JP2006020267A - Device, method and program for information processing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device, method and program for information processing, by which the contents of the contents data stored in an information recording medium can be easily identified. <P>SOLUTION: The device for information processing 100 manages the contents data to be recorded or recorded in the information recording medium, where individual identification information is preset. The device comprises a cover video information generating device 320 which creates moving image data, capable of specifying the contents data as the cover video information; and contents data managing device 400 which manages the individual identification information in the information recording medium, where the contents data are to be recorded or recorded by relating to the cover video information. By such a configuration, the contents of the contents data recorded in the information recording medium are recollected, and moving image data, with a shorter reproduction time than the contents data recorded in the information recording medium, can be generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program, and more specifically, an information processing device that records individual identification information on a preset information recording medium / manages recorded content data, information processing It relates to a method and a program.

  Conventionally, in order for a user to determine content data recorded on an information recording medium (for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, etc.), Enter the title and date related to the contents directly on the surface of the information recording medium, enter it on the surface of the case that houses the information recording medium, or enter it on a sticker, etc. It is affixed to cases that store recording media. However, it is impossible to determine what content data is recorded on the information recording medium based on the information such as the title and date written on the surface of the information recording medium and the surface of the case storing the information recording medium. There is a case.

  Also, if the title or date related to the contents of the content data of the information recording medium is not entered anywhere such as the surface of the information recording medium or the surface of the case storing the information recording medium, the user can The content data is reproduced and the content data recorded on the information recording medium is confirmed. In order to reproduce the content data recorded on the information recording medium, for example, the information recording medium must be inserted into an AV device and the content data recorded on the information recording medium must be called up. Therefore, if the title or date related to the contents of the content data of the information recording medium is not entered anywhere such as on the surface of the information recording medium or the case of housing the information recording medium, it is recorded on the information recording medium. There is a problem that it takes time to confirm the contents of the content data.

  Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for confirming additional information on an information recording medium without reproducing the information recording medium. In Patent Document 1, identification information of an information recording medium, such as individual identification information, is associated with additional information of the information recording medium and recorded in a memory of a device different from the information recording medium. Thereby, the user can refer to the additional information of the information recording medium recorded in the memory of a device different from the information recording medium using the individual identification information. In Patent Document 1, additional information on an information recording medium is text information such as a title and date.

  For example, if the content data recorded on the information recording medium is a famous movie, the content can be confirmed immediately from the title. However, when a user takes a tennis game every week, the title “tennis game” alone cannot be used to determine when and who the game was played. Moreover, even if the date is recorded, it is not possible to specifically imagine who and where the game was played by only the information “date tennis game”.

JP 2004-62916 A

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to recall the contents of content data recorded on an information recording medium, and the content data recorded on the information recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program capable of generating moving image data having a shorter reproduction time. Another object of the present invention is to recall the individual identification information of the information recording medium and the content data recorded on the information recording medium, and a moving picture having a shorter playback time than the content data recorded on the information recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program capable of managing data in association with each other.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus in which individual identification information is recorded / recorded on an information recording medium set in advance. This information processing apparatus includes a cover video information generation apparatus that generates moving image data capable of specifying content data as cover video information, individual identification information of an information recording medium on which content data is recorded / recorded, and cover video information And a content data management apparatus that manages the contents in association with each other.

  According to this configuration, the information processing apparatus manages the content data recorded by the information processing apparatus and the content data already recorded on the information recording medium by the user taking an image with an imaging apparatus such as a video camera. be able to.

  Here, the cover video information represents characteristic contents of content data recorded on an information recording medium (for example, an optical disc), and has a shorter reproduction time than the content data recorded on the information recording medium. It is video data. The individual identification information is individual identification information that is preset in an information recording medium such as a disk and is unique to each information recording medium, and may be electronically recorded inside the information recording medium. , It may be physically displayed on the surface of the information recording medium.

  Since the cover video information represents the characteristic content of the content data and is video data having a playback time shorter than that of the content data recorded on the information recording medium, the user plays back the cover video information. The contents of the content data recorded on the information recording medium can be imaged quickly and easily.

  Further, since the individual identification information and the cover video information are managed in association with each other, the information recording medium can be recorded without inserting the information recording medium into the information processing apparatus and reading the content data recorded on the information recording medium. It becomes possible to confirm the content of the content data recorded on the medium.

