JP2005340901A - Information processor and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology whereby a user can easily view proper contents information. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal 13 provides a road guide service to a user on the basis of a destination entered by the user riding on an automobile, calculates information such as a required time up to the destination, makes wireless communication of information related to the movement with a base station 14, and supplies the information to a home server 11 via a network 12. When the home server 11 acquires the information related to the movement from the terminal 13 via the network 12, the home server 11 selects contents 31 provided to the user on the basis of the information and supplies the selected contents 31 to the terminal 13 via the network 12. The technology above is applicable to e.g. cell computing systems. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, method, and program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, method, and program suitable for use in, for example, providing content to a user.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a content providing system that receives and accumulates content data (broadcast content) broadcast from a broadcasting station, for example, as a television signal or the like, and provides those content according to a user's situation. For example, the hard disk recorder receives broadcast content (various data including video data and audio data) according to a predetermined program table determined in advance by a broadcast station based on reservation information set by the user, and the broadcast content Is recorded (recorded) on a hard disk as a recording medium. Then, the hard disk recorder outputs the stored broadcast content to a monitor based on a user request, and displays an image corresponding to the broadcast content on the monitor.

  By doing as described above, the hard disk recorder can accumulate the content broadcast by the broadcast station and provide the content to the user at a timing after deviating from the broadcast timing. In other words, the hard disk recorder can shift the timing of providing the content to the user from the timing at which the content is broadcast, so that the content can be provided at a timing that suits the user's convenience.

  As an application of the content providing system as described above, for example, in a mobile electronic system including an information output device such as a car audio and a navigation device, for a mobile body that outputs audio information and video information suitable for the moving state of the mobile body There is an electronic system (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  This system calculates the time required to arrive at the destination based on the input destination, and until the destination arrives based on the output time information indicating the time required to output the content information. The content information to be output is selected and output according to the required time.

  Moreover, as a system which performs the control process according to the condition of the user (terminal device), for example, there is a home appliance control system and a navigation device that can operate home appliances at an appropriate timing (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  In this system, the navigation system calculates the estimated arrival time at the destination, generates operation instruction data for controlling the operation state of each device corresponding to the estimated arrival time, and the operation state of the home system. Sent to the control unit. The operation state control unit that has received the operation instruction data controls the operation state of each device based on the contents.

JP 2002-365061 A JP 2001-264077 A

  Incidentally, for example, in the case of Patent Document 1, all content information is recorded on a built-in hard disk regardless of the required time. Then, content information provided to the user is selected and output from the content information recorded on the hard disk according to the required time.

  In such an apparatus, the storage capacity of the hard disk is finite, and the amount of content that can be provided to the user is determined by the storage capacity of the hard disk. For example, since the navigation device of Patent Document 1 is a vehicle-mounted device, its installation space and power supply are limited, and this hard disk can be added in large quantities, using a storage capacity that is virtually infinite. This content cannot be recorded freely and provided to the user. In practice, the storage capacity is often several tens of gigabytes to several hundreds of gigabytes.

  Therefore, for example, when the capacity of content information is large, such as video information, there is a problem that a large amount of content cannot be recorded with the above-described storage capacity to cope with any required time. . In addition, content information that is not actually selected (content information that is never selected in the selection result corresponding to the required time) is also recorded, and there is a problem in that the limited storage capacity cannot be effectively used.

  Furthermore, for example, when content information is acquired from another device via a communication unit or the like and recorded in a hard disk, the navigation device of Patent Document 1 does not actually select content information (in the selection result corresponding to the required time). Content information that has never been selected) is also supplied, causing unnecessary communication traffic and a problem that the communication capacity cannot be used effectively. In that case, power resources (electric power, gasoline, etc.) may be consumed unnecessarily.

  In addition, for example, when the user has a plurality of navigation devices (for example, when a user has a plurality of vehicles and a navigation device is installed in each vehicle), any navigation device has content information as described above. In order to be able to realize the provision, the user must record content information, which is unknown to be viewed at that time, on the hard disk of the navigation device for each of the navigation devices. Therefore, even if the user records the content information on the hard disk with complicated work, there is a possibility that there is content information that is not actually selected and is not provided to the user. In this way, there is a risk of causing the user to perform complicated and unnecessary work.

  In addition, this navigation device is, for example, control for recording processing using a hard disk recorder or the like at the user's home, or control corresponding to viewing processing using a television receiver or the like at the user's home. Control that is linked to other devices cannot be performed.

  Although the cooperation process between the navigation device and the home system is described in Patent Document 2, for example, in the case of Patent Document 2, the operation state control unit determines the power state of each device in the home system. For example, there is a problem that complicated control such as recording processing and reproduction processing of content information cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. For example, the content can be provided by a method according to the user's situation so that the user can easily view more suitable content information. It is something that can be done.

  The first information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first supply unit that supplies information related to a user's movement to another information processing apparatus, and another information based on the information related to the user's movement supplied by the first supply unit. An acquisition unit that acquires the content selected and supplied by the information processing apparatus, and a reproduction unit that reproduces the content acquired by the first acquisition unit.

  The information relating to the movement of the user may be information relating to the time required for the moving user to arrive at the destination.

  The information regarding the movement of the user may be information regarding an arrival time at which the moving user arrives at the destination.

  The information relating to the movement of the user may be information relating to the current position of the moving user.

  The content acquired by the acquisition means can be streaming data.

  The apparatus may further include a storage unit that stores the content acquired by the acquisition unit, and the playback unit may play back the content stored in the storage unit.

  Receiving means for receiving content broadcast from the broadcasting station, storage means for storing the content received by the receiving means, and a second supply for supplying a list of contents stored by the storing means to another information processing apparatus And the acquisition means is generated and supplied by another information processing device based on the information on the movement of the user supplied by the first supply means and the list supplied by the second supply means. The content reproduction management information for managing the reproduction processing of the content thus obtained is acquired, and the reproduction means reproduces the content stored in the storage means based on the content reproduction management information acquired by the acquisition means. Can do.

  The information processing apparatus may further include a distributed processing unit that operates in cooperation with another information processing apparatus connected to the network and performs processing related to provision of content to users in a distributed manner.

  The first information processing method of the present invention is controlled and supplied by processing of a first supply control step for controlling information relating to the movement of the user to be supplied to another information processing apparatus, and a process of the first supply control step. Selected by another information processing device based on the information relating to the movement of the user, and acquired by being controlled by the processing of the acquisition control step for controlling to acquire the supplied content and the first acquisition control step A playback step of playing back the content.

  The first program of the present invention is supplied by being controlled by processing of the first supply control step for controlling the information relating to the movement of the user to be supplied to another information processing apparatus and the processing of the first supply control step. Content acquired by being controlled by the processing of the acquisition control step and the first acquisition control step that are selected by another information processing device based on information related to the movement of the user and controlled to acquire the supplied content The computer is caused to execute a playback step for playing back.

  The second information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires information about a user's movement supplied from another information processing apparatus, and another information processing based on the information about the movement of the user acquired by the acquisition unit. The image processing apparatus includes: selection means for selecting content to be supplied to the apparatus; and supply means for supplying the content selected by the selection means to another information processing apparatus.

  The information relating to the movement of the user may be information relating to the time required for the moving user to arrive at the destination.

  The information regarding the movement of the user may be information regarding an arrival time at which the moving user arrives at the destination.

  The information relating to the movement of the user may be information relating to the current position of the moving user.

  The supply means may supply content as streaming data.

  The supply means may supply content as download data.

  The apparatus further comprises receiving means for receiving the content broadcast from the broadcasting station, and storage means for storing the content received by the receiving means, and the selecting means performs other information processing from the contents stored in the storage means. The content to be supplied to the device can be selected.

  The information processing apparatus may further include a distributed processing unit that operates in cooperation with another information processing apparatus connected to the network and performs processing related to provision of content to users in a distributed manner.

  The second information processing method according to the present invention includes an acquisition control step for controlling to acquire information related to a user's movement supplied from another information processing apparatus, and a user acquired by being controlled by the processing of the acquisition control step. A selection step for selecting content to be supplied to another information processing device based on information relating to movement of the user, and a supply control step for controlling to supply the content selected by the processing of the selection step to the other information processing device It is characterized by including.

  The second program of the present invention includes an acquisition control step for controlling to acquire information related to a user's movement supplied from another information processing apparatus, and a user's movement acquired by being controlled by the processing of the acquisition control step. A selection step of selecting content to be supplied to another information processing device based on information about the information, and a supply control step of controlling the content selected by the processing of the selection step to be supplied to the other information processing device Let it run.

  In the first information processing apparatus and method and the first program of the present invention, information related to the movement of the user is supplied to the other information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus based on the information related to the movement of the user The selected content is acquired, and the acquired content is reproduced.

  In the second information processing apparatus and method and the second program of the present invention, information on the movement of the user supplied from another information processing apparatus is acquired, and based on the acquired information on the movement of the user. The content to be supplied to another information processing apparatus is selected, and the selected content is supplied to the other information processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, information can be processed. In particular, for example, content can be provided by a method according to the user's situation. Further, for example, it is possible to allow the user to easily view more suitable content information.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between constituent elements described in the claims and specific examples in the embodiments of the present invention are exemplified as follows. This description is to confirm that specific examples supporting the invention described in the claims are described in the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, even if there are specific examples that are described in the embodiment of the invention but are not described here as corresponding to the configuration requirements, the specific examples are not included in the configuration. It does not mean that it does not correspond to a requirement. On the contrary, even if a specific example is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, this means that the specific example does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. not.

  Further, this description does not mean that all the inventions corresponding to the specific examples described in the embodiments of the invention are described in the claims. In other words, this description is an invention corresponding to the specific example described in the embodiment of the invention, and the existence of an invention not described in the claims of this application, that is, in the future, a divisional application will be made. Nor does it deny the existence of an invention added by amendment.

  In the present invention, content (for example, content 31 in FIG. 1) supplied from another information processing apparatus (for example, home server 11 in FIG. 1) connected via a network (for example, network 12 in FIG. 1). Is provided to the user (for example, the terminal device 13 in FIG. 1). In this information processing apparatus, first supply means (for example, the required time information supply unit 71 in FIG. 8) for supplying information related to the movement of the user (for example, the required time T in FIG. 2) to another information processing apparatus; An acquisition unit (for example, the content acquisition unit 72 in FIG. 8) that is selected by another information processing apparatus based on the information relating to the movement of the user supplied by the first supply unit and acquires the supplied content; A reproduction unit (for example, the content reproduction unit 73 in FIG. 8) that reproduces the content acquired by the one acquisition unit.

  The information related to the movement of the user is information related to the time required for the moving user to arrive at the destination (for example, the home 21 in FIG. 1) (for example, the required time information 68 in FIG. 4). Can do.

  The information related to the movement of the user may be information related to the arrival time when the moving user arrives at the destination (for example, the arrival time information 272 in FIG. 38).

  The information regarding the movement of the user may be information regarding the current position of the moving user (for example, the current position information 311 in FIG. 59).

  The storage unit (for example, the storage unit 141 in FIG. 16) that stores the content acquired by the acquisition unit may be further provided, and the playback unit may play back the content stored in the storage unit.

  Receiving means (for example, the input unit 44 in FIG. 29) that receives content broadcast from a broadcasting station (for example, the broadcasting station 15 in FIG. 1), and storage means (for example, FIG. 29) that stores the content received by the receiving means. 29 storage unit 141) and a second supply unit (for example, content list supply in FIG. 30) for supplying the content list (for example, content list 211 in FIG. 30) stored in the storage unit to another information processing apparatus. 221), and the acquisition unit is generated by another information processing apparatus based on the information about the movement of the user supplied by the first supply unit and the list supplied by the second supply unit. , Acquires content playback management information (for example, content playback management information 161 in FIG. 30) for managing the playback processing of the supplied content, and plays it back Stage may be based on the obtained content reproduction management information by obtaining means, so as to reproduce the content stored by the storing means.

  It is further provided with distributed processing means (for example, the information processing controller 411 in FIG. 64) that operates in cooperation with the other information processing apparatuses connected to the network and executes processing related to provision of content to users. Can be.

  In the present invention, content (for example, content 31 in FIG. 1) supplied from another information processing apparatus (for example, home server 11 in FIG. 1) connected via a network (for example, network 12 in FIG. 1). An information processing method of an information processing device (for example, the terminal device 13 in FIG. 1) that provides the user with the information is provided. In this information processing method, a first supply control step (for example, step S41 in FIG. 13) for controlling information related to user movement (for example, the required time T in FIG. 2) to be supplied to another information processing apparatus. And an acquisition control step for controlling to acquire the supplied content selected by another information processing device based on the information related to the movement of the user controlled and supplied by the processing of the first supply control step ( For example, it includes a step S42 in FIG. 13 and a reproduction step (for example, step S44 in FIG. 13) for reproducing the content acquired under the control of the first acquisition control step.

  In the present invention, content (for example, content 31 in FIG. 1) supplied from another information processing apparatus (for example, home server 11 in FIG. 1) connected via a network (for example, network 12 in FIG. 1). A program for causing a computer (for example, the terminal device 13 in FIG. 1) to perform the process of providing the user with the user is provided. This program includes a first supply control step (for example, step S41 in FIG. 13) for controlling information relating to user movement (for example, the required time T in FIG. 2) to be supplied to another information processing apparatus, An acquisition control step (for example, FIG. 5) that controls to acquire the supplied content selected by another information processing device based on the information related to the movement of the user controlled and supplied by the processing of one supply control step. 13 step S42) and a reproduction step (for example, step S44 in FIG. 13) for reproducing the content acquired under the control of the first acquisition control step.

  In the present invention, content (for example, content 31 in FIG. 1) is supplied to another information processing apparatus (for example, terminal device 13 in FIG. 1) connected via a network (for example, network 12 in FIG. 1). Thus, an information processing apparatus (for example, the home server 11 in FIG. 1) that provides the user with the content is provided. In this information processing apparatus, acquisition means (for example, the required time information acquisition unit 112 in FIG. 9) for acquiring information (for example, the required time T in FIG. 2) relating to the movement of the user supplied from another information processing apparatus, A selection unit (for example, a supply content selection unit 113 in FIG. 9) that selects content to be supplied to another information processing apparatus based on information about the movement of the user acquired by the acquisition unit, and the content selected by the selection unit Supply means (for example, the content supply control unit 118 in FIG. 9) for supplying to other information processing apparatuses.

  The information related to the movement of the user is information related to the time required for the moving user to arrive at the destination (for example, the home 21 in FIG. 1) (for example, the required time information 68 in FIG. 4). Can do.

  The information related to the movement of the user may be information related to the arrival time when the moving user arrives at the destination (for example, the arrival time information 272 in FIG. 38).

  The information regarding the movement of the user may be information regarding the current position of the moving user (for example, the current position information 311 in FIG. 59).

  Receiving means (for example, the content acquisition unit 115 in FIG. 9) for receiving content broadcast from the broadcasting station, and storage means (for example, the storage unit 117 in FIG. 9) for storing the content received by the receiving means are further provided. The selection means can select content to be supplied to another information processing apparatus from the contents stored in the storage means.

  It is further provided with distributed processing means (for example, the information processing controller 411 in FIG. 64) that operates in cooperation with the other information processing apparatuses connected to the network and executes processing related to provision of content to users. Can be.

  In the present invention, content (for example, content 31 in FIG. 1) is supplied to another information processing apparatus (for example, terminal device 13 in FIG. 1) connected via a network (for example, network 12 in FIG. 1). Thus, an information processing method of an information processing apparatus (for example, the home server 11 in FIG. 1) that provides the user with the content is provided. In this information processing method, an acquisition control step (for example, step S66 in FIG. 14) for controlling to acquire information (for example, the required time T in FIG. 2) relating to the movement of the user supplied from another information processing apparatus. And a selection step (for example, step S67 in FIG. 14) for selecting content to be supplied to another information processing device based on the information related to the movement of the user controlled and acquired by the processing of the acquisition control step, A supply control step (for example, step S68 in FIG. 14) for controlling the content selected by the processing to be supplied to another information processing apparatus.

  In the present invention, content (for example, content 31 in FIG. 1) is supplied to another information processing apparatus (for example, terminal device 13 in FIG. 1) connected via a network (for example, network 12 in FIG. 1). Thus, a program is provided that causes a computer (for example, the information processing apparatus 121-2 in FIG. 2) to perform processing for providing the content to the user. This program includes an acquisition control step (for example, step S66 in FIG. 14) for acquiring information related to user movement (for example, the required time T in FIG. 2) supplied from another information processing apparatus, and an acquisition. A selection step (for example, step S67 in FIG. 14) for selecting content to be supplied to another information processing apparatus based on the information relating to the movement of the user controlled and acquired by the control step process, and a selection by the selection step process A supply control step (for example, step S68 of FIG. 14) for controlling the supplied content to be supplied to another information processing apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an embodiment of a network system to which the present invention is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a network system 1 includes a home server 11, a network 12, a terminal device 13, a base station 14, and a broadcasting station 15, and content composed of various data including video data, audio data, and the like between the devices. 31 is a system for transmitting and receiving 31.

  The home server 11 receives the content 31 broadcast as a television signal or the like based on a predetermined standard, such as terrestrial analog broadcasting, at the broadcasting station 15, and stores (records) it in a built-in hard disk or the like. For example, it is configured by a hard disk recorder that outputs the accumulated content via a monitor, a speaker, etc. (not shown) based on a user instruction or the like. The home server 11 is installed in a user's home 21 and communicates with an antenna and a tuner capable of receiving content broadcast by the broadcasting station 15, a hard disk storing content, and other devices via the network 12. Part. A detailed configuration example of the home server 11 will be described later.

  The home server 11 is connected to a network 12 represented by, for example, the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). The network 12 may be constituted by a plurality of networks such as the Internet and a public telephone line network.

  The terminal device 13 installed in the automobile 22 owned by the user is connected to the network 12 via the base station 14. The terminal device 13 is connected to the network 12 by performing wireless communication with the base station 14 (wireless telephone communication or wireless communication based on a predetermined standard such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.11x). Communicate with other devices (for example, the home server 11). The terminal device 13 itself is a terminal device of a car navigation system (hereinafter referred to as a car navigation device), and provides a user with a route guidance service for the automobile 22. The terminal device 13 includes an output unit including a monitor, a speaker, and the like, and outputs contents such as video data and audio data to provide to the user.

