  In S218, a reproduction operation history management process is performed in which a reproduction operation by the user is received during reproduction of the content information, and reproduction operation history information for the content information is created and stored. Details of the reproduction operation history management process will be described later.

(Reproduction method decision processing)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing structure of the playback method determination process executed in S210 of the program 200 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, when reproduction method determination processing 250 is started, it is determined in step S260 whether reproduction operation history information is attached to content information to be reproduced. If it is attached, the process proceeds to S262. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S264. In S262, the reproduction operation history information is extracted from the content information and stored, and the process proceeds to S264.

  In S264, it is determined whether or not the reproduction operation history information is recorded on another readable recording medium. If recorded, the process proceeds to S266. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S268. In S266, the reproduction operation history information is read from the storage medium and stored, and the process proceeds to S268.

  In S268, the stored reproduction operation history information is read. In S270, the reproduction method of the content information is determined based on the read reproduction history information, and the reproduction method determination process 250 ends.

(Playback history management process)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing structure of the reproduction operation history management process executed in S218 of the program 200 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, when the reproduction operation history management process 300 is started, it is determined in S312 whether or not the content information is being reproduced. If it is being reproduced, the process proceeds to S314. Otherwise, the reproduction operation history management process 300 ends. In S314, it is determined whether or not a reproduction operation instruction has been generated in accordance with the reproduction operation by the user. If a reproduction operation instruction is generated, the process proceeds to S316. Otherwise, the process returns to S312.

  In S316, the reproduction operation by the user is specified based on the reproduction operation instruction, the reproduction operation instruction is stored, and the reproduction operation indicated by the reproduction operation instruction is executed. In S318, the portion of the content information being reproduced that was being reproduced at the time when the reproduction operation instruction was issued is identified and set as the start position of the reproduction operation section.

  In S320, it is determined again whether the content information is being reproduced. If it is being reproduced, the process proceeds to S322. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S336. In S322, it is determined again whether or not a reproduction operation instruction has occurred. If a reproduction operation instruction is generated, the process proceeds to S324. Otherwise, return to S320.

  In S324, it is determined whether or not the reproduction operation instruction generated in S322 is “normal reproduction”. If so, the process proceeds to S326. If the reproduction operation instruction is other than that, the process proceeds to S330.

  When the control proceeds from S324 to S326, the playback operation according to the playback operation instruction is already started, and the playback operation instruction generated in S322 terminates the playback operation and changes the playback operation to normal playback. Indicates that the process to return is executed. In S326, the portion of the content information that was being played back when the playback operation instruction was issued in S322 is identified and set as the end position of the playback operation section. In S328, history storage processing is performed for the playback operation section that specifies the start position and the end position. Control returns to S312. Details of the history storage process will be described later.

  When the control proceeds from S324 to S330, the reproduction operation according to the reproduction operation instruction is already started, and the reproduction operation indicated by the reproduction operation instruction generated in S322 is the reproduction operation already started. Indicates something different. In S330, it is specified which part of the content information the playback operation instruction indicating a new playback operation has occurred during playback, and the specified part is set as the end position for the already specified start position of the playback operation section. In S332, a history storage process to be described later is performed for the specified playback operation section in the same manner as in S328. In subsequent S334, the part specified in S330 is set as the start position of a new reproduction operation section. Further, a new reproduction operation is specified based on the reproduction operation instruction generated in S322, the reproduction operation instruction is stored, and the reproduction operation indicated by the reproduction operation instruction is started. Control returns to S322.

  When the control advances from S320 to S336, in S336, the playback end point is specified and set as the end position with respect to the already specified start position of the playback operation section. In S338, a history storage process described later is performed for the specified playback operation section in the same manner as in S328, and the playback operation history management process 300 ends.

(History storage processing)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing structure of the history storage process executed in S328, S332, and S338 of the reproduction operation history management process 300 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 7, when history storage processing 350 is started, in S360, it is determined whether or not the content of the reproduction operation section can be analyzed. If analysis is possible, the process proceeds to S364. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S362. In S362, the start position and end position of the specified playback operation section and the playback operation instruction in the playback operation section are stored as playback operation history information. Further, when there is a playback operation section having the same start position and end position, and the same playback operation is performed in this section, the cumulative number is updated. If possible, the reproduction operation history information is written in a writable recording medium, and the history storage processing 350 is terminated.

  In S364, the contents of the playback operation section are analyzed. In subsequent S366, the start position and end position of the specified playback operation section, the playback operation instruction of the playback operation performed in the playback operation section, and the content of the playback operation section analyzed in S364 are stored as playback operation history information. To do. Further, when there is a playback operation section having the same start position and end position, and the same playback operation is performed in this section, the cumulative number is updated. If possible, the reproduction operation history information is written in a writable recording medium, and the history storage processing 350 is terminated.

(Operation of each functional part)
When reproducing the input content information, the information reproducing apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment reproduces the content information according to the reproduction operation by the user and the reproduction method determined based on the reproduction operation history information. Hereinafter, the operation of each functional unit of the information reproducing device 60 when the reproduction method is determined based on the reproduction operation history information and reproducing the content information, and the operation of each functional unit of the information reproducing device 60 in response to the reproduction operation by the user will be described. explain.

(Operation that determines the playback method)
The operation of each functional unit when the information reproducing device 60 determines a reproduction method based on the reproduction operation history information and reproduces based on the determined reproduction method will be described below.

  Referring to FIG. 1, in response to the user inserting a recording medium or the like on which content information 62 is recorded into information reproducing apparatus 60, information reproducing apparatus 60 starts its operation. When the content information 62 is input to the content information input unit 70 of the information reproducing device 60, the content information storage unit 72 stores the input content information 62. The content information storage unit 72 gives a notification indicating that the content information has been stored to the reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112.

  In response to the notification from the content information storage unit 72, the reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112 first determines whether or not the reproduction operation history information is attached to the stored content information 62. If attached, the reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112 reads the reproduction operation history information attached and stored with the content information 62 from the content information storage unit 72 and gives it to the reproduction operation history management unit 94. Next, the reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112 attempts to acquire the reproduction operation history information from the recording medium 68. When the reproduction operation history information is successfully acquired, the reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112 gives the reproduction operation history information acquired from the recording medium 68 to the reproduction operation history management unit 94. The reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112 provides a predetermined notification signal to the reproduction operation history management unit 94 in response to the end of the series of operations.

  The reproduction operation history management unit 94 holds the reproduction operation history information given from the reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112 together with the already held reproduction operation history information. The reproduction operation history management unit 94 gives the reproduction method determination unit 100 the notification from the reproduction operation history information extraction unit 112. If the reproduction operation history information is not held in the reproduction operation history management unit 94 at this stage, the reproduction operation history management unit 94 gives a predetermined error notification to the reproduction method determination unit 100.