  In addition, the content data recorded on the information recording medium can be managed by moving image data, and in particular, management of a plurality of information recording media is facilitated. For example, if the information representing the content data recorded on the information recording medium is text information such as a date or a title with a similar name, a desired information recording medium is searched from a plurality of text information. Instead, it is easier to search for a desired information recording medium from moving image data that represents characteristic contents of content data recorded on the information recording medium and is reproduced in a short time.

  The cover video information and the content data are recorded on the same information recording medium, and the cover video information and the individual identification information are associated with each other and recorded on a recording device separate from the information recording medium. Also good. As a result, even if the information recording medium is not inserted into the information processing apparatus, the contents of the content data recorded on the information recording medium from the cover video information recorded on the recording apparatus separate from the information recording medium. Can be confirmed.

  Further, the cover video information and the content data may be managed by the same compression form. As a result, the cover video information can be reproduced if the apparatus can reproduce the content data, and the situation where the cover video information cannot be reproduced by a device other than the apparatus that generated the cover video information can be avoided.

  Further, the content data may be composed of a plurality of sub content data. The sub-content data is an element constituting the content data, and is composed of moving image data. The moving image data generated as the cover video information is preferably generated from the latest recorded sub-content data. That is, the cover video information generated from the most recently recorded sub-content data is the newest information in the user's memory, so it is likely to remain in the user's memory and the content data content recorded on the information recording medium for the user. It becomes an effective means for judging.

  The information processing apparatus may further include a thumbnail data generation unit that generates one or more thumbnail data that can identify content data recorded on the information recording medium.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for recording individual identification information on an information recording medium set in advance / managing recorded content data. The information processing apparatus includes: a content data management apparatus that manages individual identification information of the information recording medium on which content data is recorded / recorded in association with cover video information that can identify content data; and individual identification information And a cover video information reproduction device for selecting and reproducing cover video information corresponding to the individual identification information acquired by the individual identification information acquisition device.

  With this configuration, the content of the content data recorded on the information recording medium can be confirmed by reproducing the cover video information without reproducing the content data recorded on the information recording medium. Further, it is possible to reproduce the cover video information only by acquiring the individual identification information set in advance in each information recording medium. Therefore, it is possible to check the content of the content data recorded on the information recording medium without inserting the information recording medium into the information processing apparatus and reading the content data recorded on the information recording medium.

  In addition, the individual identification information acquisition device may be configured as a device similar to a reading device that reads content data. That is, the hardware and software of the individual identification information acquisition device and the reading device for reading the content data are configured as the same devices. For example, an information recording medium such as an optical disk can read content data recorded on the information recording medium by an optical disk reading device that applies laser light and reads reflected light. By inserting the information recording medium into the information processing apparatus including the optical disk reading apparatus and reading the individual identification information recorded on the information recording medium by the same method as the method of reading the content data recorded on the information recording medium. Also good.

  In addition, the individual identification information acquisition device may be configured as a separate device from the reading device that reads the content data. That is, the individual identification information acquisition device and the reading device that reads out the content data are configured as different devices. For example, an individual identification information input device that allows the user to input individual identification information may be used as a device different from the reading device that reads the content data, or the individual identification physically stamped on the information recording medium It is also possible to use a reading device that picks up information and reads it by image recognition processing.

  With this configuration, the user can input the individual identification information set in advance on the information recording medium, or the individual identification information stamped on the information recording medium can be read out by image recognition processing. The individual identification information can be recognized without inserting into the processing device and reading the individual identification information of the information recording medium.

  Further, the cover video information and the content data may be recorded on the same information recording medium, and the corresponding cover video information may be selected and reproduced from the information recording medium based on the individual identification information. With this configuration, since the cover video information and the content data are recorded on the same information recording medium, the information recording medium is inserted into the information processing apparatus, and the cover video information recorded on the information recording medium is read. Can be played.

  In addition, the cover video information and the individual identification information are associated with each other, recorded on a recording device separate from the information recording medium, and the corresponding cover video information is selected from the recording device and reproduced based on the individual identification information. May be. With this configuration, the cover video information and the individual identification information are associated with each other and recorded on a recording device separate from the information recording medium. Therefore, the information recording medium is inserted into the information processing device, and the information recording is performed. Even without reading the content recorded on the medium, it is possible to reproduce the cover video information recorded on a recording device separate from the information recording medium and quickly check the contents of the information recording medium. .