  Note that the base station 14 and the broadcast station 15 do not indicate specific base stations or broadcast stations, and may be configured by a plurality of base stations and a plurality of broadcast stations, respectively. That is, the home server 11 selects an arbitrary program from a plurality of programs (contents) broadcast by a plurality of broadcasting stations by the tuner, receives and stores the selected program. The terminal device 13 communicates with the home server 11 connected to the network 12 by communicating with a base station installed at a position where communication can be performed at the current position of the terminal device 13 among the plurality of base stations. I do. Note that the terminal device 13 may be able to change the base station to be the communication partner when the position moves.

  The network system 1 is a system that provides a user with content 31 broadcast by the broadcasting station 15. The broadcasting station 15 sequentially broadcasts a plurality of contents 31 in accordance with a predetermined program table. The home server 11 receives, for example, the content 31 designated in advance by the user among the content 31 broadcast by the broadcast station 15, and the content 31-1, the content 31-2, the content 31-3,. Store on the internal hard disk.

  The terminal device 13 which is a car navigation device provides the user with a route guidance service based on the destination input by the user boarding the car, calculates information such as the required time to the destination, and so on. The information related to various movements is supplied to the home server 11. That is, the terminal device 13 performs wireless communication with the base station 14 and supplies information related to the movement to the home server 11 via the network 12.

  When the home server 11 acquires information related to movement from the terminal device 13 via the network 12, the content 31 provided to the user from the accumulated content 31 (for example, the contents 31-1 to 31-3) based on the information. Is supplied to the terminal device 13 via the network 12.

  When the terminal device 13 acquires the content 31 supplied in this manner, the terminal device 13 outputs the content 31 and provides it to the user.

  A specific example in which the home server 11 selects content provided to the user will be described with reference to FIG.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the home server 11 receives and accumulates (records) content P to content S, for example, based on user designation. In FIG. 2, the horizontal lengths of the contents P to S indicate the length of recording time (content length) for each content.

  At this time, it is assumed that the user moves from the point A to the point B on the automobile 22 in which the terminal device 13 is installed. When the user inputs a B point as a destination to the terminal device 13 at the A point, the terminal device 13 calculates a required time T to the B point, and uses the information related to the required time T as information related to the user's movement. 11 is supplied.

  When the home server 11 acquires information about the required time T as information about the movement of the user, the user selects a content 31 that can be viewed within the required time T based on the required time T and the recording time of each content. Then, the selected content 31 is supplied to the terminal device 13. In the case of the example of FIG. 2, the home server 11 selects the content P and the content R so that the total recording time becomes the required time T, and supplies them to the terminal device 13.

  The terminal device 13 that has acquired the content 31 reproduces and outputs the content. As a result, the user boarding the automobile 22 can view all of the content P and the content R while the automobile 22 moves from the point A to the point B. As a result, the user can spend the travel time without getting bored. For example, the user arrives at the destination before the reproduction of the content ends, and the user must end the viewing of the content halfway. Inconvenience can be easily avoided. That is, the home server 11 of the network system 1 can select the content according to the user's situation and supply it to the terminal device 13, and the terminal device 13 provides the user with the content according to the user's situation ( To watch).

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the terminal device 13. FIG. 3 shows only an example of the main configuration related to the present invention of the terminal device 13, and the terminal device 13 may of course have a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the terminal device 13 includes a navigation information supply unit 41, a navigation processing unit 42, a content management unit 43, an input unit 44, an output unit 45, and a communication unit 46.

  The navigation information supply unit 41 generates navigation information including, for example, current position information indicating the current position of the automobile 22, planned route information indicating a route plan to the destination, or a required time to the destination. The information is supplied to the navigation processing unit 42 or the content management unit 43.

  The navigation processing unit 42 provides a route guidance service based on the navigation information supplied from the navigation information supply unit 41.

  The content management unit 43 supplies the navigation information supplied from the navigation information supply unit 41 to the home server 12 via the communication unit 46, acquires the content supplied from the home server 12 via the communication unit 46, The data is supplied to the output unit 45 and provided to the user.

  The input unit 44 includes a keyboard, a mouse, various buttons, and the like, receives instructions from the user, and supplies the information to the navigation information supply unit 41, the navigation processing unit 42, or the content management unit 43.

  The output unit 45 outputs the navigation information 42 supplied from the navigation processing unit 42, the content supplied from the content management unit 43, and the like from a monitor and a speaker, and provides them to the user.

  The communication unit 46 communicates with the home server 12 via the base station 14 or the network 12, for example, provides information related to the required time to the home server 11 or receives content supplied from the home server 11. Is supplied to the content management unit 43. In addition, the communication unit 46 communicates with an unillustrated artificial satellite or the like in the navigation system to acquire GPS (Global Positioning System) information, which is information related to the current position of the automobile 22, and uses it as a navigation information supply unit. 41. Further, the communication unit 46 receives a service using a system such as VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) or ATIS (Advanced Traffic Information Service), acquires route information that is traffic information about the route, and uses it as navigation information. Supply to the supply unit 41.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the navigation information supply unit 41. FIG. 4 shows only an example of the main configuration related to the present invention of the navigation information supply unit 41, and the navigation information supply unit 41 may have a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. Of course.

  In FIG. 4, the navigation information supply unit 41 includes a position measurement unit 51, a destination setting unit 52, a route information acquisition unit 53, a route plan unit 54, and a time calculation unit 55.

  The position measurement unit 51 acquires GPS information 61 from the communication unit 46, uses the GPS information 61 to measure the current position of the automobile 22 using a built-in gyro mechanism or the like, and obtains the current position information 62. The navigation information 69 is supplied to the navigation processing unit 42. The position measuring unit 51 also supplies the calculated current position information 62 to the route planning unit 54.

  For example, when the destination setting unit 52 acquires the destination instruction information 64 which is a user instruction input via the input unit 44, the destination setting unit 52 sets the destination based on the destination instruction information, and sets the destination information 65. It is generated and supplied to the route planning unit 54.

  The route information acquisition unit 53 performs processing for acquiring the route information 66 supplied via the communication unit 46. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the route information 66. The route information 66 includes, for example, information such as a flow rate and a rainfall amount as shown in FIG. 5 in addition to traffic information related to traffic jams and construction. These pieces of information are set for each link number as shown in FIG. The link number indicates that the information included in the row is information on a part of the route in the planned route information 67 described later with reference to FIG.

  Then, the route information acquisition unit 53 supplies the acquired route information 66 to the route plan unit 54.

  The route planning unit 54 plans a route to the destination based on the supplied current position information 62, destination information 63, and route information 66, generates planned route information 67, and uses it as navigation information 69. The navigation processing unit 42 is supplied. In addition, the route planning unit 54 supplies the planned route information 67 to the time calculation unit 55.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the planned route information 67. The planned route information 67 is information relating to the route to the destination presented to the user, and the navigation processing unit 42 basically provides a route guidance service along this route. As shown in FIG. 6, the planned route information 67 plans a route for each node that becomes a branch point, and sets the planned route (planned route) for each node. For example, information on the node number, the latitude, longitude, height (elevation) of the node, the link distance indicating the distance from the previous node, and the link number indicating the node number of the previous node including.

  For example, in the row of the node number “2” in FIG. 6, information regarding the node having the node number “2” is included, the longitude of this node is “139 ° 43′38 ″”, and the latitude is “ 35 ° 40′10 ″ ”, the altitude is“ 40 ”, the distance from the previous link is“ 100 ”, and the node number of the node is“ 1 ”. .

  The time calculation unit 55 calculates a required time T to the destination based on the supplied planned route information 67, generates required time information 68 that is information related to the required time, and uses this as navigation information 69 for navigation. This is supplied to the processing unit 42. In addition, the time calculation unit 55 supplies the required time information 68 to the content management unit 43.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the required time information 68. In the required time information 68, as shown in FIG. 7A, the required time T is indicated by a value for each unit such as hours, minutes, and seconds. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, such required time is output in a predetermined manner such as “number”, “command”, and “data”. In FIG. 7B, a number is a number for identifying each required time information, a command is a command executed at a transmission destination, and data is data necessary for execution of the command. That is, in the case of the example of FIG. 7B, the required time information 68 of the number “1” includes a “time optimal content command” for executing a process of providing content optimal for the “required time” included in the data.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary internal configuration of the content management unit 43. Note that FIG. 8 shows only an example of a main configuration of the content management unit 43 related to the present invention, and the content management unit 43 may of course have a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. .

  The content management unit 43 includes a required time information supply unit 71, a content acquisition control unit 72, and a content reproduction unit 73.

  When the content acquisition / playback instruction 81 input by the user operating the input unit 44 is supplied to the content management unit 43, the required time information supply unit 71 acquires the required time information 68 from the navigation information supply unit 41. The required time information 68 is supplied to the home server 11 via the communication unit 68.

  The content acquisition control unit 72 acquires the streaming data content 31 supplied from the home server 11 according to the required time information 68 via the communication unit 46, and supplies the content 31 to the content reproduction unit 73. .

  The content playback unit 73 performs playback processing using the content 31 of streaming data supplied from the content acquisition control unit 72, and supplies the played back playback content 82 to the output unit 45 for output.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the home server 11 of FIG. Note that FIG. 9 shows only an example of the main configuration of the home server 11 related to the present invention, and the home server 11 may of course have a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the home server 11 includes a communication unit 111, a required time information acquisition unit 112, a supply content selection unit 113, an input unit 114, a content acquisition unit 115, a content management unit 116, a storage unit 117, and a content The supply control unit 118 is configured.

  The communication unit 111 communicates with the terminal device 13 via the network 12 to exchange various data such as the required time information 68 and the content 31.

  The required time information acquisition unit 112 acquires the required time information 68 from the terminal device 13 via the communication unit 111 and supplies the required time information to the supply content selection unit 113.

  The supply content selection unit 113 selects content to be supplied to the terminal device 13 based on the supplied required time information 68 and content related information 131 described later, and generates supply content information 132 that is information related to the content. The supplied content information 132 is supplied to the content supply control unit 118.

  For example, the input unit 114 supplies information related to acquisition (recording) of content reserved by the user using a reservation function or the like to the content acquisition unit 115 or the content management unit 116.

  The content acquisition unit 115 includes an antenna and a tuner capable of receiving a program (content) broadcasted by the broadcast station 15, and using them, the content 31 specified by an instruction input from the input unit 114, The content related information 131 that is information related to the content 31 is selected and received, and the received content 31 and content related information 131 are supplied to the content management unit 116.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the content related information 131. In FIG. 10, the content related information 131 includes additional information related to the content 31 such as “content number”, “title”, “date / time”, “time”, “category”, and “genre”. Of course, the content related information 131 may include information of other items.

  The content management unit 116 manages input / output of the content 31 (and content related information 131) stored in the storage unit 117. For example, when the content management unit 116 acquires a content recording instruction via the input unit 114, the content management unit 116 supplies the content 31 and the content related information 131 supplied from the content acquisition unit 115 to the storage unit 117 for storage.

  Further, based on the request from the supply content selection unit 113, the content management unit 116 reads the requested content related information 131 from the storage unit 117 and supplies it to the supply content selection unit 113. Further, the content management unit 116 reads the content 31 requested by the content supply control unit 118 from the storage unit 117 and supplies the content 31 to the content supply control unit 118.

  The storage unit 117 is configured by a large-capacity storage medium such as a hard disk, for example, and includes a content-related information storage unit 121 and a content storage unit 122. The content 31 supplied from the content management unit 116 is stored in the content storage unit 122. The content related information 131 supplied from the content management unit 116 is stored in the content related information storage unit 121.

  The content supply control unit 118 controls the content management unit 116 on the basis of the supply content information 132 supplied from the supply content selection unit 113, and the content 31 corresponding to the required time T (the content 31 that is optimal for the user's situation). ) And is supplied to the terminal device 13 via the communication unit 111.

  Next, processing executed in the network system 1 of FIG. 1 will be described.

  First, the terminal device 13 will be described. The terminal device 13 receives, for example, a destination setting input by the user, performs route guidance processing to the destination input by the user, calculates a required time to the destination, Provide content according to the time required. For example, when the terminal device 13 starts operation as the terminal device 13 of the network system 1 by turning on the power or the like, the terminal device 13 executes terminal processing.

  A terminal process is demonstrated with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S1, the navigation processing unit 42 of the terminal device 13 determines whether or not a destination is set. If it is determined that the destination is not set, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S <b> 2, the destination setting unit 52 of the navigation information supply unit 41 controls the input unit 44 to determine whether or not a destination is instructed. When the destination instruction information 64 is supplied from the input unit 44 and it is determined that the destination is instructed, the destination setting unit 52 sets the destination indicated in the supplied destination instruction information in step S3. The destination information 65 is generated and supplied to the route planning unit 54. When the process of step S3 ends, the destination setting unit 52 advances the process to step S4.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the destination has already been set, the navigation processing unit 42 skips steps S2 and S3 and proceeds to step S4.

  In step S4, the navigation processing unit 42 determines whether or not it has arrived at the destination. If it is determined that the destination has arrived, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the destination setting unit 52 cancels the setting of the destination set in the process of step S3, returns the process to step S1, and repeats the subsequent processes.

  That is, when the destination setting unit 52 determines that the destination is not set by the navigation processing unit 42, the destination setting unit 52 receives the instruction from the user, sets the destination, and arrives at the destination. If determined by the unit 42, the set destination is canceled.

  In step S4, when the navigation processing unit 42 determines that the destination has not been reached, the navigation information supply unit 41 proceeds to step S6 to generate navigation information, which is generated by the navigation processing unit 42 or The navigation information supply process supplied to the content management unit 43 is executed as a separate task.

  In step S7, the navigation processing unit 42 executes a navigation process for performing a route guidance process on the user based on the navigation information supplied from the navigation information supply unit 41.

  In step S8, the content management unit 43 determines whether the content is being viewed. If the content management unit 43 determines that the content is not being viewed, the content management unit 43 determines whether the user is viewing the content in step S9. If so, the process proceeds to step S10, and the content viewing process is executed as a separate task.

  In step S11, the content management unit 82 determines whether or not to end the process. If it is determined not to end the process, the process returns to step S1 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S11 that the terminal process is to be terminated, the content management unit 82 terminates the terminal process after performing the process in step S12.

  As described above, when the terminal device 13 executes the terminal processing, the terminal device 13 can provide the content by a method according to the user's situation, and the user can easily view more suitable content information. be able to.

  Next, details of the navigation information supply process executed in step S6 of the flowchart of FIG. 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S21, the destination setting unit 52 of the navigation information supply unit 41 in FIG. 4 controls the input unit 44 to determine whether or not a destination is instructed. When the destination instruction information 64 is supplied from the input unit 44 and it is determined that the destination is instructed, the destination setting unit 52 sets the destination in step S22 and supplies the destination information 65 to the route planning unit 54. Then, the process proceeds to step S23. If it is determined in step S21 that the destination is not instructed, the destination setting unit 52 skips step S22 and proceeds to step S23.

  That is, when the destination is set and the destination is changed while performing the guidance process to the destination, the destination setting unit 52 sets the destination according to the change instruction by the process of step S22. Change your destination.

  In step S23, the position measurement unit 51 of the navigation information supply unit 41 measures the current location based on the GPS information 61 acquired by controlling the communication unit 46, and supplies the generated current position information 62 to the route plan unit 54. To do.

  In step S24, the route information acquisition unit 53 of the navigation information supply unit 41 controls the communication unit 46 to acquire the route information 66. The route information acquisition unit 53 supplies the acquired route information 66 to the route planning unit 54.

  In step S <b> 25, the route planning unit 54 plans a guide route based on the supplied current position information 62, destination information 65, and route information 66, generates planned route information 67, and sends it to the time calculation unit 55. Supply.

  In step S <b> 26, the time calculation unit 55 calculates the required time to the destination based on the supplied planned route information 67. The time calculation unit 55 supplies the required time information 68 generated in this way to the content management unit 43.

  In step S27, the navigation information supply unit 41 supplies the generated current position information, planned route information, and required time information to the navigation processing unit 42 as navigation information. The navigation information supply part 41 which complete | finished the process of step S27 complete | finishes a navigation information supply process.

  As described above, the navigation information supply unit 41 calculates the required time to the destination designated by the user, and supplies the calculated required time information to the content management unit 43. The content can be provided by a method according to the situation, and the user can easily view more suitable content information.

  Next, details of the content viewing process executed in step S10 of FIG. 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S <b> 41, the required time information supply unit 71 of the content management unit 43 in FIG. 8 supplies the required time information 68 to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46. When the required time information 68 is supplied, the content acquisition control unit 72 controls the communication unit 46 to start acquiring the content 31 in step S42.

  In step S43, the content acquisition control unit 72 determines whether or not the content 31 distributed as streaming data has been acquired via the communication unit 46, and waits until it is determined that it has been acquired. If it is determined that the content 31 of streaming data has been acquired, the content acquisition control unit 72 supplies the acquired content 31 of streaming data to the content reproduction unit 73, and the process proceeds to step S44.

  In step S <b> 44, the content reproduction unit 73 reproduces the content 31 and supplies the reproduction content 82 to the output unit 45. In step S45, the output unit 45 displays the image on the monitor or outputs the sound from the speaker, and outputs the supplied reproduction content 82.

  In step S46, the content acquisition control unit 72 determines whether or not the distribution of the content 31 has been completed, the supply of the content 31 performed via the communication unit 46 is stopped, and the distribution of the content 31 has been completed. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S47, and the acquisition of the content 31 is terminated. In step S48, the content management unit 43 performs an end process, and ends the content viewing process.

  If it is determined in step S46 that the supply of the content 31 via the communication unit 46 has not stopped and the distribution of the content 31 has not ended, the content acquisition control unit 72 advances the process to step S49. Then, it is determined whether or not to end the content viewing process. For example, when it is determined that the content viewing process is to be terminated based on an instruction from the user, the content acquisition control unit 72 returns the process to step S38 and repeats the subsequent processes. That is, in this case, the content viewing process is ended after the content management unit 43 performs the end process.