  In response to the notification given via the playback operation history management unit 94, the playback method determination unit 100 determines the playback method for the content information 62 stored in the content information storage unit 72 as follows.

  If the reproduction operation history information on the content information 62 that is the target for determining the reproduction method stored in the content information storage unit 72 is held in the reproduction operation history management unit 94, the reproduction method determination unit 100 performs the reproduction operation. Read history information. The playback method determining unit 100 sets the “start position” item 132 and the “end position” item 134 for each playback operation section shown in FIG. 2 of the read playback operation history information. Based on the item information stored in The playback method determination unit 100 further determines the playback operation in the specified section with reference to the “playback operation” item 136 of the read playback operation history information. The playback method determination unit 100 sets the playback operation in the sections other than the specified section as normal playback. Thereby, the reproducing method of the content information 62 is determined.

  When the reproduction operation history information for the content information 62 that is the target for determining the reproduction method stored in the content information storage unit 72 is not held in the reproduction operation history management unit 94, the reproduction method determination unit 100 performs the reproduction operation. The reproduction operation history information for other content information held in the history management unit 94 is read. The reproduction method determination unit 100 further analyzes the content of the content information 62 and matches the content of the reproduction operation section indicated by the information stored in the “content” item 138 shown in FIG. 2 of the read reproduction operation history information. Alternatively, a similar content portion is detected from the content information 62. The playback method determination unit 100 identifies the detected portion as a section to be played back by a predetermined playback operation in the content information 62. The playback method determination unit 100 identifies the start position and end position of this section. The playback method determination unit 100 further determines a playback operation when playing back the identified section with reference to the “playback operation” item 136 in the playback operation section of the playback operation history information whose contents match or are similar. The playback operation in the section other than the specified section is set as normal playback. Thereby, the reproducing method of the content information 62 is determined.

  The playback method determining unit 100 determines a playback method of “playing back the content information 62 stored in the content information storage unit 72 by normal playback” in response to the error notification from the playback operation history management unit 94. .

  The reproduction method determination unit 100 creates information indicating the reproduction method determined as described above and gives the information to the reproduction operation instruction unit 78.

  The reproduction operation instruction unit 78 generates a control signal for realizing the determined reproduction method according to the determined reproduction method. The content information reproduction unit 80 reads the content information 62 stored in the content information storage unit 72 according to the generated control signal, and outputs it to the display device 66 via the reproduction output unit 82.

(Operation in response to playback operation by the user)
When the information reproduction apparatus 60 receives a reproduction operation by the user while the information reproduction apparatus 60 reproduces the content information 62 according to the determined reproduction method, the information reproduction apparatus 60 performs the reproduction operation in response to the series of operations described above. Change and create and store playback operation history. The operation of each functional unit of the information reproducing apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 1 at this time will be described below.

  Referring to FIG. 1, when the user performs a playback operation using input device 64 during playback of content information 62, playback operation instruction input unit 74 connected to input device 64 performs playback corresponding to the playback operation. Generate operation instructions. The reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 stores the generated reproduction operation instruction and gives the stored reproduction operation instruction to the reproduction operation instruction unit 78. When the playback operation instruction corresponds to “pause”, the playback operation instruction storage unit 76 starts measuring the duration of the pause from this point.

  The reproduction operation instruction unit 78 generates a control signal corresponding to the given reproduction operation instruction. The content information playback unit 80 changes the playback operation according to the control signal. Through these series of operations, the reproduction of the content information 62 in the reproduction operation corresponding to the reproduction operation is started.

  The reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 further notifies the reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 that the reproduction operation instruction has been received. The reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 outputs the content information 62 stored in the content information storage unit 72 from the content information storage unit 72 to the content information reproduction unit 80 when receiving a notification from the reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76. Identify where it is being done. The reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 uses the specified portion as the start position of the reproduction operation section, creates information indicating the start position, and temporarily holds the information.

  While the playback based on the playback operation continues, the information playback device 60 waits for a new playback operation by the user. When a new reproduction operation is performed, the reproduction operation instruction input unit 74 generates a reproduction operation instruction corresponding to the new reproduction operation. In response to the occurrence of a new reproduction operation instruction, the reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 gives the reproduction operation instruction that has already been stored to the reproduction operation history management unit 94. When the reproduction operation instruction already stored is “pause”, the reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 ends the measurement of the duration of the pause at this point. The reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 provides the reproduction operation history management unit 94 with the reproduction operation instruction that has already been stored and the measured duration of the pause.

  In addition, the reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 stores a new reproduction operation instruction and gives the reproduction operation instruction to the reproduction operation instruction unit 78. The reproduction operation instruction unit 78 receives a new reproduction operation instruction and gives a control signal corresponding to the reproduction operation instruction to the content information reproduction unit 80. The content information playback unit 80 changes the playback operation according to the control signal, and performs playback based on the playback operation.

  The reproduction operation instruction storage unit 76 determines whether the stored new reproduction operation instruction corresponds to “normal reproduction”, and gives a notification indicating the determination result to the reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90. In response to receiving the notification indicating the determination result, the playback operation instruction point specifying unit 90 specifies the start position of the playback operation section for the portion output from the content information storage unit 72 at that time. It specifies with the same operation. The reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 sets the specified portion as the end position of the reproduction operation section, and creates information indicating the end position. The reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 gives the information indicating the held start position and the information indicating the created end position to the reproduction operation section content analysis unit 92 and the reproduction operation history management unit 94. The reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 further refers to the determination result indicated by the notification. In response to the determination result being “No”, that is, “other than that the playback operation instruction returns to normal playback”, the playback operation instruction point specifying unit 90 sets the specified end position to the start of a new playback operation section. The position is created, and information indicating the start position is created and temporarily stored.

  The reproduction operation section content analysis unit 92 acquires information on the portion of the content information 62 that is reproduced in the reproduction operation section indicated by the information given from the reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 from the content information storage unit 72. When the meta information is attached to the content information 62, the reproduction operation section content analysis unit 92 acquires the meta information corresponding to the part at this time. The playback operation section content analysis unit 92 analyzes the content of the playback operation section based on the audio mode of the acquired information, the form of information, or the meta information about the portion, and creates information indicating the content of the playback operation section. . The reproduction operation section content analysis unit 92 gives information indicating the start position and end position of the reproduction operation section and information indicating the content of the reproduction operation section to the reproduction operation history management unit 94.