  The cover video information may be reproducible from the time when the information processing apparatus recognizes the insertion of the information recording medium to the time when the content data can be reproduced. Further, the cover video information may be reproducible from the time when the information processing apparatus recognizes the insertion of the information recording medium to the time when one or more thumbnail data capable of specifying the content data can be displayed. .

  Thus, it is possible to reproduce the cover video information during a waiting time from when the information recording medium is inserted into the information processing apparatus until thumbnail data is displayed or until content data is reproduced. Therefore, the user can display the thumbnail data recorded on the information recording medium and can record the thumbnail data on the information recording medium without using the waiting time until the content data is reproduced. It is also possible to quickly check the contents of existing content data.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, an information processing method in which individual identification information is recorded / recorded on an information recording medium in which individual identification information is set in advance by an information processing device. Is provided. In this information processing method, a cover video information generating device generates moving image data capable of specifying cover video content data as cover video information, and content data is recorded / recorded information by the content data management device. It comprises a step of associating and managing individual identification information of a recording medium and cover video information.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, information for managing content data recorded / recorded on an information recording medium in which individual identification information is set in advance by an information processing device. A processing method is provided. In this information processing method, a content data management device associates and manages individual identification information of an information recording medium on which content data is recorded / recorded and cover video information capable of specifying content data, An individual identification information acquisition step for acquiring individual identification information by the identification information acquisition device, and a cover video information reproduction step for selecting and reproducing the corresponding cover video information based on the individual identification information by the cover video information reproduction device; It is characterized by comprising.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for recording / managing recorded content data in which individual identification information is recorded / recorded on a preset information recording medium. This program manages a procedure for generating moving image data capable of specifying content data as cover video information, individual identification information of an information recording medium on which content data is recorded / recorded, and cover video information in association with each other. And a program for executing the procedure.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a program for managing / recording recorded content data in which individual identification information is recorded / recorded on a preset information recording medium is provided. This program includes a procedure for associating and managing the individual identification information of an information recording medium on which content data is recorded / recorded, and cover video information capable of specifying content data, and individual identification for acquiring individual identification information A program for executing an information acquisition procedure and a cover video information reproduction procedure for selecting and reproducing the corresponding cover video information based on the individual identification information is included.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the content data recorded on the information recording medium can be recalled, and the cover video information having a reproduction time shorter than that of the content data recorded on the information recording medium can be reproduced. Thus, the contents of the content data recorded on the information recording medium can be easily confirmed in a single time. Further, according to the present invention, the individual identification information of the information recording medium and the cover video information are managed in association with each other. Therefore, if the individual identification information of the information recording medium is known, the cover video information is reproduced and stored in the information recording medium. The contents of the recorded content data can be confirmed.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  First, in order to facilitate understanding of the concept of the present invention, an information recording medium, individual identification information, and cover video information used in this embodiment will be described.

  The information recording medium used in this embodiment is a recording medium on which various types of information are written, read out electrically, magnetically, or optically. As an example of the present invention, an optically readable / writable disc such as an optical disc is used as the information recording medium. For example, image data and audio data can be recorded on the disc. Information recorded on the optical disk can be read by rotating the optical disk, applying a laser beam, and sensing the amount of the reflected light by an optical disk reader or the like.

  Further, individual identification information for identifying the information recording medium is set in advance in each information recording medium. The individual identification information is unique to each information recording medium, and may be electronically recorded inside the information recording medium, or may be physically displayed on the surface of the information recording medium. When the individual identification information is electronically recorded inside the information recording medium, the individual identification information recorded on the information recording medium can be read by a method similar to the method for reading the information on the optical disc described above.

  In addition, when the individual identification information is physically displayed on the surface of the information recording medium, the user can visually recognize the individual identification information, or the user can identify the individual identification information with an imaging device such as a video camera. It is also possible to take an image and read individual identification information by image recognition processing.

  The cover video information represents the characteristic content of the content data recorded on the information recording medium, and is moving image data having a reproduction time shorter than that of the content data recorded on the information recording medium.