  If it is determined in step S49 that the content viewing process is not to be ended, the content acquisition control unit 72 returns the process to step S43 and repeats the subsequent processes.

  As described above, the content management unit 43 performs the content viewing process, acquires the content according to the required time information, and provides the acquired content to the user. The content can be provided by a method according to the user's content, and the user can easily view more suitable content information. Further, since the content 31 of the streaming data corresponding to the required time is acquired and provided to the user, the terminal device 13 does not need to receive the useless content 31 and consumes the communication band unnecessarily. This can be suppressed.

  Next, server processing executed by the home server 11 for the terminal device 13 operating as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S61, the content management unit 116 of the home server 11 in FIG. 9 receives the content 31 currently broadcast by the broadcast station 15 based on, for example, reservation information registered in advance by the user. It is determined whether to store (record).

  When it is determined that the content 31 is stored, the content management unit 116 controls the content acquisition unit 115 to receive and acquire the content 31 being broadcast. Then, the acquired content 31 is supplied to the content storage unit 122 of the storage unit 117. In step S63, the content storage unit 122 supplied with the content 31 stores the supplied content 31.

  In step S <b> 64, the content management unit 116 controls the content acquisition unit 115 to receive and acquire the content related information 131 corresponding to the received content 31. Then, the acquired content related information 131 is supplied to the content related information storage unit 121 of the storage unit 117. In step S65, the content-related information storage unit 121 supplied with the content-related information 131 stores the supplied content-related information 131.

  When the process of step S65 ends, the content management unit 116 advances the process to step S66. If it is determined in step S61 that the content is not stored, the content management unit 116 omits steps S62 to S65 and proceeds to step S66.

  In step S66, the required time information acquisition unit 112 controls the communication unit 111 to determine whether the required time information 68 has been acquired. If it is determined that the required time information 68 has been acquired, the acquired required time information 68 is selected as a supply content. To the unit 113, and the process proceeds to step S67. In step S67, the supply content selection unit 113 supplied with the required time information 68 executes a supply content selection process. Details of the supply content selection processing will be described later. When the supply content selection process ends, the content supply control unit 118 supplies the acquired content 31 to the terminal device 13 via the communication unit 111 as streaming data in step S68.

  In step S69, the content management unit 116 sets a viewed flag of the content related information 131 corresponding to the supplied content 31 stored in the content related information storage unit 121. When the process ends, the content management unit 116 advances the process to step S70.

  If it is determined in step S66 that the required time information 68 has not been acquired, the content management unit 116 skips steps S67 to S69 and proceeds to step S70.

  In step S70, the content management unit 116 determines whether or not to end the server process. If it is determined not to end the process, the process returns to step S61 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S70 that the server process is to be terminated, each unit of the home server 11 performs the termination process in step S71 and ends the server process.

  In this way, the home server 11 selects content to be viewed by the user based on the required time information acquired from the terminal device 13 and supplies the content to the terminal device 13, so that the terminal device 13 is a method according to the user's situation. Thus, the content can be provided, and the user can easily view more suitable content information. That is, the home server 11 can provide content by a method according to the user's situation, and the user can easily view more suitable content information.

  In addition, since the streaming data content 31 is selected according to the required time and supplied to the terminal device 13, the home server 11 does not need to transmit the useless content 31 and consumes a communication band unnecessarily. This can be suppressed.

  Next, the supply content selection process executed in step S67 of FIG. 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The supply content selection unit 113 that has acquired the required time information 68 first acquires the content related information 131 via the content management unit 116 in step S91.

  In the following processing, the supply content selection unit 113 selects the required time indicated by the required time information 68 from the content group stored in the content storage unit 122 based on the acquired content related information 131. Search for shorter content (ie, content that the user can view within the required time). At that time, the supply content selection unit 113 selects the content 31 stored in the content storage unit 122 one by one by selecting the acquired content related information 131 one by one. Then, for the selected content, as described above, it is determined whether the recording time is shorter than the required time. The supply content selection unit 113 repeats it one by one for all the contents 31, and repeats until a content whose recording time is shorter than the required time is found. If there is no content whose recording time is shorter than the required time as a result of examining all, the content to be provided is selected at random.

  The supply content selection unit 113 that has acquired the content-related information 131 determines whether or not unexamined content exists in step S92. If it is determined that there is content, the process proceeds to step S93. In step S93, the supply content selection unit 113 selects the next content 31 by selecting the content management information 131 corresponding to the next content in step S93, and in step S94, the selected content related information 131 is selected. On the basis of the contents, it is determined whether or not the recording time of the content 31 (selected content 31) corresponding to the content related information 131 is shorter than the required time.

  When it is determined that the recording time of the content 31 is longer than the required time and the user cannot view all of the content 31 while the user is moving, the supply content selection unit 113 displays the currently selected content related information 131. In order to release the content-related information 131 corresponding to the next content 31, the process returns to step S92, and the subsequent processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S94 that the recording time of the content 31 is shorter than the required time and the user can view all of the content 31 while moving, the supply content selection unit 113 advances the processing to step S95. Then, the value of the viewed flag included in the content related information 131 is checked to determine whether or not the content 31 has not been viewed.

  When it is determined that the viewed flag has been set and the content 31 has already been viewed, the supply content selection unit 113 releases the content-related information 131 that is currently selected, and the next content 31 is displayed. In order to investigate the content related information 131 corresponding to, the processing is returned to step S92, and the subsequent processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S95 that the viewed flag has not been set and the content 31 has not been viewed, the supply content selection unit 113 advances the process to step S96 to select the currently selected content. 31 is determined as the supply content, and the content related information 131 of the content 31 is supplied as the supply content information 132 to the content supply control unit 118.

  When the content supply control unit 118 acquires the supply content information 132, the content supply control unit 118 acquires the content 31 corresponding to the supply content information 132 as content to be supplied to the terminal device 13 via the content management unit 116, and selects supply content. The process ends, the process returns to step S67 in FIG. 14, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  Further, in step S92, all the contents 31 are investigated, and if there is no uninvestigated contents, that is, if it is determined that all the recording times of the contents 31 are longer than the required time, the supply content selection unit 113 The process proceeds to step S98, content is selected at random, the process returns to step S96, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  As described above, since the content shorter than the time required to reach the destination is selected as the content to be supplied to the terminal device 13 (content to be viewed by the user), the terminal device 13 can select the content by a method according to the user's situation. In addition, the user can easily view more suitable content information. That is, the home server 11 can provide the content by a method according to the user's situation, and can further provide the content so that the user can view more suitable content information easily.

  In addition, since the streaming data content 31 is selected according to the required time and supplied to the terminal device 13, the home server 11 does not need to transmit the useless content 31 and consumes a communication band unnecessarily. This can be suppressed.

  In the above description, the home server 11 distributes the content 31 to the terminal device 13 as streaming data. That is, it has been described that the terminal device 13 sequentially reproduces and outputs the supplied content 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the content 31 distributed by the home server 11 may be reproduced after being stored in the hard disk built in the terminal device 13 once.

  In that case, a storage unit 141 is added to the block configuration of the terminal device 13 as shown in FIG. The storage unit 141 is configured by a large-capacity storage medium such as a hard disk, for example, and stores the content 31 under the control of the content management unit 43.

  When the terminal device 13 stores and reproduces the content 31 supplied from the home server 11 once as in this example, the home server 11 displays all the content 31 that can be viewed before the user reaches the destination. Collectively, it transmits to the terminal device 13. In other words, the home server 11 may transmit a plurality of contents 31 to the terminal device 13 together. In that case, the terminal device 13 accumulates the content 31 in the storage unit 141 including a hard disk, and sequentially reproduces the content 31 in the order specified by the home server 11. That is, the home server 11 supplies the content reproduction management information 161 indicating the reproduction order of the content 31 to the terminal device 11 together with the content 31.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the content management unit 43 in that case. In FIG. 17, the same components as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Also, in FIG. 17, as in the case of FIG. 8, only an example of a main configuration related to the present invention of the content management unit 43 is shown, and the configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. Of course, it may be made to have.

  The content management unit 43 includes a content storage control unit 151, a content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152, and a content reproduction management information storage control unit 153 in addition to the configuration in the case of FIG.

  The content storage control unit 151 operates as an interface of the storage unit 141, and controls processing for storing and reading the content 31. For example, the content storage control unit 151 stores the content 31 supplied from the content acquisition control unit 72 in the storage unit 141, reads the content 31 stored in the storage unit 141, and supplies the content 31 to the content reproduction unit 73. To do.

  When the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 acquires the content reproduction management information 161 supplied from the home server 11 via the communication unit 46, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 supplies it to the content reproduction management information storage control unit 153. The content reproduction management information storage control unit 153 operates as an interface of the storage unit 141 and controls processing for storing and reading the content reproduction management information 161. For example, the content reproduction management information storage control unit 153 stores the content reproduction management information 161 supplied from the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 in the storage unit 141 or the content reproduction management information stored in the storage unit 141. 161 is read and supplied to the content reproduction unit 73.

  FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the content reproduction management information 161.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the content reproduction management information 161 includes a command for notifying that information about content is included and a list of content names of the content 31 to be reproduced. That is, in the case of FIG. 18, the content reproduction management information 161 is composed of a content information notification command and n content names 1 to n.

  FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the home server 11 corresponding to such a terminal device 13 (FIG. 17). 19, parts having the same configurations as those in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Also, in FIG. 19, as in the case of FIG. 9, only an example of a main configuration related to the present invention of the home server 11 is shown, and the home server 11 has a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. 19. Of course.

  The home server 11 includes a content reproduction management information generation unit instead of the supply content selection unit 113 in the case of FIG. 9, and further includes a content reproduction management information supply control unit 172.

  The content reproduction management information generation unit 171 not only selects the supplied content 31 like the supplied content selection unit 113 but also is a list of the selected content 31 and is used for controlling the content 31 during reproduction. Content reproduction management information 161 including information is generated and supplied to the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 and the content supply control unit 118.

  The content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 supplies the supplied content reproduction management information 161 to the terminal device 13 via the communication unit 111. The content supply control unit 118 acquires the content 31 using the content reproduction management information 161 instead of the supply content information 132 of FIG. 8 and supplies the content 31 to the terminal device 13 via the communication unit 111.

  Next, processing of each device of the network system 1 in such a case will be described. In the following, description of processing similar to that described in the example up to FIG. 15 described above is omitted as appropriate.

  The terminal device 13 in this case also performs terminal processing as in the case described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the terminal process in this case can apply the flowchart of FIG. At that time, the terminal device 13 also executes the navigation information supply process in the same manner as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the navigation information supply process in this case can apply the flowchart of FIG.

  However, in this case, the content 31 supplied from the home server 11 to the terminal device 13 is once stored in the storage unit 141 of the terminal device 13 and then reproduced. Accordingly, the processing related to the acquisition of the content 31 by the terminal device 13 and the processing related to the reproduction of the content 31 are performed independently of each other. For this purpose, the home server 11 supplies the content reproduction management information 161 together with the content 31 to the terminal device 13.

  Therefore, unlike the case described in the example up to FIG. 15 described above, the terminal device 13 executes the content viewing process in step S10 of FIG. 11 so as to include these processes.

  The flow of content viewing processing in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The required time information supply unit 71 included in the content management unit 43 of the terminal device 13 illustrated in FIG. 17 supplies the required time information 68 to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46 in step S111.

  In step S112, the content acquisition control unit 72 determines whether to execute a content acquisition process corresponding to the required time information 68 supplied in step S111. When it is determined in step S111 that the required time information 68 is supplied and the content acquisition process corresponding to the process is executed, the content acquisition control unit 72 controls the communication unit 46 in step S113 to acquire the content as another task. The process is executed, and the content 31 corresponding to the required time is acquired.

  When the content acquisition process is executed as another task, the content acquisition control unit 72 advances the process to step S114. In step S112, for example, if the content acquisition process has already been executed and it is determined that the content acquisition process is not to be executed, the content acquisition control unit 72 skips the process of step S113 and proceeds to step S114. .

  In step S114, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 determines whether or not to execute the content reproduction management information acquisition process corresponding to the required time information 68 supplied in step S111. When it is determined that the required time information 68 is supplied in step S111 and the content reproduction management information acquisition process corresponding to the process is executed, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 controls the communication unit 46 in step S115. As another task, content reproduction management information acquisition processing is executed, and content reproduction management information 161 corresponding to the required time is acquired.

  When the content reproduction management information acquisition process is executed as another task, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 advances the process to step S116. In step S114, for example, if the content reproduction management information acquisition process has already been executed and it is determined not to execute the content reproduction management information acquisition process, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 performs the process of step S115. The process is omitted and the process proceeds to step S116.

  In step S116, the content playback unit 73 determines whether to execute content playback processing. If it is determined that the content reproduction process is to be executed, the content reproduction unit 73 advances the process to step S117, and controls the content storage control unit 151, the content reproduction management information storage control unit 153, the output unit 45, etc. As a task, content reproduction processing is executed, and the content 31 corresponding to the required time is reproduced.

  When the content reproduction process is executed as another task, the content reproduction unit 73 advances the process to step S118. In step S116, for example, if the content reproduction process has already been executed and it is determined that the content reproduction process is not to be executed, the content reproduction unit 73 skips the process of step S117 and proceeds to step S118.

  In step S118, the content management unit 43 determines whether or not to end the content viewing process. If it determines not to end the process, the content management unit 43 returns the process to step S112 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S118 that the content viewing process is to be terminated, the content management unit 43 terminates the content viewing process after performing the termination process in step S119.

  As described above, each part of the content management unit 43 performs content viewing processing, whereby the terminal device 13 can provide content by a method according to the user's situation, and the user can more easily Content information can be viewed. In addition, since the content 31 to be provided to the user is once stored in the storage unit 141 and then played back, the terminal device 13 only needs to complete the acquisition process of the content 31 before the playback process is started (play back). It is sufficient that only the part is completed), and there is no need to synchronize the acquisition process and the reproduction process of the content 31. Therefore, the terminal device 13 can receive the content 31 when the communication environment is good, such as a state where communication with the home server 11 is stable, independently of the reproduction process. Since the terminal device 13 basically performs content viewing processing in the moving automobile 22, its communication environment (communication state with the base station 14) may always change. However, by storing the content 31 once in the storage unit 141 and playing it back, the acquisition process can be performed at an arbitrary timing, and the influence on the playback process due to a change in the communication environment can be suppressed. .

  Further, since the terminal device 13 also acquires the content reproduction management information 161 together with the content 31, when the communication environment is good, the terminal device 13 collectively receives the plurality of contents 31 from the home server 11 and stores them in the content reproduction management information 161. Based on this, the contents 31 can be sequentially played back, and the resistance to changes in the communication environment can be further enhanced.

  Next, the content acquisition process executed in step S113 in FIG. 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  First, in step S131, the content acquisition control unit 72 controls the communication unit 46 to start accepting a content supply request supplied from the home server 11. The home server 11 selects the content 31 to be provided to the user based on the required time information 68 supplied from the terminal device 13 and supplies it to the terminal device 13 as described later. At that time, the home server 11 accesses the terminal device 13 and requests content supply. In step S131, the content acquisition control unit 72 starts accepting the request.

  In step S132, the content acquisition control unit 72 controls the communication unit 46 to determine whether or not a request has been received from the home server 11. If it is determined that the request has been received, the process proceeds to step S133. 46, the reception of the content supply request is completed, and in step S134, the communication unit 46 is controlled to start receiving the content. When preparation for acquisition of the content 31 is completed, the communication is performed in step S135. The unit 46 is controlled to respond to a request from the home server 11.

  In step S136, the content acquisition control unit 72 controls the communication unit 46 to determine whether or not the content 31 supplied from the home server 11 has been received. When it is determined that the content 31 has been received, the received content 31 is determined. Is supplied to the content storage control unit 151. In step S137, the content storage control unit 151 supplies the supplied content 31 to the storage unit 141 for storage. The storage unit 141 stores the supplied content 31 in a free area of the storage area. When the process of step S137 ends, the content storage control unit 151 advances the process to step S138. If it is determined in step S136 that the content 31 has not been received, the content acquisition control unit 72 omits the process in step S137 and advances the process to step S138. In step S138, the content acquisition control unit 72 controls the communication unit 46 to determine whether or not to end the reception of the content 31, and when it is determined not to end, the process returns to step S136, and the subsequent steps Repeat the process.

  Further, for example, when it is determined in step S138 that the reception of the content 31 is finished because the supply of the content 31 is finished, the content acquisition control unit 72 advances the process to step S139 and controls the communication unit 46. Then, the acceptance of the content 31 is terminated, the process returns to step S131, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  If it is determined in step S132 that a request for content supply has not been received, the content acquisition control unit 72 proceeds to step S140 and determines whether or not to end the content acquisition process. If it is determined not to end the content acquisition process, the content acquisition control unit 72 returns the process to step S132 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S140 that the content acquisition process is to be terminated, the content acquisition control unit 72 advances the process to step S141, performs the termination process, and then ends the content acquisition process.

  As described above, when the content acquisition control unit 72 performs the content acquisition process, the terminal device 13 can receive the content 31 at an arbitrary timing independently of the reproduction process. The influence on the reproduction process can be suppressed.

  Next, the content reproduction management information acquisition process executed in step S115 in FIG. 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  First, in step S161, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 controls the communication unit 46 to start accepting a content reproduction management information supply request supplied from the home server 11. As will be described later, the home server 11 selects the content 31 to be provided to the user based on the required time information 68 supplied by the terminal device 13, and uses content reproduction management information 161 for managing the reproduction of the content 31. It is generated and supplied to the terminal device 13 together with the content 31. At that time, the home server 11 accesses the terminal device 13 and requests supply of the content reproduction management information 161. In step S161, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 starts accepting the request.

  In step S162, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 controls the communication unit 46 to determine whether or not a request has been received from the home server 11. If it is determined that the request has been received, the process proceeds to step S163. Then, the communication unit 46 is controlled to finish receiving the request for supplying the content reproduction management information. In step S164, the communication unit 46 is controlled to start accepting the content reproduction management information 161, and the content reproduction management information 161 is received. In step S165, the communication unit 46 is controlled to respond to the request from the home server 11.