  At this time, the playback operation history management unit 94 indicates the playback operation instruction in the playback operation section, information indicating the start position and end position of the playback operation section, and the content of the playback operation section for one playback operation section. Information is given. Based on the given information, the playback operation history management unit 94 creates and holds playback operation history information for one playback operation section. At this time, the reproduction operation history management unit 94 has an entry in the reproduction operation history information that is already held that matches the start position, end position, and reproduction operation of the reproduction operation section for the same content information. Then, the cumulative number of matching entries is added to make a change.

  While the reproduction of the content information 62 is being reproduced, the information reproduction device 60 repeats the above operation every time the user performs a reproduction operation, and creates information of each entry of the reproduction operation history information. When the reproduction of the content information 62 stored in the content information storage unit 72 is completed, the content information storage unit 72 gives information indicating the reproduction end position to the reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90. At that time, if the reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 holds information indicating the start position of the reproduction operation section, the reproduction operation instruction point specifying unit 90 sets the reproduction end position with respect to the held start position. As the end position of the playback operation section, information indicating the held start position and information indicating the given playback end position are given to the playback operation section content analysis unit 92 and the playback operation history management unit 94. The playback operation section content analysis unit 92 analyzes the content of the playback operation section with the same operation as described above, and the playback operation history management unit 94 performs the same operation as the above operation with respect to the playback operation section. Create and maintain playback operation history information.

  With the above operation, the reproduction operation history information 130 shown in FIG. 2 is created. The reproduction operation history management unit 94 accumulates the generated reproduction operation history information 130 and outputs it to the reproduction operation history information writing unit 110. The reproduction operation history information writing unit 110 performs a process of writing the reproduction operation history information 130 to a recording medium that is an input source of the content information 62 or a recording medium 68 that is connected separately from the input source of the content information.

  Hereinafter, specific operations of the information reproducing apparatus 60 will be exemplified in the first to sixth operation examples. The first operation example illustrates an operation of creating reproduction operation history information based on a reproduction operation received during reproduction of content information, determining a reproduction method for the same content information, and reproducing the content information. The second operation example illustrates an operation of determining and reproducing another content information reproduction method based on the created reproduction operation history information. In the third operation example, an operation of determining a playback method based on a playback operation history and playing back content information including a plurality of parts and including meta information is illustrated. The fourth operation example exemplifies an operation of identifying and reproducing a part that is important content for the user based on a reproduction operation indicated by the stored reproduction operation history and determining a reproduction method. The fifth operation example exemplifies an operation of creating a reproduction operation history based on a reproduction operation over a plurality of parts, determining a reproduction method of content information based on the reproduction operation history information, and reproducing the content information. In the sixth operation example, with respect to the pause reproduction operation, an operation of creating a reproduction operation history and determining a reproduction method is illustrated.

(First operation example)
In the first operation example described below, first, an operation in which the information reproduction device 60 creates the reproduction operation history information 130 illustrated in FIG. 2 based on the reproduction operation received during reproduction of the content information is exemplified. Next, an operation of determining and reproducing the same content information based on the reproduction operation history information 130 will be exemplified.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of content information played back in this example, the playback operation 402 of the information playback device 60 based on the playback operation by the user, and the playback operation section specified by the information playback device 60. Referring to FIG. 8, it is assumed that the content information in this example is a cooking program 400. This cooking program 400 is a 15-minute program. When the cooking program 400 is normally played back, information is output with the following configuration as time passes. That is, in the section from the beginning to 2 minutes, the opening video and the cooking introduction video are output. In a section from 2 minutes to 3 minutes, a video of a commercial message (hereinafter referred to as “CM”) is output. In the section from 3 minutes to 12 minutes, a demonstration video of cooking is output. In the section from 12 minutes to 13 minutes, CM is output again. In the section from 13 minutes to 14 minutes, text information indicating cooking ingredients and recipes is output. In the period from 14 minutes to 15 minutes, the state of tasting and the ending video are output. In the cooking program 400, the audio mode of the CM section is stereo, and the audio mode of the other sections is monaural. At this time, the information reproducing device 60 does not hold the reproduction operation history information, and it is assumed that the reproduction of the cooking program 400 is started by normal reproduction.

  When the user performs a playback operation to select a “fast-forward” playback operation at a time point 410 of two minutes from the playback start time of the cooking program 400, the information playback device 60 responds to this by displaying the cooking program 400 at this time point. Playback starts from 410 in the “fast forward” playback operation. At this time, a reproduction operation instruction indicating “fast forward” is held. Further, the information reproducing device 60 sets a time point 410 when the user performs a reproducing operation as a start position of the reproducing operation section 420 started by the reproducing operation. The information reproducing device 60 generates and retains information “2 minutes”, which is the time position at the time 410, as information indicating the start position of the reproduction operation section 420.

  The cooking program 400 continues to be played back in “fast forward”, and when the user selects a playback operation to return to “normal playback” at a time point 412 of 3 minutes from the playback start time, in response to this, The information reproduction device 60 changes the reproduction operation of the cooking program 400 from “fast forward” to “normal reproduction”. The information reproducing apparatus 60 sets the time point 412 when the user performs this reproducing operation as the end position of the reproducing operation section 420. The information reproducing device 60 generates information “3 minutes”, which is a temporal position at the time 412, as information indicating the end position of the reproducing operation section 420.

  When the start position and end position of the reproduction operation section 420 are specified, the information reproducing apparatus 60 analyzes the contents of the reproduction operation section. In this example, based on the fact that the audio mode of this section is stereo, the content of the playback operation section is analyzed as “CM”.

  The information reproducing device 60 holds the “fast forward” reproduction operation instruction, the time information “2 minutes” and “3 minutes” indicating the start position and the end position of the reproduction operation section, and the contents of the reproduction operation section 420. The reproduction operation history information related to the reproduction operation section 420 is created and held based on the information “CM” indicating “”.