  A method for setting cover video information in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an example of a method for recording content data and cover video information on the information recording medium of the present embodiment. The content data recorded on the information recording medium is composed of a plurality of sub-content data. Here, the sub content data is an element constituting the content data, and is composed of moving image data. For example, in FIG. 1, sub-content data from 122-1 to 122-n are collected to form content data.

  The disc ID x shown in FIG. 1 is the individual identification information for identifying the information recording medium set in advance in the information recording medium. Further, the disk IDx that is the individual identification information is represented by, for example, a combination of numbers and characters having a predetermined number of digits.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cover video information 124a records a part of the sub content data from the beginning to the Tc time of the sub content data 122-n recorded at the end of the information recording medium. Here, the sub content data 122-1 to 122-n are recorded from the head toward the tail in the order in which the user recorded them. As described above, generating the cover video information 124a from the latest recorded sub-content data 122-n manages information about the newest information recording medium in the user's memory, so that the user can easily access the information. It helps to associate the contents of the recording medium.

  The length 0 to Tc of the moving image data recorded as the cover video information may be a fixed length or a variable length. For example, when the length 0 to Te of the sub-content data 122-n recorded last is shorter than the fixed length of the moving image data of the cover video information, the length 0 to Tc of the moving image data of the cover video information The data length may be equal to 0 to Te.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows a recording method of content data and cover video information when sub-content data is added. When the sub content data is added, the last recorded sub content data is updated from the sub content data 122-n to 122-n + 1. When the last recorded sub content data is updated, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover video information 124b includes a part of the sub content data from the beginning to the Tc time of the sub content data 122-n + 1. To be recorded. Thus, every time sub-content data is added, the cover video information is updated.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, always recording a part of the latest content data in the cover video information helps the user to easily associate the contents of the information recording medium. For example, it is assumed that every time a user travels, the user captures an image of a travel destination on one information recording medium with an imaging device such as a digital video camera. On one information recording medium, scenery of several travel destinations is added and recorded one after another. In this case, the latest content data is content data that the user last recorded on one information recording medium. Therefore, recording a part of the latest content data provides the newest information in the user's memory.

  Next, another method of recording content data and cover video information on the information recording medium will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, a part of each of the sub content data 122-1 to 122-n can be stored in the cover video information 124c. For example, when the length of moving image data recorded as cover video information is fixed at 12 seconds and 4 sub-content data are recorded on the information recording medium, the moving-image data is extracted from each sub-content data for 3 seconds. Cover video information may be set. Also, when the length of the moving image data recorded as the cover video information is variable, and 12 sub-content data are recorded on the information recording medium, the moving image data is taken out from each sub-content data for 1 second, Cover video information may be set as moving image data of 12 seconds.

  Even when a plurality of pieces of content data recorded on the information recording medium are irrelevant content data, the contents of the information recording medium can be shortened by checking the cover video information set as shown in FIG. It becomes possible to associate with time.

  Also, from the content data, a part of the content data that seems most impressive to the user may be extracted and set as the cover video information.

  The cover video information only needs to be information related to the content data recorded on the information recording medium. The video data related to the content data can be input from the outside and set as the cover video information. is there. For example, moving image data related to content data may be created by a personal computer and set as cover video information, or part of content data on another information recording medium may be set as cover video information.

  Further, for example, additional information related to content data such as the date of shooting and the photographer may be added later to the cover video information, or may be automatically added to the cover video information. The cover video information setting method described above may be configured to be selectable by the user.

  The cover video information setting method has been described above. Next, a schematic configuration of the present embodiment will be described.

  The information processing apparatus 100 is a video camera that records video and audio as digital data, such as a handycam digital video camera. Moreover, the apparatus which comprises said information processing apparatus is an illustration, and another apparatus may be added or an unnecessary apparatus may be excluded.

  The content data input device 200 is mainly composed of an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and an external input device capable of inputting moving image data from the outside. Content data input by the content data input device 200 is supplied to the content data recording device 300.

  The content data recording device 300 compresses the content data input by the content data input device 200, encodes the content data, and generates cover video information from the content data compressed by the compression device 310. The cover video information generating device 320 is mainly configured. As described above, the cover video information generated by the cover video information generating device 320 represents the characteristic content of the content data recorded on the information recording medium, and is based on the content data recorded on the information recording medium. Movie data with a short playback time.