  In step S166, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 controls the communication unit 46 to determine whether the content reproduction management information 161 supplied from the home server 11 has been accepted, and accepts the content reproduction management information 161. If it is determined that the content reproduction management information 161 has been received, the received content reproduction management information 161 is supplied to the content reproduction management information storage control unit 153. In step S167, the content reproduction management information storage control unit 153 supplies the supplied content reproduction management information 161 to the storage unit 141 for storage. The storage unit 141 stores the supplied content reproduction management information 161 in a free area of the storage area. When the process of step S167 ends, the content reproduction management information storage control unit 153 advances the process to step S168. If it is determined in step S166 that the content reproduction management information 161 has not been received, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 omits the process in step S167 and advances the process to step S168. In step S168, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 controls the communication unit 46 to determine whether or not to end the reception of the content reproduction management information 161. If it is determined that the content reproduction management information 161 does not end, the process proceeds to step S166. Return to, and repeat the subsequent processing.

  For example, when it is determined in step S168 that reception of the content reproduction management information 161 is to be terminated due to the end of the supply of the content reproduction management information 161, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 performs processing in step S169. The communication unit 46 is controlled to end the reception of the content reproduction management information 161, the process returns to step S161, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  If it is determined in step S162 that the content reproduction management information supply request has not been received, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 proceeds to step S170 and determines whether or not to end the content reproduction management information acquisition process. judge. If it is determined not to end the content reproduction management information acquisition process, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 returns the process to step S162 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S170 that the content reproduction management information acquisition process is to be terminated, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 advances the process to step S171, performs the termination process, and then performs the content reproduction management information acquisition process. finish.

  As described above, when the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 performs the content reproduction management information acquisition process, the terminal device 13 collects a plurality of contents 31 from the home server 11 when the communication environment is good. The content 31 can be sequentially played back based on the content playback management information 161, and the resistance to changes in the communication environment can be enhanced.

  Next, the content reproduction process executed in step S117 in FIG. 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  The content playback unit 73 that has started the content playback processing first controls the content playback management information storage control unit 153 in step S191 to determine whether or not the content playback management information 161 is stored in the storage unit 141. To do. When the content reproduction management information acquisition process is executed as described above and the storage unit 141 determines that the content reproduction management information 161 is stored, the content reproduction unit 73 advances the process to step S192 to reproduce the content. The management information storage control unit 153 is controlled to acquire the content reproduction management information stored in the storage unit 141. The content reproduction management information storage control unit 153 reads the content reproduction management information 161 from the storage unit 141 and supplies it to the content reproduction unit 73.

  The content playback unit 73 that has acquired the content playback management information 161 refers to the acquired content playback management information 161, and in step S193, based on the list of content names included in the content playback management information 161, plays back the content 31 to be played back. In step S194, the content recording control unit 151 is controlled to acquire the specified content 31, and in step S195, the acquired content is played back. In step S196, the playback content 82 that is the played back content 31 is played back. Is supplied to the output unit 45 and output.

  In step S197, the content playback unit 73 determines whether or not to end the content playback process. If it is determined not to end the process, the process returns to step S193 and repeats the subsequent processes. If the content playback unit 73 determines in step S197 to end the content playback process, the content playback unit 73 proceeds to step S198, performs the end process, and then ends the content playback process.

  When the content reproduction unit 73 performs the content reproduction process as described above, the content reproduction process is executed independently of the content acquisition process. Therefore, the terminal device 13 can receive the content 31 from the home server 11 when the communication environment is good regardless of the content reproduction process, and can enhance the resistance to changes in the communication environment.

  Unlike the case described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14, the home server 11 also performs processing for generating content reproduction management information 161 and supplying it to the terminal device 13 for such processing of the terminal device 13. . The server process in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The content management unit 116 of the home server 11 of FIG. 19 executes the processing of steps S211 to S215 as in the case of steps S61 to S65 of FIG. 14, receives the content 31 and stores it in the storage unit 117. That is, the processes in steps S211 to S215 correspond to the processes in steps S61 to S65 in FIG.

  In step S216, the required time information acquisition unit 112 controls the communication unit 111 to determine whether the required time information 68 has been acquired, as in step S66. If it is determined that the required time information 68 has been acquired, the required time information acquisition unit 112 supplies the acquired required time information 68 to the content reproduction management information generation unit 171, and the process proceeds to step S217. In step S217, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 supplied with the required time information 68 executes content reproduction management information generation processing. Details of the content reproduction management information generation process will be described later. When the content reproduction management information generation process ends, the content supply control unit 118 executes the content supply process as another task in step S218, and the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 performs the content reproduction management information in step S219. The supply process is executed as another task.

  When the process of step S219 ends, the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 advances the process to step S220. If it is determined in step S216 that the required time information 68 has not been acquired, the required time information acquisition unit 112 omits the processes in steps S217 to S219 and proceeds to step S220.

  In step S220, the content management unit 116 determines whether or not to end the server process. If it is determined not to end the process, the process returns to step S211 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S220 that the server process is to be terminated, each unit of the home server 11 performs the termination process in step S221 and ends the server process.

  In this way, the home server 11 selects content to be viewed by the user based on the required time information acquired from the terminal device 13 and supplies the content to the terminal device 13, so that the terminal device 13 is a method according to the user's situation. Thus, the content can be provided, and the user can easily view more suitable content information. That is, the home server 11 can provide content by a method according to the user's situation, and the user can easily view more suitable content information.

  In addition, since the content 31 is selected according to the required time and supplied to the terminal device 13, the home server 11 does not need to transmit the useless content 31 and suppresses unnecessary consumption of the communication band. Not only can it be performed, but it is also possible to suppress unnecessary consumption of the storage capacity of the storage unit 141 of the terminal device 13.

  Furthermore, since the content reproduction management information 161 is generated and supplied to the terminal device 13, the home server 11 can manage the reproduction of the content 31 by the content reproduction management information 161, and the terminal device 13 can be controlled at an arbitrary timing. Content 31 can be supplied.

  Next, details of the content reproduction management information generation processing executed in step S217 of FIG. 24 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 25, the content reproduction management information generating unit 171 acquires the content related information 131 stored in the content related information storage unit 121 via the content management unit 116 in step S241.

  In step S242, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 determines whether or not there is an uninvestigated content based on the content related information 131. If it is determined that the content does not exist, the process proceeds to step S243. By selecting the content related information 131, the next content 31 is selected. In step S244, the content reproduction management information generating unit 171 determines whether or not the recording time of the selected content 31 is shorter than the required time. If it is determined that the required time is shorter, the content reproduction management information generating unit 171 selects the content 31. The process is canceled and the process returns to step S242 to repeat the subsequent processes.

  If it is determined in step S244 that the recording time of the selected content 31 is longer than the required time, the content reproduction management information generating unit 171 determines whether or not the selected content 31 is unviewed in step S245. .

  If the viewed flag of the content related information 131 of the content 31 is set and it is determined that the content has not been viewed, the content reproduction management information generating unit 171 returns the process to step S242 and repeats the subsequent processes.

  When it is determined that the viewed flag has not been set and the content has not been viewed, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 advances the process to step S246 to determine the selected content 31 to be supplied content to be supplied to the terminal device 13. In step S247, the supplied content information is added to the content reproduction management information 161.

  Then, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 calculates the remaining time by subtracting the recording time of the content 31 determined as the supplied content from the required time in step S248, and reproduces the content 31 in the remaining time in step S249. Determine whether it is possible. If it is determined that the remaining time is still sufficiently long and the other content 31 can be reproduced using the remaining time, the content reproduction management information generating unit 171 returns the process to step S242 and performs the subsequent processes. repeat.

  If it is determined in step S249 that the remaining time is too short and the other content 31 cannot be reproduced, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 supplies the content reproduction management information generated in step S250 to the content reproduction management information supply. It outputs to the control part 172 and the content supply control part 118, a content reproduction management information generation process is complete | finished, a process is returned to FIG.24 S217, and the process after step S218 is performed.

  In this way, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 determines the content 31 to be supplied to the terminal device 13 and generates the content reproduction management information 161, so that the home server 11 obtains the content by a method according to the user's situation. Can be provided. Thereby, the terminal device 13 can provide content by a method according to the user's situation, and the user can view more suitable content information easily.

  Further, the home server 11 does not need to transmit useless content 31 and can suppress unnecessary consumption of the communication band, and also consumes the storage capacity of the storage unit 141 of the terminal device 13 unnecessarily. This can be suppressed. Further, the home server 11 can manage the reproduction of the content 31 by the content reproduction management information 161 and can supply the content 31 to the terminal device 13 at an arbitrary timing.

  Next, the content supply process executed in step S218 in FIG. 24 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  The content supply control unit 118 that has started the content supply process first acquires the content 31 via the content management unit 116 based on the content reproduction management information 161 supplied from the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 in step S271. To do. That is, the content supply control unit 118 requests the content management unit 116 for the content 31 included in the content reproduction management information 161. The content management unit 116 acquires the requested content 31 from the content storage unit 122 and supplies it to the content supply control unit 118.

  When the supplied content (supplied content 31) is acquired, the content supply control unit 118 controls the communication unit 111 in step S272 to supply a content supply request to the terminal device 13. In other words, the communication unit 111 accesses the terminal device 13 based on a request from the content supply control unit 118 and requests that the content supply be permitted. The terminal device 13 returns a response to the request to the home server 11 in step S135 of FIG.

  In step S273, the content supply control unit 118 controls the communication unit 111 to determine whether a response has been acquired. If it is determined that a response has not been acquired, the content supply control unit 118 returns the process to step S272 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S273 that a response has been acquired, the content supply control unit 118 proceeds to step S274, controls the communication unit 111, and starts supplying the content 31 acquired in step S271. Then, in step S275, the content supply control unit 118 determines whether the supply of the content 31 has been completed, and waits until it is determined that the supply has been completed. If it is determined that the supply of the content 31 has been completed, the content supply control unit 118 proceeds to step S276 to determine whether all the content 31 has been supplied, and there is content 31 that has not been supplied yet. If it is determined, the process returns to step S272, and the subsequent processes are repeated. That is, the content supply control unit 118 supplies all the content 31 acquired in step S271 to the terminal device 13 by repeating the processing of steps S272 to S276.

  If it is determined in step S276 that all the content 31 has been supplied, the content supply control unit 118 ends the content supply process.

  The content supply control unit 118 supplies the content 31 to the terminal device 13 in this way, so that the home server 11 can provide the content by a method according to the user's situation. Thereby, the terminal device 13 can provide content by a method according to the user's situation, and the user can view more suitable content information easily.

  Further, since the content supply control unit 118 supplies the content 31 to the terminal device 13 based on the content reproduction management information 161, the home server 11 does not need to transmit useless content 31 and consumes communication bandwidth unnecessarily. It is possible not only to suppress this, but also to suppress unnecessary consumption of the storage capacity of the storage unit 141 of the terminal device 13. Furthermore, as described above, the content supply control unit 118 can also supply a plurality of contents 31 continuously. Thereby, the home server 11 can supply the content 31 to the terminal device 13 at an arbitrary timing.

  Next, the content reproduction management information supply process executed in step S219 in FIG. 24 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  The content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 that has started the content reproduction management information supply process first supplies a content reproduction management information supply request supplied from the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 in step S291. That is, the communication unit 111 accesses the terminal device 13 based on a request from the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172, and requests that the supply of the content reproduction management information 161 is permitted. The terminal device 13 returns a response to the request to the home server 11 in step S165 of FIG.

  In step S292, the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 controls the communication unit 111 to determine whether a response has been acquired. When it is determined that a response has not been acquired, the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 returns the process to step S291 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S292 that a response has been acquired, the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 proceeds to step S293, controls the communication unit 111, and starts supplying the content reproduction management information 161. In step S294, the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 determines whether the supply of the content reproduction management information 161 has been completed, and waits until it is determined that the supply has been completed. When it is determined that the supply of the content reproduction management information 161 has ended, the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 ends the content reproduction management information supply process.

  As described above, the content supply control unit 118 supplies the content reproduction management information 161 to the terminal device 13, so that the terminal device 13 stores the acquired content 31 in the storage unit 141 once. 161, the content 31 can be reproduced. That is, the home server 11 can manage the reproduction of the content 31 using the content reproduction management information 161.

  In the above description, the content 31 broadcasted by the broadcasting station 15 has been described as being received by the home server 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIG. You may make it do.

  That is, the terminal device 13 receives and accumulates the content 31 broadcast on the broadcast station 15 by the content accumulation processing 201. Then, the terminal device 13 supplies the home server 11 with a content list 211 that is a list of names of the accumulated content 31. The home server 11 executes content reproduction management information generation processing 202, generates content reproduction management information 161 using the content list 211, and supplies it to the terminal device 13. The terminal device 13 executes the content reproduction process 203, reproduces the content 31 accumulated in the content accumulation process 201 using the content reproduction management information 161 supplied from the home server 11, and outputs the reproduction content 82.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 29, the input unit 44 of the terminal device 13 has an antenna and a tuner capable of receiving a program broadcast by the broadcast station 15, and content 31 (contents) broadcast by the broadcast station 15 is received. Related information 131) is received and supplied to the content management unit 43.

  The content management unit 43 supplies the content 31 (including the content related information 131) supplied from the input unit 44 to the storage unit 141 for storage. Then, the list of content names is supplied to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46.

  FIG. 30 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the content management unit 43 in that case. In FIG. 30, the same components as those in FIGS. 8 and 17 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Also, in FIG. 30, as in the case of FIGS. 8 and 17, only the main configuration example related to the present invention of the content management unit 43 is shown, and the configuration of the content management unit 43 shown in FIG. 30 is shown. Of course, other configurations may be used.

  The content management unit 43 shown in FIG. 30 includes a content list supply unit 221 in addition to the configuration in the case of FIG. However, the content acquisition control unit 72 does not acquire the content 31 from the home server 11 via the communication unit 46 but acquires the content 31 supplied from the input unit 44 and supplies it to the content storage control unit 151. And stored in the storage unit 141.

  The content list supply unit 221 reads from the storage unit 141 the content list 211 in which the content names of the content 31 stored in the storage unit 141 are collected. The storage unit 141 generates and holds a content list 211 that is a list of content names of the content 31 supplied and stored by the content storage control unit 151 for management. The content list supply unit 221 reads the content list 211 from the storage unit 141 and supplies it to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46.

  FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the home server 11 corresponding to such a terminal device 13 (FIG. 30). In FIG. 31, the same components as those in FIGS. 9 and 19 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Also, in FIG. 31, as in the case of FIGS. 9 and 19, only an example of the main configuration related to the present invention of the home server 11 is shown, and the home server 11 has a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. Of course, you may make it have a structure.

  Unlike the case of FIG. 19, the home server 11 shown in FIG. 31 does not receive, store, or supply the content 31. Therefore, the home server 11 does not include the input unit 114 that performs processing related to the content 31, the content acquisition control unit 115, the content supply control unit 118, the content related information storage unit 121, and the content storage unit 122.

  31 has a content list acquisition unit 222 and a content reproduction management information storage unit 223, and can acquire the content list 211 supplied from the terminal device 13. The content list acquisition unit 222 acquires the content list 211 supplied from the terminal device 13 and supplies it to the content reproduction management information generation unit 171.

  The content reproduction management information generation unit 171 generates content reproduction management information 161 based on the required time information 68 supplied from the required time information acquisition unit 112 and the content list 211 supplied from the content list acquisition unit 222. The content reproduction management information generation unit 171 supplies the generated content reproduction management information 161 to the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 and also supplies it to the content management unit 116.

  The content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 supplies the supplied content reproduction management information 161 to the terminal device 13 via the communication unit 111. The content management unit 116 stores the supplied content reproduction management information 161 in the content reproduction management information storage unit 223 of the storage unit 117. Then, the content management unit 116 manages input / output of the content reproduction management information 161 stored in the content reproduction management information storage unit 223.

  Next, processing of each device of the network system 1 in such a case will be described. In the following, the description of the same processes as those described in the examples up to FIG.

  Initially, the terminal process which the terminal device 13 performs is demonstrated with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 32 and FIG. Since the terminal device 13 in this case receives and stores the content 31 broadcast by the broadcasting station 15 as described above, in the terminal processing shown in FIG. 32, the terminal described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Processing related to acquisition of the content 31 is further added to each step of the processing.

  That is, the processing from step S311 to step S315 in FIG. 32 corresponds to the processing from step S1 to step S5 in FIG. 11, and the processing from step S321 to step S327 in FIG. 33 is the processing from step S6 to step S12 in FIG. Corresponding to However, details of the content viewing process executed in step S325 of FIG. 33 will be described later.

  If it is determined in step S314 in FIG. 32 that the vehicle has not arrived at the destination, the navigation processing unit 42 proceeds with the process to step S316. In step S316, the content acquisition control unit 72 of the content management unit 43 determines whether or not to acquire the content 31 (including the content related information 131), and for example, acquires the content 31 based on the reservation information or the like. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S317 to control the input unit 44 to acquire the content 31 (including the content related information 131), and the acquired content 31 (including the content related information 131) to the content storage control unit. 151.

  The content storage control unit 151 supplied with the content 31 (including the content related information 131) supplies the content 31 to the storage unit 141 and stores it in step S318. The storage unit 141 stores the supplied content 31 (including the content related information 131) in a free area of the storage area. In step S319, the storage unit 141 updates the held content list 211 with the stored content 31 information, and the process proceeds to step S321 in FIG.

  By performing the terminal processing as described above, the terminal device 13 receives and stores the content 31 broadcasted by the broadcasting station 15, and selects and provides the content according to the method according to the user's situation. be able to. Thereby, the user can view more suitable content information easily.

  Further, since the content 31 broadcasted by the broadcasting station 15 is received and stored in this way, the terminal device 13 can reduce the amount of communication with the home server 11 due to the transfer of the content 31.

  Next, the content viewing process executed in step S325 of FIG. 33 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In this case, since the content 31 broadcast by the broadcasting station 15 is received by the terminal device 13, unlike the case described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 20, the content management unit 43 supplies the content list 211 to the home server 11. Perform the process. Further, the content management unit 43 does not perform content acquisition processing for acquiring the content 31 supplied from the home server 11.

  That is, in step S341, the required time information supply unit 71 supplies the required time information 68 supplied from the navigation information supply unit 41 to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46. In step S342, the content list supply unit 221 reads the content list from the storage unit 141 and supplies it to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46.