  When the cooking program 400 continues to be played and the user performs a “fast forward” playback operation at a time 414 of 12 minutes from the playback start time, the information playback device 60 operates in the same manner as in the playback operation section 420. Reproduction by the “fast forward” reproduction operation is started, and a time position of “12 minutes” is specified as a start position of the reproduction operation section 422.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the user performs a “slow playback” playback operation at a time point 416 of 13 minutes from the playback start time point. At this time 416, the information reproducing device 60 stops the reproduction by “fast forward” and starts “slow reproduction”. In this case, the information reproducing device 60 identifies the time point 416, sets the identified temporal position as the end position of the reproduction operation section 422 that has already been started, and creates information indicating the temporal position of “13 minutes”. At this stage, since the start position and end position of the playback operation section are specified, the information playback apparatus 60 analyzes the contents of this playback operation section. Here, it is analyzed that the content of the reproduction operation section 422 is CM. The information playback device 60 stores the “fast forward” playback operation instruction, the time information “12 minutes” and “13 minutes” indicating the start position and end position of the playback operation section, and the content of the playback operation section 422. Based on the information “CM” shown, the reproduction operation history information related to the reproduction operation section 422 is created and held. Furthermore, since this time point 416 is also a time point at which “slow playback” is newly started, the information playback device 60 sets the time position “13 minutes” at this time point 416 as the start position of the new playback operation section 424. And

  When the user selects a “return to normal playback” playback operation and performs a playback operation at a time 418 when 14 minutes have elapsed from the start of playback, in response to this, the information playback device 60 changes the playback operation of the cooking program 400 to “ Change from "slow playback" to "normal playback". The information reproducing apparatus 60 sets the time point 418 when the user performs the reproducing operation as the end position of the reproducing operation section 424. The information reproducing device 60 generates information “14 minutes”, which is a temporal position at the time point 418, as information indicating the end position of the reproducing operation section 424.

  When the start position and end position of the playback operation section 424 are specified, the information playback device 60 analyzes the contents of the playback operation section. In this example, the content of the reproduction operation section is analyzed as text information indicating the ingredients and recipe of the dish.

  The information reproducing apparatus 60 holds the “slow reproduction” reproduction operation instruction, the time information “13 minutes” and “14 minutes” indicating the start position and the end position of the reproduction operation section, and the reproduction operation section 424. Based on the information “content / recipe text information” indicating the contents, the reproduction operation history information regarding the reproduction operation section 424 is created and held.

  Since playback is still in progress, the system waits until a playback operation instruction is input from the user. Thereafter, when 15 minutes have elapsed from the start of the reproduction of the cooking program 400, the reproduction of the cooking program 400 ends. In response to the completion of the reproduction of the cooking program 400, the information reproducing device 60 creates and stores reproduction operation history information for the cooking program 400. Through the above operation, the reproduction operation history information 130 shown in FIG. 2 is created and accumulated.

  When the cooking program 400 is recorded on a recording medium and the recording medium is writable, the information reproducing device 60 writes the created reproduction operation history information 130 on the recording medium. When another recording medium is writable by the information reproducing apparatus 60, the information reproducing apparatus 60 writes the reproduction operation history information 130 to the other recording medium.

  When the same cooking program 400 is input to the information reproducing device 60 at a later date and the information reproducing device 60 stores the cooking program 400, the information reproducing device 60 reads the reproducing operation history information from the stored cooking program 400 or an external recording medium. ,accumulate. In this example, the information reproducing apparatus 60 already holds the reproduction operation history information 130 (see FIG. 2) of the cooking program 400. The information reproducing device 60 refers to the information operation history information 130 and determines a method for reproducing the cooking program 400.

  Referring to FIG. 2, according to the reproduction operation history information 130, when the cooking program 400 is reproduced in the past, a reproduction operation by the user is performed, and “2 minutes” to “3 minutes” in the reproduction operation section “ It indicates that the playback by “fast forward” has been executed. Similarly, in the playback operation section from “12 minutes” to “13 minutes”, it is indicated that the playback was performed in “fast forward”. In the subsequent playback operation section from “13 minutes” to “14 minutes”, it is indicated that the playback was performed by “slow playback”. The information reproducing device 60 determines a reproduction method so that reproduction of the current cooking program 400 is performed by the same reproduction operation in the same section. In this case, the determined reproduction method is a reproduction of the reproduction operation 402 based on the user's reproduction operation.

(Second operation example)
In the second operation example described below, an operation of determining and reproducing another content information reproduction method based on the created reproduction operation history information is exemplified. In this example, the reproduction method is determined based on the reproduction operation history information 130 shown in FIG. 2 created for the cooking program 400 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows a configuration of another cooking program 440 that is a target for determining the playback method in this example, and an outline of the playback method 442 that the information playback device 60 determines for the cooking program 440. Referring to FIG. 9, cooking program 440 is a 20-minute program. When the cooking program 440 is played, an opening video and a food introduction video are output in a section from the beginning to 1 minute. In the section from 1 minute to 7 minutes, the first half of the cooking demonstration video is output. CM is output in the period of 7 to 8 minutes. In the section 454 from 8 to 15 minutes, the latter half of the cooking demonstration video is output. The CM is output again in the 15 to 16 minute section. Text information on ingredients and recipes is output in the 16 to 17 minute interval. An image of a tasting pattern is output in the period from 17 minutes to 18 minutes. From 18 minutes to 19 minutes, text information introducing the application destination of the program present is output. The ending video is output in the section from 19 minutes to 20 minutes, and the cooking program 440 ends.

  In this example, it is assumed that the reproduction operation history information corresponding to the cooking program 440 is not held. When the cooking program 440 shown in FIG. 9 is input, an attempt is made to read the reproduction operation history information for the cooking program 440 in the same operation as in the first operation example, but this example fails. In this case, the information reproduction device 60 reads the reproduction operation history information 130 (see FIG. 2) for the cooking program 400 (see FIG. 8), which is other accumulated content information.

  Since the read reproduction operation history information 130 is for the cooking program 400 shown in FIG. 8, the reproduction operation history indicated by the reproduction operation history information 130 is reproduced as it is when the cooking program 440 having a different temporal structure is reproduced. I can't do it. At this time, the playback method determining unit 100 determines the playback method with reference to the content of the playback operation section stored in the “content” item 138 of the playback operation history information 130.

  For example, referring to FIG. 2, according to the reproduction operation history information 130, the user performs a “fast forward” reproduction operation in a section whose content is “CM”. In addition, the user performs “slow playback” in the section whose content is “text information”. The information reproducing device 60 compares these items with the content information of the cooking program 440 and determines a reproducing method. In the cooking program 440 shown in FIG. 9, the sections 452 and 456 in which “CM” is output are played back by “fast forward”, the sections 458 and 462 that are “text information” are played back slowly, and the other sections 450 and 454 are played. A reproduction method 442 for normal reproduction of 460, 464 is determined. The inputted and stored cooking program 440 is reproduced according to the reproducing method 442. Even during playback based on the playback method 442, when the user performs a playback operation, the playback operation is changed based on the playback operation. The reproduction operation history is accumulated as reproduction operation history information for the cooking program 440.