  The content data recording / reproducing apparatus 300 may further include a thumbnail data generating apparatus 315. The thumbnail data generation device 315 is a device that generates thumbnail data that identifies content data input by the content data input device 200 and records the thumbnail data on the information recording medium 120. Here, the thumbnail data is an image obtained by compressing an image specifying content data by JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) or the like. For example, the first image of the content data input by the content data input device 200 may be compressed and recorded as thumbnail data on the information recording medium. The thumbnail data will be described in detail based on FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of thumbnail data. One thumbnail data 352 is fixed-size data, and includes thumbnail data and an effective data size of the thumbnail data. The thumbnail data is generated for each content data recorded on the information recording medium 120. Therefore, one or more thumbnail data is recorded on the information recording medium 120, and a thumbnail data file 351 is generated. The thumbnail data file 351 is managed by a thumbnail management file 350. The thumbnail management file 350 is a file for managing thumbnail data and content data in association with each other. With the thumbnail management file 350, it is possible to manage which content data the thumbnail data of the thumbnail data file 351 is recorded on the information recording medium. The configuration of thumbnail data has been described above.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the content data management device 400 includes a cover video information storage device 410. The cover video information storage device 410 is a storage medium that uses, for example, a semiconductor memory that has a fast read / write process. Further, the cover video information storage device 410 may be built in the information processing device, or may be removable with a memory stick or the like. The content data management device 400 correlates information related to the information recording medium such as individual identification information and cover video information supplied from the content data recording device 300, the control device 600, and the cover video information reproduction device 700 to cover video. The information is stored in the information storage device 410.

  In this way, by storing the individual identification information and the cover video information in association with the cover video information storage device 410 separate from the information recording medium 120, for example, the information recording medium 120 is attached to the information processing device 100. Even if not, the contents of the information recording medium 120 can be confirmed.

  Further, the information recording medium 120 may be replaced and the cover video information of a plurality of information recording media may be stored in one cover video information storage device 410. This makes it possible to manage a plurality of information recording media that are not inserted into the information processing apparatus 100.

  For example, when the recording capacity of the cover video information storage device 410 is limited, the latest cover video information may be stored by deleting cover video information that has not been referred to for a long time. To delete the cover video information, the user may select and delete the cover video information that the user wants to delete, or the old cover video information may be automatically deleted.

  The individual identification information acquisition device 500 acquires individual identification information which is individual identification information preset in the information recording medium 120 and supplies it to the control device 600. As a method for acquiring the individual identification information, there is a method for reading the individual identification information electronically recorded in the information recording medium 120 in the same manner as the method for reading the content data recorded on the information recording medium. . Further, in the imaging device of the content data input device 200, it is possible to read the individual identification information by imaging the individual identification information stamped on the surface of the information recording medium. Furthermore, the individual identification information input device It is also possible to acquire the individual identification information input from 110.

  When the individual identification information stamped on the surface of the information recording medium is imaged and the individual identification information is read, or when the individual identification information input from the individual identification information input device 110 is read, the information recording medium 120 is used as the information processing device. Even if it is not attached to 100, individual identification information can be acquired.

  The individual identification information electronically recorded inside the information recording medium is obtained by attaching the information recording medium 120 to the information processing apparatus 100, rotating the information recording medium, applying a laser beam, and determining the amount of reflected light. Reading is performed by sensing by an optical disk reader or the like. Therefore, compared with the case where the individual identification information electronically recorded in the information recording medium 120 is read, when the individual identification information imprinted on the surface of the information recording medium is imaged and the individual identification information is read, or When the individual identification information input by the individual identification information input device 110 is read, the individual identification information can be acquired quickly.

  The control device 600 supplies the individual identification information acquired by the individual identification information acquisition device 500 to the content data recording device 300, the content data management device 400, and the cover video information reproduction device 700.

  The cover video information reproduction device 700 includes a cover video information selection device 720 that selects cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device 410, and cover video information or an information recording medium selected by the cover video information selection device 720. It mainly comprises a decompression device 710 that decompresses the content data recorded in 120 and decodes the encoded data.