  In step S343, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 determines whether or not to execute the content reproduction management information acquisition process. When it is determined to execute the content reproduction management information acquisition process, the process proceeds to step S344 and refers to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, the process of the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 is executed, and the process proceeds to step S345. If it is determined in step S343 that the content reproduction management information acquisition process is not to be executed, the content reproduction management information acquisition control unit 152 omits the process in step S344 and advances the process to step S345.

  In step S345, the content reproduction unit 73 determines whether or not to execute the content reproduction process. If it is determined that the content reproduction process is to be performed, the content reproduction unit 73 proceeds to step S346 and reproduces the content as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S347. If it is determined in step S345 that the content reproduction process is not to be executed, the content reproduction unit 73 omits the process in step S346 and advances the process to step S347.

  In step S347, the content management unit 43 determines whether or not to end the content viewing process. If it is determined that the content viewing process is not ended, the content management unit 43 returns the process to step S343 and repeats the subsequent processes.

  If it is determined in step S347 that the content viewing process is to be terminated, the content management unit 43 proceeds to step S348, performs a termination process, and terminates the content viewing process.

  As described above, when each unit of the content management unit 43 performs content viewing processing, the terminal device 13 supplies the content list 211 to the home server 11 and acquires content reproduction management information corresponding to the content list 211. be able to. Thereby, the terminal device 13 can provide the content by a method according to the user's situation without acquiring the content from the home server 11. Therefore, the user can view more preferable content information.

  Next, processing of the home server 11 in this case will be described. In this case, the home server 11 does not receive, store, or supply the content 31 to the terminal device 13. Therefore, the home server 11 omits all the processes related to the transmission / reception of the content 31 and performs the server process as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The server process in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  First, in step S361, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 acquires the required time information 68 from the required time information acquisition unit 112, and further determines whether the content list 211 is acquired from the content list acquisition unit 222. To do. That is, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 determines whether or not the content list 211 and the required time information 68 have been acquired.

  When it is determined that the content list 211 and the required time information 68 have been acquired, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 proceeds to step S362, executes the content reproduction management information generation process, and generates the content reproduction management information 161. , And supplies it to the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172. In step S363, when the content reproduction management information supply control unit 172 executes the content reproduction management information supply process as another task and supplies the content reproduction management information 161 to the terminal device 13, the process proceeds to step S364.

  In step S364, the content management unit 116 determines whether or not to end the server process. If it is determined that the server process is not ended, the content management unit 116 returns the process to step S361 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S364 that the server process is to be terminated, each unit of the home server 11 performs the termination process in step S365 and ends the server process.

  As described above, the home server 11 selects the content 31 to be viewed by the user based on the required time information 68 and the content list 211 acquired from the terminal device 13 and supplies the selected content 31 to the terminal device 13. The content can be provided by a method according to the situation, and the user can easily view more suitable content information. That is, the home server 11 can provide the content 31 by a method according to the user's situation, and the user can easily view more suitable content information.

  Next, the content reproduction management information generation process executed in step S362 in FIG. 35 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. The content reproduction management information generation process in this case is basically executed in the same manner as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. However, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 36, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 selects the content 31 based on the content list 211 and the required time information 68 without acquiring the content related information 131.

  That is, the processes in steps S381 to S391 in FIG. 36 correspond to steps S242 to S252 in FIG. 25, respectively, but in step S382, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 performs the next processing in the order of the content list 211. Content 31 is selected.

  By doing in this way, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 can generate the content reproduction management information 161 from the required time information 68 and the content list 211, so that the terminal device 13 receives the content. In addition, the home server 11 can cause the terminal device 13 to provide the content 31 by a method according to the user's situation, so that the user can easily view more suitable content information.

  In the above description, each device of the network system 1 has been described to select and provide content so that a moving user can view content according to the time required to reach the destination. The criterion for selection may be other than the required time to the destination, for example, the arrival time at the destination.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 37, a user who is in a car 22 equipped with the terminal device 13 has previously installed broadcast content broadcast from the broadcast station 15 on the home server 11 at home 21. Assume that the television signal receiver 251 is set to be viewed.

  In that case, in the terminal device 13, the user sets the destination to the home 21, and further, the broadcast content broadcast from the broadcast station 15 is viewed using the television signal receiver 251 installed in the home 21. When the viewing schedule 252 is set as described above, the terminal device 13 calculates the estimated arrival time 253 at the home 21 that is the destination, and supplies the information to the home server 11. The home server 11 selects content to be provided during the movement until the user arrives at the home 21 based on the estimated arrival time 253 and the viewing schedule 252.

  That is, the home server 11 selects related content 254 that is content related to the content 31 of the scheduled viewing 252 from the accumulated content group, and sends it to the user who is moving via the terminal device 13. provide.

  The related content 254 is, for example, content of another broadcast time of the same program as the content 31 of the viewing schedule 252. For example, when the content 31 of the scheduled viewing 252 is a continuous drama or a program that is broadcast regularly, the user is watching the program every time, and the home server 11 displays the previously broadcasted content. May have accumulated. In such a case, the home server 11 selects the related content 254 of the content 31 specified in the viewing schedule 252, that is, the previously broadcast content of the same program, from the accumulated content group, and The selected related content 254 is provided to the user so as to end in accordance with the estimated arrival time.

  For example, when there are m pieces of related content 254 as shown in FIG. 37 (related content 254-1 to related content 254-m), the home server 11 can provide all of them by the estimated arrival time 253. I will provide a. Further, when it is impossible to provide all of them by the estimated arrival time 253, the home server 11 may arbitrarily select and provide as much content as can be provided by the estimated arrival time 253. Then, by editing the related content 254, content of a time that can be provided by the estimated arrival time 253 may be created, and the content may be provided to the user.

  The related content may be a content of a program different from the content 31 of the viewing schedule 252. For example, it may be the content of a program of the same genre as the program of the content 31 of the viewing schedule 252 or the content of a program having the same predetermined condition such as a performer or a producer.

  The broadcast content viewing schedule 252 is schedule information related to viewing of the content being broadcast, and the user views the content without storing the content in the home server 11. Therefore, the home server 11 selects the viewing schedule 252 to be used as a content selection reference according to the scheduled arrival time 253. The selection method is arbitrary, but the selected viewing schedule is scheduled to start at least after the time period during which the user can view, that is, after the scheduled arrival time 253. For example, the home server 11 may select the viewing schedule 252 that is scheduled after the scheduled arrival time 253 and that is closest to the home server 11, and that is scheduled after the scheduled arrival time 253, and the user Alternatively, the viewing schedule 252 in which the home server 11 stores related content 254 that can be provided may be selected. Of course, these conditions may be combined.

  As described above, when the home server 11 provides the content 31 based on the estimated arrival time 252, the home server 11 uses the content 31 as the streaming data as the terminal device 13 as in the case of providing the content 31 based on the required time described above. Alternatively, it may be supplied to the terminal device 13 as download data, and the terminal device 13 may store the content 31 once in the storage unit 141 and output it. Of course, the terminal device 13 may receive and store the broadcasted content 31.

  First, a case where the home server 11 supplies the content 31 as streaming data will be described. The configuration example of the terminal device 13 in that case is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 3, and the block diagram shown in FIG. However, the internal configuration examples of the navigation information supply unit 41 and the content management unit 43 in FIG. 3 are different.

  FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the navigation information supply unit 41 in this case. In FIG. 38, the same components as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Also, in FIG. 38, similarly to the case of FIG. 4, only an example of the main configuration related to the present invention of the navigation information supply unit 41 is shown, and the navigation information supply unit 41 is not the configuration shown in FIG. Of course, it may be made to have the structure of.

  The navigation information supply unit 41 includes a time measuring unit 261 and a time information calculation unit 262 in addition to the configuration in the case of FIG.

The time measuring means 261 measures the current time and supplies it to the time calculation unit 262 as current time information 271. The time calculation unit 262 calculates arrival time information 272 based on the required time information 68 calculated by the time calculation unit 55 and the current time information 271 timed and supplied by the time measuring unit 261, and the navigation time information 69. To the navigation processing unit 42 and to the content management unit 43.

  FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of arrival time information 272. As shown in FIG. 39A, the arrival time information 272 includes at least values in units such as hours, minutes, and seconds. More realistically, for example, as shown in FIG. 39B, the arrival time information 272 is configured as information in a predetermined format such as a number, a command, and data. More specifically, in the case of FIG. 39B, the arrival time information 272 is a command for instructing the home server 11 to select content based on the number “1” and the arrival time (estimated arrival time). It consists of a time-optimal content command and arrival time.

  FIG. 40 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the content management unit 43 in this case. In FIG. 40, the same components as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Also, in FIG. 40, as in the case of FIG. 8, only an example of the main configuration related to the present invention of the content management unit 43 is shown, and the configuration of the content management unit 43 other than the configuration shown in FIG. Of course, it may be made to have.

  The content management unit 43 shown in FIG. 40 has an arrival time information supply unit 281 instead of the required time information supply unit 71 in the case of FIG. 8, and further, in addition to the configuration in the case of FIG. A content information supply unit 282 is included.

  When the arrival time information supply unit 281 acquires the arrival time information 272 supplied from the navigation information supply unit 41 in the same manner as the required time information supply unit 71, the arrival time information supply unit 281 supplies the arrival time information 272 to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46. .

  When the scheduled viewing content information supply unit 282 acquires the scheduled viewing content information 273 input by the user via the input unit 44, it supplies it to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46.

  FIG. 41 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the home server 11 corresponding to such a terminal device 13. 41, parts having the same configurations as those in FIG. 9 are given the same numbers, and descriptions thereof are omitted. Also, in FIG. 41, as in the case of FIG. 9, only an example of the main configuration related to the present invention of the home server 11 is shown, and the home server 11 has a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. Of course.

  The home server 11 includes an arrival time information acquisition unit 283 instead of the required time information acquisition unit 112 of FIG. 9, and further includes a scheduled viewing content information acquisition unit 284.

  The arrival time information acquisition unit 283 controls the communication unit 111 to acquire the arrival time information 272 supplied from the terminal device 13 and supplies it to the supply content selection unit 113. Similarly, the scheduled viewing content information 284 controls the communication unit 111 to acquire the scheduled viewing content information 273 supplied from the terminal device 13 and supplies it to the supplied content selection unit 113.

  The supply content selection unit 113 selects the content 31 to be supplied to the terminal device 13 based on the supplied arrival time information 272, scheduled viewing content information 273, and the content related information 131 acquired via the content management unit 116. Then, supply content information 132 is generated and supplied to the content supply control unit 118.

  Next, processing of each device of the network system 1 in such a case will be described. In the following, the description of the same processes as those described in the examples up to FIG. 36 described above will be omitted as appropriate.

  The terminal device 13 in this case also performs terminal processing as in the case described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the terminal process in this case can apply the flowchart of FIG.

  However, in this case, the navigation information supply unit 41 supplies the arrival time information 272 to the content management unit 43. The navigation information supply process executed in step S6 of FIG. 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Also in this case, each unit of the navigation information supply unit 41 performs processing in steps S401 to S406 in the same manner as in steps S21 to S26 of FIG. 12, and calculates the required time. That is, the processes in steps S401 to S406 in FIG. 42 correspond to the processes in steps S21 to S26 in FIG. 12, respectively.

  In step S406, the time calculation unit 55 calculates the required time and supplies it to the time calculation unit 262 as the required time information 68.

  When the required time information 68 is acquired, the time calculation unit 262 controls the time measuring unit 261 in step S407, acquires the current time as the current time information 271, and calculates the arrival time in step S408. In step S409, the navigation information supply unit 41 supplies the current position information 62, the planned route information 67, the required time information 68, and the arrival time information 272 to the navigation processing unit 42 as the navigation information 69. At this time, the time calculation unit 262 supplies the arrival time information 272 to the content management unit 43.

  The navigation information supply unit 41 that has supplied the navigation information 69 ends the navigation information supply process.

  Based on the arrival time information 272 supplied from the navigation information supply unit 41, the content management unit 43 executes a content viewing process as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 43 in step S10 of FIG. The content viewing process in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In this case, unlike the case shown in FIG. 13, when content viewing processing is started in the content management unit 43 in FIG. 40, the arrival time information supply unit 281 is supplied from the navigation information supply unit 41 in step S421. The arrival time information 272 is supplied to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46. In step S 422, the scheduled viewing content information supply unit 282 supplies the scheduled viewing content information 273 supplied from the input unit 44 to the home server 11 via the communication unit 46.

  The home server 11 selects the content 31 to be provided to the user based on the arrival time information 272 and the scheduled viewing content information 273, and supplies the content 31 to the terminal device 13 as streaming data. In step S423 through step S429, the terminal device 13 executes processing related to the acquisition of the content 13 that is the streaming data in the same manner as in step S42 through step S48 in FIG. That is, each process of step S423 to step S429 corresponds to each process of step S42 to step S48, respectively.

  As described above, when each unit of the terminal device 13 executes each process, the terminal device 13 causes the home server 11 to select the content 31 to be provided to the user based on the arrival time information 272 and the scheduled viewing content information 273. be able to. That is, the terminal device 13 can acquire the content 31 selected based on the arrival time information 272 and the scheduled viewing content information 273 from the home server 11 and provide it to the user. Thereby, the network system 1 can provide the user with a service according to the scheduled arrival time, for example, providing the content 31 related to the program scheduled to be viewed after the user arrives at home before arrival.

  Next, processing executed by the home server 11 in response to such processing of the terminal device 13 will be described. Each part of the home server 11 shown in FIG. 41 executes the server processing described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14 as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, in this case as well, each unit of the home server 11 executes server processing basically as in the case of FIG. 14, but in step S456, the arrival time information acquisition unit 283 and the scheduled viewing content information acquisition unit 284 The communication unit 111 is controlled to determine whether the arrival time information 272 or the scheduled viewing content information 273 has been acquired, and the arrival time information acquisition unit 283 and the scheduled viewing content information acquisition unit 284 have acquired the respective information. If it is determined, the acquired arrival time information 272 or scheduled viewing content information 273 is supplied to the supply content selection unit 113, and the process proceeds to step S457. In step S457, the supplied content selection unit 113 supplied with the arrival time information 272 and the scheduled viewing content information 273 executes a supplied content selection process.

  When the supply content selection process ends, the content supply control unit 118 executes the content supply process in step S458.

  Each unit of the home server 11 performs processes other than these processes, that is, processes in steps S451 to S455 in FIG. 44 and processes in steps S459 to S461, steps S61 to S65 in FIG. The process is executed in the same manner as in the processes of steps S69 to S71. That is, the processes in steps S451 to S455 and the processes in steps S459 to S461 in FIG. 44 correspond to the processes in steps S61 to S65 and steps S69 to S71, respectively.

  Next, details of the supply content selection process executed in step S457 of FIG. 44 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 45 and FIG.

  Also in this case, the supply content selection unit 113 acquires the content related information 131 stored in the content related information 121 via the content management unit 116 and selects the content to be supplied using the content related information 131. . However, in this case, since a plurality of related contents may be selected as supply contents, the supply content selection unit 113 first selects supply content candidates from the scheduled arrival time and the viewing schedule as the first stage. A list of the supply content candidates (supply content candidate list) is generated, and the content of the supply content candidate list is edited according to the required time to home as necessary, and the content to be supplied is prepared.

  That is, the supply content selection unit 113 that has started the supply content selection process first acquires the content related information 131 from the content related information storage unit 121 via the content management unit 116 in step S481.

  In step S482, the supply content selection unit 113 determines whether or not there is an unprocessed viewing schedule content among the viewing schedule contents included in the viewing schedule content information 273 supplied from the viewing schedule content information acquisition unit 284. If it is determined that it exists, the process proceeds to step S483, and the next scheduled viewing content is selected, for example, in the order of the start time.

  In step S484, the supply content selection unit 113 that has selected the scheduled viewing content to be processed refers to the arrival time information 272 supplied from the arrival time information acquisition unit 283, and the scheduled viewing start time of the selected viewing scheduled content is determined. It is determined whether it is scheduled within a predetermined time based on the scheduled arrival time.

  For example, if the scheduled viewing start time is before the scheduled arrival time, the user cannot effectively view the content 31 scheduled for viewing at least during broadcasting. Conversely, if the scheduled viewing start time is a predetermined time (for example, several hours) after the scheduled arrival time, the content 31 scheduled to be viewed after the user arrives at home. It takes too much time to start watching. For example, if the user views the content scheduled to be viewed immediately after arrival at the home, the user views the related content 254 during the movement until the user arrives at the home. It is possible to obtain additional information that increases the enjoyment when viewing the content 31 that is scheduled to be viewed, such as confirming. However, if the time from the arrival time to the viewing start time is too long, the effect is diminished.

  Accordingly, in step S484, the supply content selection unit 113 determines whether the scheduled viewing start time of the selected scheduled viewing content is scheduled within a predetermined time from the scheduled arrival time. If it is determined that it is not scheduled within the predetermined time, the process returns to step S482 to end the process for the currently scheduled viewing-and-listening content and perform processing for the next scheduled viewing-and-listening content. repeat.

  In step S484, when it is determined that the viewing start time of the selected viewing-scheduled content is scheduled within a predetermined time from the scheduled arrival time, the supply content selection unit 113 proceeds to step S485. The content related information 131 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the content related to the scheduled viewing content, that is, the related content 254 exists in the content group stored in the content storage unit 122.

  When it is determined that the related content 254 of the content 31 scheduled to be viewed has not been accumulated, the supply content selection unit 113 returns the processing to step S482 and performs the subsequent processing in order to perform processing on the next scheduled content to be viewed. repeat.

  When it is determined that the related content 254 of the content 31 scheduled to be viewed is stored in the content storage unit 122, the supply content selection unit 113 proceeds to step S486, and the related content is related to the selected scheduled viewing content. The content 254 is added to the supply content candidate list, and the process returns to step S482.

  By repeating the processes in steps S482 to S486 described above, the supply content selection unit 113 performs the process on all the scheduled viewing contents. If it is determined in step S482 that the processing for all the scheduled viewing contents has been completed and there is no unprocessed scheduled viewing content, the supply content selection unit 113 advances the process to step S491 in FIG.