(Third operation example)
In the first operation example and the second operation example described above, the reproduction operation section is specified by the time position. If the content information is information composed of a plurality of parts, it is desirable to determine and reproduce the reproduction method for each part. Further, in recent content information, it is possible to attach meta information to content information, and to provide information that briefly indicates the contents of each part by meta information. In the third operation example described below, an operation of determining a playback method based on playback operation history information and playing back content information composed of a plurality of parts and attached with meta information for each part is illustrated. In this example, the determination of the playback method for the part that is performing the “fast-forward” playback operation based on the playback operation history information will be exemplified.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the configuration of the baseball program 500 and an example of a playback method that the information playback device 60 determines for the baseball program as an example of content information to be determined for the playback method in this example. In this example, it is assumed that the information reproducing apparatus 60 accumulates reproduction operation histories for different baseball programs. Referring to FIG. 10, a baseball program 500 is a baseball game in which B team is the first player and A team is the second player, and is composed of a plurality of parts 502A, 502B,. These parts are independent information, unlike the sections in the cooking programs 400 and 440 shown in FIGS. The baseball program 500 is attached with meta information 504 indicating the content of information for each part. The meta information 504 of the baseball program 500 indicates inning at that time, information indicating a batter at a part, and the like.

  For example, when the user is supporting “Team A” and watching a baseball program, the attack scene of “Team A” is played back in normal playback, and the scene of other teams attacking is played back in fast-forward. It is assumed that there is a tendency that the reproduction operation is often performed. Further, it is assumed that normal reproduction is often performed in a scene in which the players “B5” and “B6” of the “B team” are batters. Further, it is assumed that the user tends to perform a reproduction operation so that the final time is reproduced as “normal reproduction”.

  Then, the reproduction operation history information about the parts whose players “A1”. On the other hand, the reproduction operation history information about parts whose batters are players of other teams increases. Furthermore, “fast forward” increases in the playback operation instructions in the playback operation history information for the parts whose players of other teams are batters.

  When the content information of the baseball program 500 is input, the information reproducing device 60 refers to the meta information of each part of the input content information. The information reproducing device 60 performs a reproduction operation corresponding to a reproduction operation frequently performed by the user in a part having similar contents of content information reproduced in the past based on the accumulated reproduction operation history information. The playback operation in the part is specified, and the playback method of the baseball program 500 is determined. The reproduction method determined in this way is the reproduction method 510 shown in FIG.

  For example, the past about the part where the player “A1” of the team A... “A9” is the batter, the part where the players “B5” and “B6” of the team B are the batter, and the part whose inning is “9 times” Since the reproduction operation history information is small, the information reproducing apparatus 60 performs the “normal operation” when reproducing the section constituted by the parts including the information included in the meta information 504 among the parts constituting the baseball program 500. Replay ”. In addition, since there is a lot of reproduction operation history information for other parts and the reproduction operation in that part is often “fast forward”, the information reproducing apparatus 60 reproduces a section constituted by other parts. The playback operation is “fast forward”.

  The information reproducing device 60 reproduces the baseball program 500 in accordance with the decided reproduction method 510.

(Fourth operation example)
In the fourth operation example, based on the reproduction operation indicated by the stored reproduction operation history, the feature of the part that is important for the user is specified, and the reproduction is performed by the reproduction method according to the importance. Illustrate. In this example, the determination of the playback method for the part that is performing the “rewind” playback operation using the playback operation history information is particularly illustrated.

  FIG. 11 shows a configuration of the content information 550 that is a creation target of the reproduction operation history information that is referred to by the information reproduction apparatus 60 when determining the reproduction method in this example. FIG. 12 shows a configuration of content information 600 that is a target for performing playback based on a playback method determined in this example.

  Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, content information 550 and content information 600 in this example are English teaching materials, respectively. The teaching material 550 is composed of chapters 1 to 5, each chapter having a commentary and practice questions, each divided into parts. For example, in part 1-2, explanation of the Be verb is given, and in part 1-3 and part 1-4, exercises for Be verb are included. The learning material 550 includes meta information 552 indicating learning contents in each part. For example, the meta information 552 indicates that the content of part 2-2 is a general verb commentary. Further, the meta information 552 indicates that the content of part 2-3 is a general verb practice question 1.

  For example, when the user reproduces the learning material 550 and learns, the user performs the following reproduction operation. That is, since the learning progressed smoothly to Part 2-4, normal reproduction was performed. In addition, I stumbled a little in the general verb practice question 3 in Part 2-5 and the past practice practice 3 in Part 3-5, so each was rewound and learned again in normal playback. Also, in the field of passive in Chapter 5, I could not understand from the description of passive in Part 5-1 and Part 5-2, so I went back to Part 5-1, performed normal playback, and learned again. Since there were many mistakes in the exercises in Part 5-3, Part 5-4, and Part 5-5, I rewound up to Part 5-3 and re-learned with normal playback.

  Based on such a playback operation, the information playback device 60 creates and stores playback operation history information 560. Based on the reproduction operation history information 560, the user performs normal reproduction in the part related to the Be verb and the current progressive form. In addition, in the parts related to the general verb and the past tense, the user performs rewinding in some parts. In the part related to the past progressive form, the user rewinds in all parts of the exercise. Moreover, in the part regarding passive, it is shown that the user is performing rewinding in all the parts.

  Referring to FIG. 12, it is assumed that learning material 600 is input to information reproducing device 60 in order for the user to reproduce another learning material 600 and perform learning. The learning material 600 has a different configuration from the learning material 550, but includes meta information 602 as in the learning material 550. Based on the reproduction operation history information 560 shown in FIG. 11, the information reproduction device 60 identifies a section having a content similar to the reproduction operation section in which the “rewind” reproduction operation has been performed, based on the meta information 602. To do. Such a section is a section that is highly important for the user, that is, a section that provides content that requires re-learning. Therefore, the reproduction operation when reproducing such a section is referred to as “normal reproduction”. The other sections are sections that are less important to the user, that is, are provided with contents that do not require re-learning. Therefore, the information reproducing apparatus 60 sets the reproduction operation when reproducing the other sections as “fast forward”.

  In this way, the information reproduction device 60 determines the reproduction method 610 for the learning material 600 and reproduces the learning material 600 based on the reproduction method 610. That is, the part related to the Be verb and the current progressive form that the user seems to understand is reproduced by “fast forward”. For the part related to the general verb and the past tense that seems to be understood to some extent, only some parts of the exercise are normally played back, and the other parts are played back in fast-forward. For the part related to the past progressive form that seems to be somewhat uneasy for the user's understanding, the part of all practice questions is normally reproduced, and the other parts are reproduced in fast-forward. As for the passive parts that seem to be hardly understood by the user, all the parts including the commentary are reproduced by normal reproduction.