  Furthermore, the cover video information playback device 700 may include a thumbnail data decompression device 715 that decompresses thumbnail data recorded on the information recording medium 120 and decodes the encoded data. The thumbnail data decompressed and decrypted by the thumbnail data decompressing device 715 is displayed on the content data display device 800.

  The user can check the contents of the information recording medium 120 without inserting the information recording medium 120 into the information processing apparatus 100 by reproducing the cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device 410. It becomes.

  The content data display device 800 is a device that displays an image such as a liquid crystal screen, for example, and displays content data or cover video information supplied from the cover video information playback device 700.

  The content data display device 800 can also display the thumbnail data supplied from the cover video information generation device 700. FIG. 6 is a display example of thumbnail data. As shown in FIG. 6, the content data display device 800 displays one or more thumbnail data obtained by reducing an image specifying content data, and displays it as a content thumbnail menu. As described above, since each thumbnail data is managed in association with the corresponding content data, it is possible to select the thumbnail data and reproduce the corresponding content data. For example, when the thumbnail data 3511 is selected from the displayed thumbnail data 3511 to 518, the content data associated with the selected thumbnail data 3511 is reproduced.

  The schematic diagram of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has been described above. Next, a method for recording content data and cover video information according to the content data recording apparatus 300 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the content data input device 200 includes an imaging device 210 and an external input 220. The imaging device 210 is an imaging device that captures an image including a CCD, such as a digital video camera. An image picked up by the image pickup device 210 is supplied to the content data recording device 300 as content data. Further, the above-described cover video information can also be generated from the content data captured by the imaging device 210. Furthermore, thumbnail data can also be generated from content data captured by the imaging device 210.

  Further, the cover video information may be moving image data that can specify content data. For example, moving image data created by a personal computer can be input from the external input 220, or a part of content data on an information recording medium different from the information recording medium 120 inserted in the information processing apparatus is input. You can also

  The thumbnail data is image data that can identify content data. The first image of the content data may be thumbnail data, or image data created by a personal computer may be input from the external input 220 as thumbnail data.

  The control device 600 determines whether content data or cover video information is obtained from the imaging device 210 or the external input 220 according to the input method selected by the user.

  The content data supplied from the content data input device 200 to the content data recording device 300 is compressed and encoded by the compression device 310. Further, the content data encoded by the compression device 310 is supplied to the cover video information generating device 320, and the cover video information generating device 320 generates part of the content data as cover video information. Moreover, you may produce | generate the moving image data input from the external input 220 as cover video information.

  The content data compressed by the compression device 310 is recorded on the information recording medium 120 via the buffer 122. Thereafter, the cover video information generated by the cover video information generating device 320 is also recorded on the information recording medium 120 via the buffer 122. At this time, the control device 600 performs switching by determining whether to record the content data on the information recording medium 120 or to record the cover video information on the information recording medium 120.

  Also, the thumbnail data generation device 310 compresses the first image of the content data imaged by the imaging device 210 with JPEG or the like and records it as thumbnail data on the information recording medium 120. When a plurality of sub content data is recorded on the information recording medium 120, the sub content data and the thumbnail data are associated with each other and recorded on the information recording medium 120.

  In the above, the recording method of content data and cover video information was demonstrated. Next, a content data compression method applied to the compression apparatus 310 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a general diagram showing a method for compressing image data. The audio baseband signal of the content data input from the content data input device 200 (not shown) is sent to the audio compression encoded data by the audio encoder (A enc 314) via the audio buffer (A buf 312). Become. On the other hand, the video baseband signal of the content data input from the content data input device 200 becomes video compression encoded data by the video encoder (Venc 318) via the video buffer (B buf 316). Audio compression coded data and video compression coded data are combined by a multiplexer (Mux 320) to generate compressed data of content data.

  The content data compression method according to the compression apparatus 310 has been described above. Next, a method for associating individual identification information with cover video information will be described with reference to FIG.

  The individual identification information acquisition device 500 acquires the individual identification information of the information recording medium 120 from the information recording medium 120 via the buffer 122. Further, as described above, the cover video information of the information recording medium 120 is generated in the cover video information generation device. The individual identification information acquired by the individual identification information acquisition device 500 is supplied to the control device 600. The content data management device 400 (not shown) associates the cover video information generated by the cover video information generation device 320 with the individual identification information supplied to the control device 600, and stores it in the cover video information storage device 410. .