  The supply content selection unit 113 that has generated the supply content candidate list as described above determines whether or not there is a supply content candidate in the supply content candidate list in step S491 of FIG. When it is determined that at least one content 31 can be selected as a supply content candidate and there is a supply content candidate in each process of FIG. 45, the supply content selection unit 113 advances the process to step S492, and based on the arrival time information 272 From the scheduled arrival time and the current time, a viewable time that is a time during which the content 31 can be viewed before the user arrives at home is calculated.

  In step S493, the supplied content selection unit 113 calculates a total viewing time that is a total content playback time (a playback time in normal playback) based on the supplied content candidate list.

  In step S494, the viewable time and the total viewing time are compared, and it is determined whether or not the user can view all the contents in the supply content candidate list. When it is determined that the viewable time is longer than the total viewing time and the content can be viewed, the supply content selection unit 113 proceeds to step S495, determines the content of the supply content candidate list as the supply content, and the content in step S496 The supply content is acquired via the management unit 116, the supply content selection process is terminated, and the process returns to step S457 of FIG.

  When it is determined in step S494 that the viewable time is shorter than the total viewing time and the user cannot view the content in the supply content candidate list, the supply content selection unit 113 advances the process to step S497 and includes, for example, the list. Content is appropriately reduced or a part of the content included in the list is extracted to edit the supply content candidate list so that the total viewing time is shorter than the viewable time, and the process is performed in step S494. Return to, and repeat the subsequent processing. The supply content candidate list can specify not only the content that is a candidate for the content to be selected as the supply content, but also a part of the content.

  If no content is selected as a supply content candidate in step S491 and it is determined that there is no supply content candidate, the supply content selection unit 113 advances the process to step S498 and performs error processing. Is sent to the content supply control unit 118, the supply content selection process is terminated, and the process returns to step S457 of FIG.

  As described above, each part of the home server 11 executes each process, so that the home server 11 selects the content 31 selected based on the arrival time information 272 and the scheduled viewing content information 273 via the terminal device 13. Can be provided. Thereby, the network system 1 can provide the user with a service according to the scheduled arrival time, for example, providing the content 31 related to the program scheduled to be viewed after the user arrives at home before arrival.

  Note that when the content is provided based on the estimated arrival time as described above, the home server 11 transmits the streaming data similarly to the case where the content is provided based on the required time described with reference to FIGS. Instead, the content 31 may be supplied to the terminal device 13 as download data, and the content 31 acquired by the terminal device 11 may be stored once in a hard disk or the like and then provided to the user.

  In that case, the configuration example of the terminal device 13 has the same configuration as the block diagram shown in FIG. Further, the content management unit 43 is basically configured similarly to the block diagram shown in FIG. 17 as in the configuration example of FIG. 40 with respect to the block diagram shown in FIG. 8, and in the block diagram shown in FIG. Instead of the required time information supply unit 71, an arrival time information supply unit 281 and a scheduled viewing content information supply unit 282 are provided.

  Further, the configuration example of the server 11 at this time is basically the same as the block diagram shown in FIG. However, as in the configuration example of FIG. 41 with respect to the block diagram shown in FIG. 9, instead of the required time information acquisition unit 112 in the block diagram shown in FIG. 19, the arrival time information acquisition unit 283 and the scheduled viewing content information acquisition unit 284 is provided.

  In this case, the terminal device 13 executes terminal processing as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, and executes navigation information supply processing as shown in FIG.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 49, the content viewing process executed in step S10 of FIG. 11 in this case will be described. Also in this case, the content management unit 43 shown in FIG. 47 executes the content viewing process basically in the same manner as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. However, in this case, the arrival time information supply unit 281 supplies the arrival time information 272 to the home server 11 in step S511. In addition, the scheduled viewing content information supply unit 282 supplies the scheduled viewing content information 273 to the home server 11 in step S512.

  The subsequent processing is the same as in the case of FIG. 20, and each unit of the content management unit 43 executes each processing of step S513 to step S520 similarly to each processing of step S112 to step S119 of FIG. That is, each process from step S513 to step S520 corresponds to each process from step S112 to step S119.

  On the other hand, the home server 11 executes server processing as in the flowchart of FIG. However, in this case, in step S457 in FIG. 44, the content reproduction management information generation process is executed in the same manner as in step S217 in FIG.

  The content reproduction management information generation process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  Each part of the home server 11 in FIG. 48 executes the content reproduction management information generation process as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 50 and 51. This is the streaming data described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Is basically the same as the case of supplying the supplied content.

  More specifically, each unit of the home server 11 executes the processing of steps S541 to S546 in FIG. 50, and based on the arrival time information 272, the scheduled viewing content information 273, and the content related information 131 acquired in step S541. Then, a supply content candidate list is generated. Therefore, the processes in steps S541 to S546 in FIG. 50 correspond to the processes in steps S481 to S486 in FIG. 45, respectively.

  If it is determined in step S542 that there is no unprocessed scheduled viewing content, the content reproduction management information generating unit 171 advances the processing to step S551 in FIG. The content reproduction management information generation unit 171 executes the processes of steps S551 to S558 in the same manner as in steps S491 to S498 of FIG.

  However, the content reproduction management information generation unit 171 that has determined the content of the supply content candidate list as the supply content in step S555 proceeds to the process in step S556, and supplies the content reproduction management information as the content reproduction management information. The data is supplied to the control unit 172 and the content supply control unit 118. Accordingly, the processes in steps S551 to S555 and steps S557 and S558 in FIG. 51 correspond to the processes in steps S491 to S495 and steps S497 and S498 in FIG. 46, respectively.

  As described above, when the units of the home server 11 and the terminal device 13 perform processing, the network system 1 provides, for example, the content 31 related to the program that the user plans to view after arrival at home before arrival. The service according to the estimated arrival time can be provided to the user. At this time, the home server 11 can supply the content as download data to the terminal device 13, and the terminal device 13 can store the content once and provide it to the user. Therefore, the home server 11 can further supply content to the terminal device 13 at an arbitrary timing, and can obtain the same effects as those described with reference to FIGS.

  Of course, when the content is provided based on the estimated arrival time as described above, the terminal device 13 is broadcasted in the same manner as the case where the content is provided based on the required time described with reference to FIGS. Content 31 may be received and stored.

  In this case, the content management unit 43 of the terminal device 13 is basically the same as the block diagram shown in FIG. 30 as in the configuration example of FIG. 40 corresponding to the block diagram shown in FIG. 8 as shown in FIG. An arrival time information supply unit 281 and a scheduled viewing content information supply unit 282 are provided instead of the required time information supply unit 71 in the block diagram shown in FIG.

  Further, the server 11 at this time is basically configured similarly to the block diagram shown in FIG. However, as in the configuration example of FIG. 41 with respect to the block diagram shown in FIG. 9, instead of the required time information acquisition unit 112 in the block diagram shown in FIG. 31, the arrival time information acquisition unit 283 and the scheduled viewing content information acquisition unit 284 is provided.

  In this case, the terminal device 13 executes terminal processing as in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, and executes navigation information supply processing as shown in FIG. Further, the terminal device 13 executes the content viewing process as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 54, which is basically the same as the case of the flowchart of FIG. As in the case described with reference to the flowchart, the arrival time information 272 and the scheduled viewing content information 273 are supplied to the home server 11 instead of the process of step S341 in FIG. Specifically, the arrival time information supply unit 281 of the content management unit 43 shown in FIG. 52 supplies the arrival time information 272 to the home server 11 in step S571, and the scheduled viewing content information supply unit 282 in step S572. Supplies the scheduled viewing content information 273 to the home server 11.

  54 correspond to the processes of steps S342 to S348 of FIG. 34, respectively, and the units of the content management unit 43 of FIG. 52 perform the processes of steps S573 to S579 of FIG. Each process is executed in the same manner as in steps S342 to S348 in FIG.

  By processing in this way, the terminal device 13 can receive and store the content, and supply the arrival time information 272 and the scheduled viewing content information 273 to the home server 11. Accordingly, the terminal device 13 can cause the home server 11 to select content based on the arrival time information 272 and the scheduled viewing content information 273.

  On the other hand, the home server 11 executes server processing as shown in the flowchart of FIG. This process is basically executed in the same manner as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. However, in the case of FIG. 55, in step S591, the arrival time information acquisition unit 283 determines whether or not the arrival time information 272 has been acquired, and the scheduled viewing content information acquisition unit 284 acquired the scheduled viewing content information 273. Further, the content list acquisition unit 222 determines whether or not the content list 211 has been acquired. When the arrival time information acquisition unit 283, the scheduled viewing content information acquisition unit 284, and the content list acquisition unit 222 determine that the arrival time information 272, the scheduled viewing content information 273, and the content list 211 have been acquired, The process proceeds to step S592, and if it is determined that it has not been acquired, the process proceeds to step S594.

  That is, each process of step S592 to step S595 in FIG. 55 corresponds to step S362 to step S365 in FIG. 35, and each unit of the home server 11 performs the same process.

  At this time, each unit of the home server 11 executes content reproduction management information generation processing in step S592 of FIG. 55, as in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. That is, each unit of the home server 11 executes content reproduction management information generation processing basically in the same manner as described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. However, in this case, since the content 31 is stored in the terminal device 13, the process of acquiring the content related information 131 shown in step S541 in FIG. 50 is omitted.

  Therefore, the processing from step S611 to step S615 in FIG. 56 and the processing from step S621 to step S628 in FIG. 57 are the same as the processing from step S542 to step S546 in FIG. 50 and the processing from step S551 to step S551 in FIG. This corresponds to each process of S558.

  By performing the processing in this way, the home server 11 selects the content 31 to be provided to the user based on the arrival time information 272 and the scheduled viewing content information 273 even when the terminal device 13 stores the content 31. Can do. Thereby, also in this case, the network system 1 provides the user with a service corresponding to the scheduled arrival time, for example, providing the content 31 related to the program scheduled to be viewed after the user arrives at home before arrival. be able to.

  In the above description, the viewing schedule 252 is schedule information related to viewing of the content being broadcast. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a viewing schedule of content stored in the home server 11. In this case, since the viewing time information is not included in the viewing schedule 252 and is not related to the estimated arrival time 253, the home server 11 provides the time required to reach home instead of using the estimated arrival time 253. Determine the content.

  In the above description, the network system 1 has described the case where content is provided to a moving user by a method according to the user's situation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. When the user gets in the automobile 22 and is moving to the home 21, the preset recording schedule of the content 31 may be controlled based on the scheduled arrival time 253.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 58, it is assumed that the user has previously set a plurality of recording reservations (recording reservation 301-1 to recording reservation 301- (Y + 1)) in the home server 11. Since the recording reservation 301- (Y + 1) is schedule information that starts at a time after the scheduled arrival time 253, the user can view this content after returning home without recording. On the other hand, the recording reservation 301-1 to the recording reservation 301-Y are schedule information that starts at a time before the scheduled arrival time 253.

  In such a case, the home server 11 selects the recording reservation 301- after the scheduled arrival time from among the recording reservations 301-1 to 301- (Y + 1) input first according to the estimated arrival time 253. The recording process of (Y + 1) is omitted. Furthermore, even if the estimated arrival time 253 changes, the home server 11 changes the recording process to be executed according to the change based on the recording reservation.

  By doing in this way, the home server 11 can suppress that the content which a user can view during a broadcast is bothed, and consumes a storage area unnecessarily. That is, the network system 1 can provide an optimal recording processing service without requiring a complicated operation by the user such as setting or canceling the recording reservation according to the arrival time. it can.

  FIG. 59 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the terminal device 13 in that case. In FIG. 59, the same components as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Also, in FIG. 59, as in the case of FIG. 3, only an example of the main configuration related to the present invention of the terminal device 13 is shown, and the terminal device 13 has a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. Of course.

  59, in this case, in the terminal device 13, the content management unit 43 is omitted from the configuration example described in FIG. 3, and the current position information 311 is transmitted from the navigation processing unit 42 via the communication unit 46. 11 is output.

  FIG. 60 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the home server 11 in this case. In FIG. 60, the same parts as those of the configuration example of the home server 11 in each example described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Also, in FIG. 60, as in the case of other examples, only an example of the main configuration related to the present invention of the home server 11 is shown, and the home server 11 has a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. Of course you may make it have.

  In this case, in addition to the configuration described in the above example, the home server 11 includes a current position information acquisition unit 321, a content broadcast schedule information acquisition unit 322, a recording candidate storage unit 323, a recording reservation information generation unit 324, and recording reservation information. A management unit 325 and a recording reservation information storage unit 326 are provided.

  The current position information acquisition unit 321 controls the communication unit 111 to acquire current position information 311 supplied from the terminal device 13 and supplies it to the recording reservation information management unit 325. The content broadcast schedule information acquisition unit 322 controls the communication unit 111 to acquire content broadcast schedule information 312 which is a broadcast program table of content of the broadcast station 15 from a predetermined server (not shown) connected to the network 12. , And supplies it to the recording reservation information generating unit 324.

  The recording candidate storage unit 323 is configured as a part of the storage area of the storage unit 117, and stores the recording candidate 313 that is input via the input unit 114 and is information specifying the content 31 to be scheduled for recording by the user. Then, the recording candidate 313 is supplied to the recording reservation information generating unit 324 as necessary.

  The recording reservation information generating unit 324 generates recording reservation information 314 that is reservation information for recording the content 31 designated by the user based on the content broadcast schedule information 312 and the recording candidates 313, and records the recording reservation information. Supply to the management unit 325. The recording reservation information management unit 325 stores the recording reservation information 314 supplied from the recording reservation information generation unit 324 in the recording reservation information storage unit 326 provided in the storage unit 117 or in the recording reservation information storage unit 326. The stored recording reservation information 314 is read out, based on the supplied current position information 311, it is determined whether or not the recording process based on the read recording reservation information 314 is executed, and the content acquisition unit 115 is set. And recording processing based on the recording reservation information 314 is executed.

  Next, the case where the recording reservation information is adjusted in this way will be described. In addition, about the process which the terminal device 13 supplies present position information to the home server 11, since it is realizable by performing similarly to the terminal process mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted. However, in this case, the terminal device 13 can omit the process of acquiring content and the like.

  Below, the process which the home server 11 performs is demonstrated. The recording reservation information generation unit 324 of the home server 11 whose configuration example is shown in FIG. 60 executes recording reservation information generation processing based on the recording candidates 313 input by the user. The recording reservation information generation process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the recording reservation information generation process is started, the recording reservation information generation unit 324 first controls the content broadcast schedule information acquisition unit 322 to acquire the content broadcast schedule information 312 in step S641. The content broadcast schedule information acquisition unit 322 controls the communication unit 111 to acquire the content broadcast schedule information 312 and supplies it to the recording reservation information generation unit 324. Next, the recording reservation information generating unit 324 acquires the recording candidate 313 stored in the recording candidate storage unit 323 in step S642, and in step S643, the recording reservation is based on the content broadcast schedule information 312 and the recording candidate 313. Information 314 is generated. The recording reservation information generation unit 324 that has generated the recording reservation information 314 supplies the generated recording reservation information 314 to the recording reservation information management unit 325.

  In step S644, the recording reservation information management unit 325 supplies the supplied recording reservation information 314 to the recording reservation information storage unit 326 and stores it. The recording reservation information storage unit 326 stores the supplied recording reservation information 314 in a free area of the storage area.

  The home server 11 generates the recording reservation information 314 as described above.

  Next, a recording reservation information management process in which the home server 11 manages the recording reservation information 314 generated in this way based on the current location information 311 of the user will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the recording reservation information management process is started, the recording reservation information management unit 325 stores the recording reservation information 314 closest to the current time (and scheduled to start after the current time) from the recording reservation information storage unit 326. get.

  In step S662, the recording reservation information management unit 325 refers to the acquired recording reservation information 314 and determines whether or not it is a recording start time. If it is determined that the recording start time has not been reached, the recording reservation information management unit 325 advances the process to step S663 to control the current position information acquisition unit 321 to acquire current position information 311. In step S664, Based on the current location information 311, it is determined whether or not the user has arrived at the home 21. If it is determined that the user has not arrived, the process returns to step S 662 and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  If it is determined in step S664 that the user has arrived at home, the recording reservation information management unit 325 advances the process to step S665, and deletes the recording reservation information 314. In step S666, the recording reservation information management unit 325 determines whether or not to end the recording reservation information management process. If it is determined that the recording reservation information management process is not ended, the process returns to step S661 and repeats the subsequent processes.

  If it is determined in step S666 that the recording reservation information management process is to be terminated, the recording reservation information management unit 325 advances the process to step S667, performs the termination process, and then ends the recording reservation information management process.

  If it is determined in step S662 that the current time is the recording start time, the recording reservation information management unit 325 controls the content acquisition unit 115 to execute the recording process. The recording reservation information management unit 325 that has executed the recording process returns the process to step S665 and repeats the subsequent processes.

  As described above, the home server 11 manages the recording reservation information 314 based on the current position (scheduled arrival time) of the user without requiring complicated operations such as addition or deletion of the recording reservation process. It is possible to suppress unnecessary occupancy of the storage area of the home server 11 due to useless content recording processing. Accordingly, the home server 11 can effectively use the storage area of the storage unit 117 without requiring complicated work by the user.

  In the above, the case where the home server 11 and the terminal device 13 of the network system 1 perform processing has been described. However, the configuration example of the network system 1 that provides the above-described service is not limited to the above. The number of home servers 11, terminal devices 13, and the like connected to 12 may be plural.

  Furthermore, the service described above may be provided by a plurality of terminal devices 13 connected to the network 12, for example, as shown in FIG. 63A. In this case, for example, one terminal device 13-1 executes the process executed by the home server 11 described above, and the other terminal device 13-2 executes the process executed by the terminal device 13 described above. As a specific example, for example, as shown in FIG. 63B, the network system 1 is a car navigation system, and a plurality of terminal devices 13 are connected to a dedicated wireless network 332 in the car navigation system. You may make it comprise navigation system vehicle-mounted terminal device 331 and 333. FIG.

  As another specific example, for example, as shown in FIG. 63C, the network system 1 is a wireless telephone line system, and a plurality of terminal devices 13 are connected to the specific power-saving wireless communication 342 in the wireless telephone line system. It may be configured by a plurality of portable telephones 341 and 343 connected by.