(Fifth operation example)
In the fifth operation example shown below, an operation of creating playback operation history information based on a playback operation over a plurality of parts, and an operation of determining and playing back a content information playback method based on the playback operation history information Is illustrated.

  FIG. 13 shows a configuration of content information 650 of performance by an orchestra for which the reproduction operation history information is created in this example, and a reproduction operation 660 performed by the user when reproducing the content information. Referring to FIG. 13, in this content information 650, the playing of the flute is from part 1-3 to part 1-7, from part 1-11 to part 1-16, from part 1-27 to part 1- Up to 32.

  The reproduction operation 660 performed by the user while reproducing the content information 650 is as follows. That is, the normal playback is started from part 1-1, but when the part 1-7 is completed and the part 1-8 is entered, the user performs a playback operation of “rewinding” until the middle of the part 1-2. When rewinding was performed, the user performed a “normal playback” playback operation. Thereafter, normal playback is continued until part 1-16. In part 1-17, the user performs a playback operation of “rewind”, and when the user performs rewind to the middle of part 1-10, the user performs “normal playback”. The playback operation was performed. Further, when the playback to the last part 1-32 is performed, the user performs a “rewind” playback operation. When the user performs a rewind to the middle of part 1-26, the user performs a “normal playback” playback operation. After that, it played back to the end with normal playback.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of the reproduction operation history information 700 for the content information 650 created by the information reproduction device 60 based on the reproduction operation 660. Referring to FIG. 14, the reproduction operation history information 700 includes not only the start part of the reproduction operation and the end part of the reproduction operation, but also information indicating an intermediate part existing between the start part and the end part, and the intermediate part. Including the contents of Note that the content of each intermediate part is the name of the musical instrument being played in the part.

  For example, the playback operation history information 710 for the first playback operation section includes information indicating part 1-8 that is the playback start position of “rewind” and part 1-2 that is the end position, and contents of those parts, The playback operation in the playback operation section, the cumulative number, and the intermediate part 1-3, part 1-4, part 1-5, part 1-6, part 1-6 between part 1-8 and part 1-2 7 and information indicating the contents of the intermediate part. The information indicating the contents of the start part 1-8 and the end part 1-2 in the playback operation section does not include the information “flute”. However, the information indicating the contents of the intermediate part 1-3, part 1-4, part 1-5, part 1-6, and part 1-7 includes information “flute”. Similarly, in the reproduction operation sections 712 and 714, “flute” is included in the contents of the intermediate part. Therefore, the content of information highly important to the user is “flute”.

  When determining the playback method based on the playback operation history information 700, the information playback device 60 refers to the contents of the intermediate part in addition to the contents of the start part and end part of the playback operation section, and performs the playback operation. Identify what is often done. The information reproducing device 60 identifies a reproduction operation in a part including content that matches or is similar to the identified content among the content information to be determined for the reproduction method, based on the reproduction operation in the reproduction operation section.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of a reproduction method 760 determined by the information reproduction apparatus 60 for other content information 750. Referring to FIG. 15, in the content information 750, the parts on which the flute performance is performed are part 2-1 to part 2-7, part 2-15 to part 2-20, and part 2-27 to part 2-32. It is. From the reproduction operation history information 700 shown in FIG. 14, the user performs the “rewind” reproduction operation in the part including “flute” in the content. Therefore, the information playback apparatus 60 determines the playback method 760 so that these parts of the content information 750 are rewound and played back again by normal playback.

(Sixth operation example)
In the sixth operation example, creation of a reproduction operation history related to a pause reproduction operation and determination of a reproduction method are illustrated.

  In the “pause” playback operation, the start position and end position of the operation match. In general, when the “pause” playback operation is started, the “pause” playback operation is continued until a transition is made to another playback operation. In order for the information reproducing apparatus 60 to determine the “pause” reproduction operation as a reproduction method, it is necessary to determine the “pause” duration in addition to the number of times of “pause”. Therefore, when the information reproduction device 60 receives a “pause” reproduction operation from the user, the information reproduction device 60 measures the time from when the “pause” reproduction operation is received until another reproduction operation is received. . The reproduction operation history information includes information indicating the duration of “pause”.

  FIG. 16 shows the configuration of the photo album content information 800 for which the reproduction operation history information is created in this example, and the reproduction operation 810 performed by the user during the reproduction of the content information 800. Referring to FIG. 16, each part of content information 800 is composed of a still image. Further, the content information 800 includes meta information 802 indicating the subject in the still image of each part. For example, the meta information 802 indicates that “Subject A”, “Subject B”, and “Subject C” are shown in the “Photo 1” part, and that “Subject A” is shown in “Photo 2”. Indicated. It is assumed that the information reproducing device 60 reproduces the still image of each part for 10 seconds when reproducing the content information 800 by “normal reproduction”.

  It is assumed that the user performs the following reproduction operation 810 during reproduction of the content information 800. That is, the “Photo 1” part in which “Subject A”, “Subject B” and “Subject C” are shown is paused for 6 seconds, and the “Photo 2” part in which “Subject A” is shown is 6 seconds. Pause for 6 seconds in the part “Photo 5” in which “Subject A” and “Subject B” are shown, and in the part “Photo 6” in which “Subject A” and “Subject C” are shown Pause for 3 seconds, Part “Photo 9” in which “Subject A”, “Subject B”, and “Subject C” are reflected, and pause for 7 seconds, Part “Photo 11” in which “Subject A” is shown Is a pause for 10 seconds, and “Photo 12” in which “Subject A”, “Subject B” and “Subject C” are shown is a pause for 5 seconds.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of the playback operation history information 830 created by the information playback device 60 for the content information 800. Referring to FIG. 17, in the reproduction operation history information 830, the reproduction operation instruction stored in the “reproduction operation” in all the reproduction operation sections is “pause”. When the reproduction operation instruction is paused, the start position stored in the “start position” item 832 and the end position stored in the “end position” item 834 of the reproduction operation section are the same position. In the playback operation history information for those playback operation sections whose “playback operation” 836 is “pause”, the “cumulative number” item 840 indicates the number of times the “pause” playback operation has been performed in the part. In addition to the information 842, the total duration 844 of “pause” is stored respectively.

  When determining the content information playback method, the information playback device 60 calculates the total duration 844 of “pause” when the playback operation of each part with similar contents is “pause”. With reference to this, the duration of this playback operation in the part is determined.

  Referring to FIG. 17, according to the reproduction operation history information 830, the information stored in the “content” item 838 of the reproduction operation section where the user “pauses” includes the information “subject A”. Therefore, the information reproducing apparatus 60 sets the reproduction operation in the part including the content “subject A” in the content information for which the reproduction method is determined as “pause”.