  Further, the network system 1 as described above may be configured by a cell network using software cell technology.

  FIG. 64 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the network system to which the present invention is applied.

  64, a plurality of information processing apparatuses 401 to 404 are connected to each other via a network 409. The network system shown in FIG. 64 is configured basically in the same manner as the network system 1 shown in FIG. 1. Physically, the information processing apparatuses 401 to 404 shown in FIG. 64, and the network 409 in FIG. 64 corresponds to the network 12 in FIG.

  64 may correspond to either the home server 11 or the terminal device 13 of FIG. 1, and, for example, depending on the way of handling or the embodiment, for example, A configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. 64 may be used, such as a dedicated or general-purpose tuner that can receive a television broadcast program or the like.

  64, the information processing apparatus 401 includes an information processing controller 411, and further includes a main memory 426-1, an external recording unit 428-1, and an external recording unit 428-2. The other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 have basically the same configuration as the information processing apparatus 401. That is, the information processing device 402 includes an information processing controller 412, a main memory 426-2, an external recording unit 428-3, and an external recording unit 428-4. The information processing device 403 includes an information processing controller 413, a main memory, and the like. 426-3 and an external recording unit 428-5, and the information processing apparatus 404 includes an information processing controller 414, a main memory 426-4, and an external recording unit 428-6. Therefore, in the following, each part of the information processing apparatus 401 will be mainly described. However, the description of each part of the information processing apparatus 401 constitutes the other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 unless otherwise limited. It is applicable also as description of each part.

  The information processing controller 411 executes various programs recorded in the main memory 426-1 and controls the entire information processing apparatus 401. The information processing controller 411 operates in cooperation with the information processing controllers 412 to 414 of the other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404. These information processing controllers 411 to 414 are configured by common computing modules. The information processing controllers 411 to 414 preferably have the same ISA (Instruction Set Architecture), and preferably execute processing according to the same instruction set. The number of modules included in each processor is determined by the processing performance (capacity) required by that processor.

  These information processing controllers 411 to 414 divide a program to be executed into arbitrary processing units, distribute and process the software cells as cells appropriately, and process results obtained in each of them. In summary, one program can be executed in cooperation with each other.

  Although a specific method will be described later, the information processing controller 411 of the information processing apparatus 401 needs the generated software cell (software in units of cells including part of the program to be processed or data) at this time. In response, the information is transmitted to other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 via the network 409. Further, when the information processing controller 411 of the information processing apparatus 401 receives a software cell from any of the information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 via the network 409, the information processing controller 411 processes the received software cell.

  For example, the information processing controller 411 performs control processing of each unit of the information processing apparatus 401 based on the processing result, and exchanges various data with any of the other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404. To do. Note that the information processing controller 411 not only executes the software cell and controls each unit based on the processing result of the executed software cell, but also receives information from a user input via an operation input unit (not shown). Each part is controlled based on the instruction.

  Although not shown, the information processing controller 411 is assigned a device ID that can uniquely identify the information processing device 401 throughout the network 409.

  The information processing controller 411 includes a bus 429-1, a main processor 421-1, sub-processors 423-1 to 423-3, a DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) 425-1, and a DC (Disk Controller) 427-1. I have.

  The main processor 421-1, sub-processor 423-1 to sub-processor 423-3, DMAC 425-1, and DC 427-1 are connected to each other via a bus 429-1. The main processor 421-1 is assigned a main processor ID for identifying the main processor 421-1 as an identifier. Similarly, each of the sub processors 423-1 to 423-3 is assigned with an identifier of a sub processor ID for identifying each of the sub processors 423-1 to 423-3.

  The main processor 421-1 performs schedule management of program execution by the sub processors 423-1 to 423-3 and overall management of the information processing controller 411 (information processing apparatus 401). The main processor 421-1 includes a local storage 422-1 and temporarily stores data and programs loaded from the main memory 422-1 in the local storage 422-1. The main processor 421-1 reads data and programs from the local storage 422-1 and executes various processes based on the read data and programs.

  The main processor 421-1 performs, for example, processing related to software cell management described later. For example, the main processor 421-1 distributes the software cells supplied from the other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 via the network 409 to the sub processors 423-1 to 423-3 for processing. The processing results obtained by the sub-processors are collected, and the processing results are supplied to the other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 via the network 409. The main processor 421-1 can also be configured to execute a program other than the management program. In this case, the main processor 421-1 can also function as one of the sub processors described later.

  Each of the sub-processor 423-1 to sub-processor 423-3 is a program fragment generated from one or a plurality of programs related to each other based on the control of the main processor 421-1, together with necessary data. Combined software cells are assigned. The sub processors 423-1 to 423-3 are controlled by the main processor 421-1 and execute the assigned software cells in parallel and independently. Furthermore, if necessary, the program executed by the main processor 421-1 can be configured to operate in cooperation with each of the programs executed by the sub processors 423-1 to 423-3. It is.

  Each of the sub processors 423-1 to 423-3 includes local storage 424-1 to local storage 424-3. Each of the sub-processors 423-1 to 423-3 temporarily stores data and programs in the local storages 424-1 to 424-3 as necessary. Each of the sub processors 423-1 to 423-3 reads data and programs from the local storage 424-1 to local storage 424-3, and executes various processes based on the read data and programs. .

  Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the sub processors 423-1 to 423-3, they are simply referred to as sub processors 423. Similarly, hereinafter, the local storages 424-1 to 424-3 are simply referred to as local storages 424 when it is not necessary to individually distinguish them.

  The DMAC 425-1 is stored in the main memory 426-1 from the main processor 421-1 and the sub processor 423 based on a main processor key, a sub processor key, and an access key recorded in a key management table described later. Manage access to existing programs and data.

  The DC 427-1 manages access to the external recording unit 428-1 or the external recording unit 428-2 from the main processor 421-1 and the sub processor 423.

  The main memory 426-1 is composed of, for example, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). The main memory 426-1 temporarily stores various programs and data executed by the main processor 421-1 and the sub processor 423. The main memory 426-1 may be a static random access memory (SRAM), a magnetic random access memory (MRAM), an optical memory, a holographic memory, or the like. Of course, it may be realized.

  The external recording unit 428-1 and the external recording unit 428-2 are configured by a large-capacity magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk, for example. Of course, the external recording unit 428-1 and the external recording unit 428-2 may be any recording media as long as they can record data. In addition, for example, by a dedicated drive or the like A predetermined removable recording medium such as a DVD, a CD, a semiconductor memory, or a magnetic tape mounted in the drive may be used. The external recording units 428-1 and 428-2 record content data such as image data and audio data supplied via the DC 427-1 on a built-in hard disk, and read the content data recorded on the hard disk Or supplied to another processing unit or the like via the DC 427-1.

  Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish each of the external recording unit 428-1 and the external recording unit 428-2, they are simply referred to as the external recording unit 428.

  The external recording unit 428 may include, for example, a tuner or an antenna that can receive a program broadcast on the broadcasting station 15 of FIG. In that case, the external recording unit 428 having them records the broadcast program (content data) received via the built-in tuner on a hard disk or DVD. That is, the external recording unit 428 performs processing related to recording (recording) and playback of content data using a built-in hard disk and tuner.

  Furthermore, the external recording unit 428 can also record various programs executed by the main processor 421-1 and the sub processor 423, various data, and the like on a built-in hard disk.

  Further, although not shown in the figure, the information processing controller 411 may be connected to other processing units such as an operation input unit, a communication unit, and a drive.

  The operation input unit connected to the information processing controller 411 receives, for example, an operation input device such as a button or a dial, or an infrared signal or a radio signal indicating a user operation input transmitted from a remote commander (not shown). A signal indicating a user operation input (various instructions input) to the information processing controller 411.

  Also, the communication unit connected to the information processing controller 411 transmits, for example, the software cell supplied from the information processing controller 411 to the information processing apparatus 402 to the information processing apparatus 404 via the network 409. Further, the communication unit supplies the software cell transmitted from the information processing apparatus 402 to the information processing apparatus 404 to the information processing controller 411.

  Furthermore, the drive connected to the information processing controller 411 drives them when a predetermined removable medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory is loaded, and programs stored therein Get data etc. The acquired program and data are transferred to the information processing controller 411 as necessary, and are recorded in the external recording unit 428 by the information processing controller 411.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 65, processing when the sub processor 423 accesses the main memory 426-1 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 65A, a memory location where a plurality of addresses can be specified is arranged in the main memory 426-1. Each memory location is allocated an additional segment for storing information indicating the state of the data. The additional segment includes an F / E bit, a sub processor ID, and an LS address (local storage address). Each memory location is assigned an access key to be described later.

  The F / E bit whose value is “0” is data being processed being read by the sub-processor 423 or invalid data that is not the latest data because it is empty, and cannot be read from the memory location. It shows that. An F / E bit having a value of “0” indicates that data can be written to the memory location. When data is written, the value of the F / E bit is set to “1”.

  The F / E bit whose value is “1” indicates that the data at the memory location is not read by the sub processor 423 and is the latest unprocessed data. The data in the memory location where the value of the F / E bit is “1” can be read, and after being read by the sub processor 423, the value of the F / E bit is set to “0”. Further, the F / E bit whose value is “1” indicates that the memory location cannot write data.

  Further, it is possible to set a read reservation for a memory location in a state where the value of the F / E bit is “0” (read disabled / write enabled). When a read reservation is made for a memory location whose F / E bit value is “0”, the sub-processor 423 adds sub segments of the sub-processor 423 as read reservation information to an additional segment of the memory location where the read reservation is made. Write the processor ID and LS address. Then, when the data is written to the memory location reserved for reading by the sub-processor 423 that writes data and the value of the F / E bit is set to “1” (readable / not writable), the read reservation information is set in advance. The data is read out to the local storage 424 specified by the sub processor ID and the LS address written in the additional segment.

  When it is necessary to process data in a plurality of stages by a plurality of sub-processors 423, the sub-processor 423 performing the previous stage processing is controlled by controlling the reading and writing of data in each memory location in this way. Immediately after the data is written to a predetermined address in the main memory 426-1, another sub-processor 423 that performs a later-stage process can read the pre-processed data.

  As shown in FIG. 65B, the local storage 424 of the sub processor 423 is configured by memory locations that can specify a plurality of addresses. An additional segment is similarly allocated for each memory location. The additional segment includes a busy bit.

  When the sub processor 423 reads the data stored in the main memory 426-1 to the memory location of the local storage 424 of the sub processor 423, the value of the corresponding busy bit is set to “1” and reserved. No other data can be stored in the memory location where the value of the busy bit is “1”. When data is read to the memory location of the local storage 424, the value of the busy bit is set to “0”, and other data can be stored.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 65A, the main memory 426-1 connected to the information processing controller 411 includes a plurality of sandboxes. The sandbox defines an area in the main memory 426-1. Each sandbox is assigned to each sub processor 423, and can be used exclusively by the assigned sub processor 423. That is, the sub-processor 423 can use the assigned sandbox, but cannot access data beyond this area.

  The main memory 426-1 is composed of a plurality of memory locations, and the sandbox is a collection of these memory locations.

  Furthermore, in order to implement exclusive control of the main memory 426-1, the key management table shown in FIG. 65C is used. The key management table is recorded in a key management table recording unit (not shown) and associated with the DMAC 425-1. Each entry in the key management table includes a sub processor ID, a sub processor key, and a key mask.

  When the sub processor 423 accesses the main memory 426-1, the sub processor 423 outputs a read or write command to the DMAC 425-1. This command includes a sub processor ID that identifies the sub processor 423 and an address of the main memory 426-1 that is an access request destination.

  When executing a command supplied from the sub processor 423, the DMAC 425-1 refers to the key management table and checks the sub processor key of the sub processor 423 as the access request source. The DMAC 425-1 compares the checked access request source sub-processor key with the access key allocated to the memory location of the main memory 426-1 that is the access request destination, and the two keys match. Only the command supplied from the sub-processor 423 is executed.

  In the key mask recorded in the key management table shown in FIG. 65C, when the value of the arbitrary bit becomes “1”, the value of the corresponding bit of the sub-processor key associated with the key mask is changed to “ It can be 0 ”or“ 1 ”(ie, any value).

  For example, it is assumed that the value of the sub processor key is “1010”. Normally, this sub-processor key only allows access to a sandbox with an access key value “1010”. However, if the value of the key mask associated with this sub processor key is set to “0001”, the sub processor key and the access are made only for the digit whose key mask bit value is set to “1”. The coincidence with the key is masked (the digit for which the key mask bit value is set to “1” is not determined), and the access key value is “1010” or “1011” depending on the sub processor key “1010”. It is possible to access a sandbox having an access key that is either “

  As described above, the sandbox exclusivity of the main memory 426-1 is realized. That is, when it is necessary to process data in multiple stages by a plurality of sub-processors 423, by configuring as described above, only the sub-processor 423 that performs the preceding stage processing and the sub-processor 423 that performs the subsequent stage processing are configured. However, it becomes possible to access a predetermined address of the main memory 426-1, and data can be protected.

  For example, the value of the key mask can be changed as follows. First, immediately after activation of the information processing apparatus 401 in FIG. 64, the values of the key masks are all “0”. It is assumed that the program loaded on the main processor 421-1 is executed and operates in cooperation with the program loaded on the sub processor 423. When the processing result data output from the sub processor 423-1 is stored in the main memory 426-1 and the processing result data stored in the main memory 426-1 is to be input to the sub processor 423-2, the sub processor 423 The area of the main memory 426-1 that stores the processing result data output by -1 needs to be accessible from the sub processor 423-1 and the sub processor 423-2. In such a case, the main processor 421-1 appropriately changes the value of the key mask and provides an area of the main memory 426-1 that can be accessed from the plurality of sub-processors 423. Enables processing.

  More specifically, for example, in FIG. 64, the sub-processor 423-1 performs a predetermined process based on data transmitted from the other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404, and the process is performed. Data is stored in the first area of the main memory 426-1. Then, the sub-processor 423-2 reads the stored data from the first area of the main memory 426-1, executes a predetermined process based on the read data, and outputs the processed data. It is stored in a second area different from the first area of the main memory 426-1.

  Here, the value of the sub processor key of the sub processor 423-1 is “0100”, the value of the access key of the first area of the main memory 426-1 is “0100”, and the sub processor key 423-2 has a sub key value of “0100”. When the value of the processor key is “0101” and the value of the access key in the second area of the main memory 426-1 is “0101”, the sub processor 423-2 sets the first key of the main memory 426-1. The area cannot be accessed. Therefore, by setting the value of the key mask of the sub processor 423-2 to “0001”, the sub processor 423-2 can access the first area of the main memory 426-1.

  FIG. 66 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a software cell. With reference to FIG. 66, processing when the information processing apparatus 401 generates a software cell and causes other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 to execute distributed processing based on the generated software cell will be described.

  The main processor 421-1 of the information processing apparatus 401 generates a software cell including a command, a program, and data necessary for executing the processing, and the other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 via the network 409. Send to.

  The software cell is configured to include, for example, a transmission source ID, a transmission destination ID, a response destination ID, a cell interface, a DMA command, a program, and data.

  The transmission source ID includes the network address of the information processing apparatus 401 that is the transmission source of the software cell, the apparatus ID of the information processing controller 411 of the information processing apparatus 401, and the main processor 421 provided in the information processing controller 411 of the information processing apparatus 401. -1 and sub processor 423 identifiers (main processor ID and sub processor ID) are included.

  The transmission destination ID includes the network address of the other information processing apparatus 402 to information processing apparatus 404 that is the transmission destination of the software cell, the apparatus ID of the information processing controller 411 of the other information processing apparatus 402 to information processing apparatus 404, and others. The main processor and sub-processor identifiers included in the information processing controllers 412 to 414 of the information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 are included.

  The response destination ID includes the network address of the information processing device 401 that is the response destination of the execution result of the software cell, the device ID of the information processing controller 411 of the information processing device 401, and the main processor 421 included in the information processing controller 411. 1 and sub-processor 423 identifiers are included.

  The cell interface is information necessary for using the software cell, and includes a global ID, necessary sub-processor information, a sandbox size, and a previous software cell ID.

  The global ID can uniquely identify the software cell throughout the network 409, and is generated based on the transmission source ID and the date and time (date and time) of generation or transmission of the software cell.

  In the necessary sub-processor information, the number of sub-processors necessary for executing the software cell is set. The sandbox size is set with the amount of memory of the main memory and the local storage of the sub processor necessary for executing the software cell.

  The previous software cell ID is an identifier of the previous software cell in the software cells constituting one group that requests sequential execution of streaming data or the like.

  The execution section of the software cell consists of DMA commands, programs and data. The DMA command includes a series of DMA commands necessary for starting the program, and the program includes a sub processor program executed by the sub processor. The data here is data processed by a program including the sub processor program.

  Further, the DMA command includes a load command, a kick command, a function program execution command, a status request command, and a status return command.

  The load command is a command for loading information stored in the main memory into the local storage of the sub processor, and includes a main memory address, a sub processor ID, and an LS address in addition to the load command. The main memory address indicates an address of a predetermined area of the main memory from which information is loaded. The sub processor ID and LS address indicate the identifier of the sub processor to which information is loaded and the address of the local storage.

  The kick command is a command for starting execution of a program, and includes a sub processor ID and a program counter in addition to the kick command. The sub processor ID identifies the sub processor to be kicked, and the program counter gives an address for the program execution program counter.

  A function program execution command is sent from a certain device (for example, the information processing device 401) to another device (for example, the other information processing devices 402 to 404) using, for example, a predetermined function. This is a command for requesting execution of a function program that is executed to notify that the creation of the summary has been completed. The CPU or the information processing controller of the device (for example, another information processing device 402 to information processing device 404) that has received the function program execution command identifies the function program to be activated by the function program ID.

  The status request command requests transmission of device information related to the current operation state (situation) of the other information processing devices 402 to 404 indicated by the transmission destination ID to the information processing device 401 indicated by the response destination ID. It is a command.

  The status reply command is a command in which the other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 that have received the status request command respond to the information processing apparatus 401 indicated by the response destination ID included in the status request command. The status reply command stores device information in the data area of the execution section.

  FIG. 67 shows the structure of the data area of the software cell when the DMA command is a status return command.

  The device ID is an identifier for identifying the information processing device including the information processing controller 411, and indicates the ID of the information processing device that transmits the status reply command. When the power is turned on, the main processor 421-1 included in the information processing controller 411 in the terminal device receives the information on the date and time when the power is turned on, the network address of the information processing device, and the information processing controller in the information processing device. 411 is generated based on the number of sub-processors 423 included in 411.

  The information processing device type ID includes a value indicating that the information processing device is a hard disk recorder (feature of the information processing device). Further, the device type ID may represent a function of the information processing device such as video / audio recording and video / audio reproduction. It is assumed that values representing the characteristics and functions of the information processing apparatus are determined in advance, and each information processing apparatus can grasp each other's characteristics and functions based on the information processing apparatus type ID.

  The MS (master / slave) status indicates whether the information processing apparatus is operating as a master apparatus or a slave apparatus, as will be described later. When this value is set to 0, the apparatus operates as a master apparatus. If it is set to 1, it indicates that it is operating as a slave device.

  The main processor operating frequency represents the operating frequency of the main processor 421-1 in the information processing controller 411. The main processor usage rate represents the usage rate in the main processor 421-1 for all programs currently running on the main processor 421-1. The main processor usage rate is a value representing the ratio of the processing capacity in use to the total processing capacity of the target main processor. For example, MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second), which is a unit for evaluating the processor processing capacity, is calculated as a unit. Or based on the processor usage time per unit time. The same applies to the sub-processor usage rate described later.

  The number of sub-processors represents the number of sub-processors 423 included in the information processing controller 411. The sub processor ID is an identifier for identifying each sub processor 423 (sub processors 423-1 to 423-3) in the information processing controller 411.

  The sub processor status represents the state of each sub processor 423, and there are states such as “unused”, “reserved”, and “busy”. “unused” indicates that the sub-processor is not currently used and is not reserved for use. “reserved” indicates a reserved state that is not currently used. Busy indicates that it is currently in use.

  The sub-processor usage rate represents the usage rate of the sub-processor for a program that is currently being executed by the sub-processor or that is reserved for execution by the sub-processor. That is, the sub processor usage rate indicates the current usage rate when the sub processor status is busy, and indicates the estimated usage rate that is to be used later when the sub processor status is reserved.

  One set of sub processor ID, sub processor status, and sub processor usage rate is set for one sub processor 423, and the number of sets corresponding to the sub processor 423 in one information processing controller is set.

  The main memory total capacity and the main memory usage represent the total capacity and the capacity currently in use of the main memory 426-1 connected to the information processing controller 411, respectively.

  The number of external recording units represents the number of external recording units 428 connected to the information processing controller 411. The external recording unit ID is information that uniquely identifies the external recording unit 428 connected to the information processing controller 411. The external recording unit type ID indicates the type of the external recording unit 428 (for example, hard disk, CD ± RW, DVD ± RW, memory disk, SRAM, ROM, etc.).

  The external recording unit total capacity and the external recording unit usage amount represent the total capacity and the currently used capacity of the external recording unit 428 identified by the external recording unit ID, respectively.

  The external recording unit ID, the external recording unit type ID, the external recording unit total capacity, and the external recording unit usage are set for one external recording unit 428 and connected to the information processing controller 411. As many as the number of external recording units 428 set is set. That is, when a plurality of external recording units 428 are connected to one information processing controller 411, different external recording unit IDs are assigned to the respective external recording units 428, and the external recording unit type ID and the external recording unit total Capacity and external recording unit usage are also managed separately.

  In FIG. 64, the main processor 421-1 included in the information processing controller 411 in the information processing apparatus 401 generates a software cell having the above-described configuration, and transmits the other information processing apparatuses 402 to information via the home network 409. Transmit to the processing device 404. In this case, the information processing device 401 that is the transmission source, the other information processing devices 402 to 404 that are the transmission destination, the other information processing devices 402 to 404 that are the response destination, and the information in each device The processing controllers 411 to 414 are identified by the transmission source ID, transmission destination ID, and response destination ID, respectively.

  For example, when the information processing apparatus 402 receives a software cell, the main processor 421-2 included in the information processing controller 412 of the information processing apparatus 401 stores the software cell in the main memory 426-2. Further, the transmission destination main processor 421-2 reads the software cell and processes the DMA command included therein.

  Specifically, the transmission destination main processor 421-2 first executes a load command. As a result, information is loaded from the main memory address designated by the load command to a predetermined area of the LS 424 in the sub processor specified by the sub processor ID and the LS address included in the load command. The information loaded here is a sub-processor program or data included in the received software cell, or other designated data.

  Next, the main processor 421-2 outputs the kick command to the sub processor indicated by the sub processor ID included therein together with the program counter included in the kick command.

  The instructed sub processor executes the sub processor program according to the kick command and the program counter. After the execution result is stored in the main memory 426-2, the main processor 421-2 is notified that the execution has been completed.

  Note that the processor that executes the software cell in the information processing controller 412 in the information processing apparatus 402 of the transmission destination is not limited to the sub-processor 423, and the main processor 421-2 is a main program such as a function program included in the software cell. It is also possible to specify to execute a memory program.

  In this case, the transmission source information processing apparatus 401 includes a main memory program and data processed by the main memory program, instead of the sub processor program, for the transmission destination information processing apparatus 402. A software cell whose command is a load command is transmitted, and a main memory program and data processed thereby are stored in the main memory 421-2 of the transmission destination. Next, the source information processing apparatus 401 sends the main processor ID, main memory address, and main memory program for the information processing controller 411 in the destination information processing apparatus 402 to the destination information processing apparatus 402. A software cell including an identifier such as a function program ID to be described later for identification and a program counter and having a DMA command as a kick command or a function program execution command is transmitted, and the main memory program is transmitted to the main processor 421-2. Let it run.

  As described above, in the network system of the present invention, the transmission source information processing apparatus transmits the sub processor program or the main memory program to the transmission destination information processing apparatus by the software cell, and transmits the sub processor program to the transmission destination. It is possible to load the sub processor 423 included in the information processing controller in the information processing apparatus and cause the transmission destination information processing apparatus to execute the sub processor program or the main memory program.

  When the program included in the received software cell is a sub processor program, the information processing controller in the transmission destination information processing apparatus loads the sub processor program to the designated sub processor. Then, the sub processor program or the main memory program included in the software cell is executed.

  Therefore, even if the user does not operate the transmission destination information processing apparatus, the sub processor program or the main memory program can be automatically executed by the information processing controller in the transmission destination information processing apparatus.

  In this way, when the information processing controller in its own apparatus does not have a main memory program such as a sub-processor program or a function program, the information processing apparatus receives information from another information processing apparatus connected to the network 409. You can get them. Furthermore, data transfer is performed between each sub-processor by the DMA method, and the above-described sandbox is used, so that even when it is necessary to process data in multiple stages within one information processing controller, high speed and high security are achieved. The process can be executed.

  As described above, by performing distributed processing using software cells, the information processing apparatus 401 connected to the network 409 operates in cooperation with the other information processing apparatuses 402 to 404, and 1 It operates as a virtual information processing device.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 68, four information processing apparatuses 401 to 404 having the same configuration and functions as the information processing apparatuses 401 to 404 described above are connected to the network 409 described above. 68, when the information processing apparatuses 401 to 404 operate in cooperation with each other using the software cells as described above, as shown in the lower part of FIG. It operates as a single virtual information processing apparatus 407.

  Therefore, in this case, each information processing apparatus operates as this one virtual information processing apparatus, and as described above, for the moving user, the content selected based on the required time to the destination , Providing the content selected based on the arrival time at the destination, and controlling the recording process based on the recording reservation according to the arrival time at the destination and the current position be able to.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 69, when the user operates a single information processing apparatus 402 to perform a normal reservation operation (user operation indicated by a white arrow in FIG. 69), the operation information becomes the master information. The information is supplied to the information processing apparatus 401 that operates as an apparatus. Based on the operation information, the information processing device 401 prepares programs and data to be processed, converts them into software cells, and operates the generated software cells as slave devices A to C. The information is supplied to the information processing apparatus 404 and executed. At this time, the information processing apparatus 401 operating as the master apparatus considers the usage status of the respective hardware resources (hardware resources such as a tuner and a hard disk) of the information processing apparatuses 402 to 404 operating as the slave apparatuses. Then, software cells are generated so that unused resources (free resources) are used, and they are assigned to each information processing apparatus.

  In this way, a series of processes to be executed is software-celled, and among the hardware resources (hardware resources such as tuners and hard disks) possessed by each information processing apparatus, unused resources (free resources) ) As appropriate. Therefore, since the program executed in this way (each process described above) is executed by a single virtual information processing apparatus, consideration is given to cooperation between information processing apparatuses as described in other embodiments. There is no need, and such processing can be omitted.

  That is, in this case as well, the network system is physically configured by a plurality of information processing devices 401 to 404 such as the home server 11 and the terminal device 13 of FIG. 1, but each process is performed by the home server of FIG. 11 and the terminal device 13 are processed in the same manner as that executed on one virtual information processing apparatus.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software. In this case, for example, the home server 11 and the terminal device 13 in FIG. 1 may each be configured as a personal computer as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 70, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501 of the personal computer 500 performs various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502 or a program loaded from a storage unit 513 to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503. Execute the process. The RAM 503 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 501 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 501, ROM 502, and RAM 503 are connected to each other via a bus 504. An input / output interface 510 is also connected to the bus 504.

  The input / output interface 510 includes an input unit 511 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display including a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an output unit 512 including a speaker, and a hard disk. A communication unit 514 including a storage unit 513 and a modem is connected. The communication unit 514 performs communication processing via a network including the Internet.

  A drive 515 is connected to the input / output interface 510 as necessary, and a removable medium 521 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read from them is It is installed in the storage unit 513 as necessary.

  When the above-described series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed from a network or a recording medium.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 70, the recording medium is distributed to distribute the program to the user separately from the apparatus main body, and includes a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk) on which the program is recorded, an optical disk ( Removable media 521 including a CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory), a DVD (digital versatile disk), a magneto-optical disk (including MD (mini-disk) (registered trademark)), or a semiconductor memory In addition to being configured, it is configured by a ROM 502 on which a program is recorded and a hard disk included in the storage unit 513, which is distributed to the user in a state of being pre-installed in the apparatus main body.

  In the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. It also includes processes that are executed individually.

  As described above, according to the present invention, for example, content can be provided by a method according to a user's situation. Further, for example, it is possible to allow the user to easily view more suitable content information.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the network system to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic diagram explaining the example of the provision method of a content. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the terminal device of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the navigation information supply part of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of route information. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of planned route information. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of required time information. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the content management part of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the home server of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of content relevant information. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a terminal process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a navigation information supply process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a content viewing-and-listening process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a server process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a supply content selection process. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the terminal device of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the content management part of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of content reproduction | regeneration management information. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the home server of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of content viewing-and-listening processing. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a content acquisition process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a content reproduction management information acquisition process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a content reproduction process. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of a server process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a content reproduction management information generation process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a content supply process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a content reproduction management information supply process. It is a schematic diagram explaining the other example of the provision method of a content. It is a block diagram which shows the further another structural example of the terminal device of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the content management part of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the further another structural example of the home server of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of a terminal process. It is a flowchart following FIG. 32 explaining the other example of a terminal process. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of a content viewing process. It is a flowchart explaining the further another example of a server process. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of a content reproduction management information generation process. It is a schematic diagram explaining the further another example of the provision method of a content. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the navigation information supply part of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of arrival time information. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the content management part of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the further another structural example of the home server of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of a navigation information supply process. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of a content viewing process. It is a flowchart explaining the further another example of a server process. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of a supply content selection process. It is a flowchart following FIG. 45 explaining the other example of supply content selection processing. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the content management part of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the further another structural example of the home server of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of a content viewing process. It is a flowchart explaining the further another example of a content reproduction management information generation process. FIG. 51 is a flowchart following FIG. 50 for explaining yet another example of content reproduction management information generation processing. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the content management part of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the further another structural example of the home server of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of a content viewing process. It is a flowchart explaining the further another example of a server process. It is a flowchart explaining the further another example of a content reproduction management information generation process. FIG. 57 is a flowchart following FIG. 56 for explaining yet another example of the content reproduction management information generation process. It is a schematic diagram explaining the example of the recording reservation control method. It is a block diagram which shows the further another structural example of the terminal device of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the further another structural example of the home server of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the example of recording reservation information generation processing. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a video recording reservation information management process. It is a block diagram explaining the other structural example of the network system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating still another configuration example of the network system in FIG. 1. It is a schematic diagram explaining the structural example of each part and each information. It is a schematic diagram explaining the structural example of a software cell. It is a schematic diagram explaining the structural example of the data of a status reply command. It is a block diagram explaining the concept of a cell network. It is a block diagram explaining the concept of a cell network. And FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a personal computer.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network system, 11 Home server, 12 Network, 13 Terminal device, 31 Content, 41 Navigation information supply part, 42 Navigation processing part, 43 Content management part, 55 Time calculation part, 68 Time required information, 71 Time required information supply part 72 content acquisition control unit, 73 content playback unit, 82 playback content, 112 required time information acquisition unit, 113 supply content selection unit, 115 content acquisition unit, 116 content management unit, 117 storage unit, 118 content supply control unit, 121 Content-related information storage unit, 122 Content storage unit, 131 Content-related information, 132 Supply content information, 141 Storage unit, 151 Content storage control unit, 152 Content reproduction management information acquisition control unit, 153 content reproduction management information storage control unit, 161 content reproduction management information, 171 content reproduction management information generation unit, 172 content reproduction management information supply control unit, 211 content list, 221 content list supply unit, 222 content list acquisition unit, 223 content reproduction management information storage unit, 261 timing means, 262 time calculation unit, 271 current time information, 272 arrival time information, 273 scheduled viewing content information, 281 arrival time information supply unit, 282 scheduled viewing content Information supply unit, 283 Arrival time information acquisition unit, 284 Scheduled viewing content information acquisition unit, 311 Current position information, 312 Content broadcast schedule information, 313 Recording candidate, 314 Recording reservation information 321 current position information acquisition unit, 322 the content broadcast schedule information acquisition unit, 323 recording candidate storage unit, 324 video recording reservation information generating unit, 325 recording reservation information management unit, 326 recording reservation information storage section, 500 a personal computer

Claims (20)

An information processing apparatus that provides a user with content supplied from another information processing apparatus connected via a network,
First supply means for supplying information relating to the movement of the user to the other information processing apparatus;
Acquiring means for acquiring the supplied content selected by the other information processing apparatus based on the information relating to the movement of the user supplied by the first supplying means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: reproduction means for reproducing the content acquired by the first acquisition means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the movement of the user is information regarding a time required for the moving user to arrive at the destination. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the movement of the user is information regarding an arrival time at which the moving user arrives at a destination. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the movement of the user is information related to a current position of the moving user. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content acquired by the acquisition unit is streaming data. A storage means for storing the content acquired by the acquisition means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction unit reproduces the content stored in the storage unit. Receiving means for receiving the content broadcast from a broadcasting station;
Storage means for storing the content received by the receiving means;
Second supply means for supplying the list of contents stored by the storage means to the other information processing apparatus;
The acquisition means is generated and supplied by the other information processing apparatus based on the information on the movement of the user supplied by the first supply means and the list supplied by the second supply means. Content reproduction management information for managing reproduction processing of the content that has been performed,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction unit reproduces the content stored by the storage unit based on the content reproduction management information acquired by the acquisition unit. The distributed processing unit that operates in cooperation with another information processing apparatus connected to the network and that distributes and executes processing related to provision of the content to the user. Information processing device. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus that provides a user with content supplied from another information processing apparatus connected via a network,
A first supply control step for controlling to supply information related to the movement of the user to the other information processing apparatus;
Acquisition control for controlling to acquire the supplied content selected by the other information processing device based on the information relating to the movement of the user controlled and supplied by the processing of the first supply control step Steps,
A reproduction step of reproducing the content acquired by being controlled by the processing of the first acquisition control step. In a program for causing a computer to perform processing for providing a user with content supplied from another information processing apparatus connected via a network,
A first supply control step for controlling to supply information related to the movement of the user to the other information processing apparatus;
Acquisition control for controlling to acquire the supplied content selected by the other information processing device based on the information relating to the movement of the user controlled and supplied by the processing of the first supply control step Steps,
A reproduction step of reproducing the content acquired by being controlled by the processing of the first acquisition control step. An information processing apparatus that provides a user with the content by supplying the content to another information processing apparatus connected via a network,
Obtaining means for obtaining information relating to the movement of the user supplied from the other information processing apparatus;
Selection means for selecting the content to be supplied to the other information processing apparatus based on the information on the movement of the user acquired by the acquisition means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: supply means for supplying the content selected by the selection means to the other information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information regarding the movement of the user is information regarding a time required for the moving user to arrive at a destination. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information related to the movement of the user is information related to an arrival time at which the moving user arrives at a destination. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information related to the movement of the user is information related to a current position of the moving user. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the supply unit supplies the content as streaming data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the supply unit supplies the content as download data. Receiving means for receiving the content broadcast from a broadcasting station;
Storage means for storing the content received by the receiving means,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the selection unit selects content to be supplied to the other information processing apparatus from the contents stored in the storage unit. The distributed processing unit that operates in cooperation with another information processing apparatus connected to the network and performs processing related to provision of the content to the user in a distributed manner. Information processing device. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus that provides content to a user by supplying the content to another information processing apparatus connected via a network,
An acquisition control step for controlling to acquire information related to the movement of the user supplied from the other information processing apparatus;
A selection step of selecting the content to be supplied to the other information processing device based on information on the movement of the user controlled and acquired by the processing of the acquisition control step;
A supply control step of controlling to supply the content selected by the processing of the selection step to the other information processing apparatus. In a program for causing a computer to perform processing for providing a user with the content by supplying the content to another information processing apparatus connected via a network,
An acquisition control step for controlling to acquire information related to the movement of the user supplied from the other information processing apparatus;
A selection step of selecting the content to be supplied to the other information processing device based on information on the movement of the user controlled and acquired by the processing of the acquisition control step;
A supply control step of controlling the content selected by the processing of the selection step to be supplied to the other information processing apparatus.

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