  The duration of “pause” in the part in which the playback operation is “pause” is determined by the average value of the total “844” of the duration of “pause” for the playback operation section having the same content.

  For example, according to the reproduction operation history information 830, “temporary” in the parts “photo 1”, “photo 9”, and “photo 12” in which “subject A”, “subject B”, and “subject C” are shown together. The total duration 842 of “stop” is “6 seconds”, “7 seconds”, and “5 seconds”, respectively. Therefore, the average duration of “pause” in the playback operation section of the content is “6 seconds”. Based on this, if there is a section in which “Subject A”, “Subject B”, and “Subject C” are shown together in the content information for which the playback method is to be determined, The duration of “pause” in the section is set to “6 seconds”.

  FIG. 18 shows an example of a configuration of content information 860 for which a playback method is determined based on playback operation history information 830 and a playback method 870 determined for the content information 860. Similar to the content information 800 shown in FIG. 16, the content information 860 includes a still image obtained by photographing “Subject A”, “Subject B”, or “Subject C”. Further, the content information 860 includes meta information 862 as in the case of the content information 800 shown in FIG. The meta information 862 is information indicating the subject shown in the still image of each part. It is assumed that the information reproducing device 60 reproduces the still image of each part for 10 seconds when reproducing the content information 800 by normal reproduction.

  Referring to FIG. 18, for example, in the content information 860, the still image parts in which “Subject A”, “Subject B”, and “Subject C” are shown together are “Photo 1”, “Photo 8”, “Photo 9”, “Photo 12”, “Photo 14”, and “Photo 15”. When the parts are reproduced by normal reproduction, the time for reproducing these parts is 10 seconds. The information playback device 60 sets the playback operation for these parts to “pause” and sets the duration to “6 seconds”. Therefore, in the reproduction method 870, the information reproducing apparatus 60 adds the duration “6 seconds” to be reproduced with “pause” to the time for reproducing these parts to 10 seconds for normal reproduction. Time is determined as “16 seconds”.

  As described above, information reproducing apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment accumulates a history of reproducing operations performed by the user as reproducing operation history information. When reproducing the content information, the reproduction method is determined based on the reproduction operation history information, and reproduction is performed while changing the reproduction operation. By determining the playback method based on the playback operation by the user, playback is performed by playback operations such as rewinding, slow playback, and pause in a section considered to be highly important to the user. In a section that is considered to be less important to the user, playback is performed by a playback operation such as fast forward. By reproducing the content information by such a reproduction method, the user does not need to perform reproduction while manually searching for a desired reproduction point.

  In addition, since the information playback device 60 determines the playback method by referring to the content information, content information that has not been played back in the past is determined based on the past playback operation history information and played back. Can be done.

  In the present embodiment, the information reproducing device 60 reproduces the content information by the normal reproduction when the reproduction method cannot be determined because the reproduction operation history information is not held. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the reproduction operation history management unit 94 may hold initial information that is an alternative to the reproduction operation history information for the reproduction method determination unit 100 to determine the reproduction method. The initial information may be stored in advance in the content information 62, or may be stored in the playback operation history management unit 94 at the time of shipment of the information playback device 60. Also, the user's preferences, interests, attributes important to the user or attributes of unnecessary information may be input by the user, and initial information may be created and stored based on the input information. In any case, it is desirable that the initial information includes at least information corresponding to information indicating the content of the playback operation section and information indicating the playback operation.

  Note that the information reproducing device 60 is not limited to the reproducing operation history information about the content information and is held in the reproducing operation history managing unit 94 when the reproducing operation history information is written on the recording medium on which the content information is recorded. Other content information including information about a reproduction operation section having similar contents among the reproduction operation history information may be written together. In this case, for example, the reproduction operation history information writing unit 110 checks the genre of the content information 62, and reproduces operation history information about the content information 62 and reproduction operation history about other content information similar to the content information 62. Output information.

  Note that the information reproducing device 60 according to the above-described embodiment outputs a reproduction signal of content information to the display device 66. However, the information reproducing apparatus 60 may output a reproduction signal to a recording apparatus that records content information. Content information can be recorded based on the playback method determined by the playback method determination unit 100. In this case, it may be possible to omit the reproduction of the content for the section in which it is indicated by the past reproduction operation history that the user often performs reproduction operations such as fast forward and skip. In this case, for example, when watching a baseball program, if the user always fast-forwards when the opponent team attacks, the attacking scene of the opponent team is not recorded by the recording device when the baseball program is recorded. .

  The embodiment disclosed herein is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each claim in the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are intended. Including.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the information reproduction apparatus 60 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the reproduction operation history information which the reproduction operation history management part 94 produces and accumulate | stores. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the computer system 150 which implement | achieves each function of the information reproduction apparatus 60 which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program 200 which makes a computer operate | move as the information reproduction apparatus 60, if it performs with a computer. It is a flowchart which shows the process structure of the reproduction | regeneration method determination process performed by S210 of the program 200 shown in FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing structure of a reproduction operation history management process executed in S218 of the program 200 shown in FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing structure of a history storage process executed in S328, S332, and S338 of the reproduction operation history management process 300 shown in FIG. The structure of the content information reproduced | regenerated in the 1st operation example and the outline of reproduction | regeneration operation by a user are shown. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content information used as the determination object of the reproduction | regeneration method in the 2nd operation example, and the reproduction | regeneration method 442 determined. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the content information used as the determination object of the reproduction | regeneration method in a 3rd operation example, and the reproduction | regeneration method which the information reproduction apparatus 60 determines about a baseball program. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content information 550 used as the preparation object of the reproduction operation history information in the 4th operation example. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the content information 600 used as the determination object of the reproduction method in the 4th operation example, and the determined reproduction method. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the content information 650 used as the preparation object of the reproduction operation history information in a 5th operation example, and the reproduction operation which the user performed. It is a figure which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration operation history information 700 which the information reproduction apparatus 60 produces in a 5th operation example. It is a figure which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration method 760 which the information reproduction apparatus 60 determines about another content information 750 in a 5th operation example. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the content information 800 which is the preparation object of reproduction | regeneration operation history information in the 6th operation example, and the reproduction | regeneration operation 810 which the user performed. It is a figure which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration operation history information 830 which the information reproduction apparatus 60 produces in a 6th operation example. It is a figure which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration method 870 which the information reproduction apparatus 60 determines about another content information 860 in a 6th operation example.

Explanation of symbols

  60 information playback device, 62 content information, 64 input device, 66 display device, 68 recording medium, 70 content information input unit, 72 content information storage unit, 74 playback operation instruction input unit, 76 playback operation instruction storage unit, 78 playback operation Instructing unit, 80 content information reproducing unit, 82 reproducing output unit, 90 reproducing operation instruction point specifying unit, 92 reproducing operation section content analyzing unit, 94 reproducing operation history managing unit, 100 reproducing method determining unit, 110 reproducing operation history information writing 112, reproduction operation history information extraction unit, 130 reproduction operation history information, 150 computer system, 160 computer, 162 monitor, 164 remote control, 166 remote control I / F, 170 optical disk drive, 172 magnetic disk drive, 174 hard disk, 176 CPU, 178 ROM, 180 RAM, 182 optical disk, 184 magnetic disk

Claims (22)

Playback means for playing back content in any of a plurality of playback operations;
In response to a playback operation by the user during playback of the content by the playback unit, a playback operation instruction unit for instructing the playback unit to perform a playback operation corresponding to the playback operation;
An information reproducing apparatus including a reproduction operation history management means for managing content reproduction operation history information based on a reproduction operation by a user during content reproduction and a reproduction operation by the reproduction means, wherein the reproduction operation history information Includes a reproduction operation history consisting of a set of a reproduction operation and section specifying information for specifying a section of the reproduction operation designated by the reproduction operation,
Furthermore, a playback method determination means for determining a playback method of the content to be played back based on the playback operation history information managed by the playback operation history management means;
An information reproduction apparatus comprising: automatic reproduction control means for controlling the reproduction means so as to automatically reproduce the content to be reproduced according to the reproduction method determined by the reproduction method determination means. The playback operation history management means specifies a playback operation section to be executed by the playback means in response to the playback operation based on the playback operation of the user and the playback operation by the playback means. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for managing in association with specific information. The content consists of a plurality of parts that are reproduced in a predetermined order and that can be identified by identification information from each other,
The reproduction operation history management means is based on the reproduction operation of the user and the reproduction operation by the reproduction means, and the identification information of the part including the reproduction position of the content when the reproduction operation by the user is received, The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for managing in association with a set of section specifying information including part identification information including an end position of a reproducing operation executed by the reproducing means in response to a reproducing operation. . The content consists of a plurality of parts that are reproduced in a predetermined order and that can be identified by identification information from each other,
The playback operation history management means responds to the playback operation from the part including the playback position of the content when receiving the playback operation based on the playback operation of the user and the playback operation by the playback means. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for managing in association with a set of section specifying information including part identification information up to a part including an end position of a reproducing operation executed by the reproducing means. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a content analyzing unit that is connected to the reproduction operation history managing unit and analyzes contents of a section specified by the section specifying information. The reproduction operation history management means manages the content reproduction operation history information in association with the content analyzed by the content analysis means based on the reproduction operation by the user during the content reproduction and the reproduction operation by the reproduction means. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, comprising: The content is composed of a plurality of parts that are reproduced in a predetermined order and that can be identified by identification information, and the plurality of parts are provided with meta information including the contents of the parts,
The content analysis means includes means for extracting content details of a section specified by the section specifying information using meta information of a part included in the section specified by the section specifying information. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6. The playback operation history management means specifies a playback operation section to be executed by the playback means in response to the playback operation based on the playback operation of the user and the playback operation by the playback means. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, comprising means for managing the specific information and the section in association with cumulative reproduction information indicating the length of reproduction by the reproduction operation. 9. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the accumulated reproduction information includes an accumulated time, an accumulated number of times, or both of reproducing an interval specified by the interval specifying information in the past by a reproducing operation corresponding to the reproducing operation. . The reproduction method determination unit performs a predetermined weighting for each reproduction operation in the reproduction operation history managed by the reproduction operation history management unit, and based on the accumulated reproduction information and the predetermined weight, The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, comprising means for determining a content reproducing method. The content is composed of a plurality of parts that are reproduced in a predetermined order and that can be identified by identification information, and the plurality of parts are provided with meta information including the contents of the parts,
The means for managing in association with the cumulative number of times is based on the user's reproduction operation and the reproduction operation by the reproduction means, and the reproduction operation by the user is performed on the part including the reproduction position of the content when the reproduction operation is received. A set of section specifying information including identification information and part identification information including the end position of the playback operation executed by the playback means in response to the playback operation, and the section specified by the section specifying information The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for managing in association with cumulative reproduction information indicating a length reproduced in step 1. The playback method determining means applies a predetermined weight to each part included in the section specified by the section specifying information according to the position in the section, and plays back according to the cumulative playback information of the section and the weight. 12. Information reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, comprising means for determining a method. The playback method determining means plays back the content to be played back using the playback operation obtained by converting the playback operation in the playback operation history information managed by the playback operation history management means by a predetermined conversion method. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for determining a method. 14. The plurality of playback operations according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of playback operations include a plurality of playback operations selected from normal playback, fast forward, rewind, pause, slow playback, and frame advance. Information playback device. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the reproduction operation is an operation for designating at least one of the plurality of reproduction operations. The reproduction operation history writing means for writing the reproduction operation history information managed by the reproduction operation history management means to a predetermined recording medium in response to occurrence of a predetermined event. 15. The information reproducing device according to any one of 15. The reproduction operation history information preparation means for preparing the reproduction operation history information for the content to be reproduced and giving the reproduction operation history information to the reproduction operation history management means prior to the determination of the reproduction method by the reproduction method determination means. The information reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16. The reproduction operation history information preparation means reads the reproduction operation history information and responds to the reproduction operation history management in response to the reproduction operation history information being recorded in the recording medium on which the content to be reproduced is recorded. 18. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising means for giving to the means. The reproduction operation history information preparation unit is configured to reproduce reproduction for other content having a predetermined relationship with the reproduction target content in response to the fact that the reproduction operation history information created for the reproduction target content is not found. 19. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising means for retrieving operation history information and supplying the operation history information to the reproduction operation history management means. A computer program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to operate as the information reproducing device according to any one of claims 1 to 19. A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 20 is recorded. Playing back the content to be played back using playback means for playing back the content in any of a plurality of playback operations;
In response to a playback operation by the user during playback of the content in the playback step, instructing the playback means to perform a playback operation corresponding to the playback operation;
Managing the playback operation history information of the content based on the playback operation by the user during playback of the content and the playback operation by the playback means, wherein the playback operation history information is designated by the playback operation and the playback operation. Including a playback operation history consisting of a set of section specifying information for specifying the section of the playback operation,
And determining a playback method of the content to be played back based on the playback operation history information managed by the step of managing the playback operation history;
Controlling the playback means to automatically play back the content to be played back in accordance with the playback method determined in the determining step.

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