  As described above, by storing the individual identification information and the cover video information in association with the cover video information storage device 410 separate from the information recording medium 120, the information recording medium 120 is inserted into the information processing device. Even if not, the content of the information recording medium 120 can be confirmed by reproducing the cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device 410.

  Here, the individual identification information acquisition device includes an individual identification information reading device 512 and an image recognition device 514, as shown in FIG. As described above, when individual identification information and cover video information are associated and stored in the cover video information storage device 410, the individual identification information is acquired from the information recording medium 120 by the individual identification information reading device via the buffer 122. .

  The association between the individual identification information and the cover video information has been described above. Next, information related to cover video information and content data stored in the cover video information storage device 410 will be described. FIG. 11 shows an example of a storage method of cover video information and related information of content data. The cover video information storage device 410 stores individual identification information 402 associated with the cover video information 407, the file name 404 of the information recording medium, and a time stamp 406.

  Here, the individual identification information is unique to the information recording medium (for example, 111110039), but may be stored in association with an ID (for example, 2004abcd) that can be easily used by the user. As the file name 404, a file name recorded on the information recording medium may be read and stored, or a file name designated by the user may be stored. The time stamp 406 is recorded on the information recording medium and is a time stamp indicating the time when the cover video information is generated.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the cover video information storage device 410 can store a plurality of pieces of cover video information. Further, as long as it is an item related to the cover video information, not only the items shown in FIG. In addition, an item related to a time limit such as a storage time limit for determining how long the cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device is to be stored may be provided, and the time when the cover video information is referred to may be indicated. You can also add items.

  When the storage capacity of the cover video information storage device 410 is limited, the cover video information whose reference time is old may be automatically deleted and new cover video information may be added, or the cover that the user wants to delete can be deleted. Video information may be selectable.

  Further, in the cover video information storage device 410 shown in FIG. 11, the individual identification information and the cover video information are stored in association with each other, so that the cover video information can be searched using the individual identification information as a key. In addition, since the time stamp 406 stores the date and time when the cover video information is generated, the determination as to whether the cover video information has changed is made by checking whether the time stamp has been changed. That's fine.

  Heretofore, the method for storing the cover video information and the related information of the content data in the cover video information storage device 410 has been described. Next, a method for reproducing content data and cover video information will be described.

  First, a method of reproducing content data and cover video information according to the cover video information reproducing apparatus 700 will be described with reference to FIG. The content data recorded on the information recording medium 120 is supplied to the content data decompressing device 710 via the buffer 122. On the other hand, the cover video information recorded on the information recording medium is supplied from the information recording medium 120 to the cover video information selecting device 720 via the buffer 122.

  The cover video information selection device 720 is also supplied with cover video information from a cover video information storage device (not shown) separate from the information recording medium 120. The cover video information selection device 720 selects cover video information recorded on the information recording medium 120 or cover video information stored in a cover video information storage device separate from the information recording medium 120. The method for selecting the cover video information will be described later, but the cover video information selected by the cover video information selecting device 720 is supplied to the content data decompressing device 710.

  The control device 600 determines whether to reproduce content data or cover video information, and performs reproduction switching. The content data decompressing device 710 decodes the compressed content data or cover video information and supplies it to the content data display device 800. As a result, the content data or the cover video information is displayed on the content data display device 800.

  The thumbnail data recorded on the information recording medium 120 is supplied to the thumbnail data decompressing device 715 via the buffer 122. The control device 600 performs switching by determining whether to reproduce the content data or cover video information decompressed by the content data information decompressing device 710 or to display the thumbnail data decompressed by the thumbnail data decompressing device 715. The content data display device 800 supplied with the thumbnail data by the thumbnail data decompression device 715 displays the thumbnail data.

  Cover video information represents characteristic contents of content data, and is moving image data having a reproduction time shorter than that of content data. Therefore, if the cover video information is reproduced, the user can confirm the contents of the information recording medium quickly and easily.

  The method for reproducing content data and cover video information has been described above. Next, the decompression method in the content data decompression device 710 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a method of decompressing content data and cover video information in the content data decompressing device 710. The content data and the cover video information are separated into audio compression encoded data and video compression encoded data by a demultiplexer (DeMux) 712, and the audio compression encoded data is transmitted via an audio buffer (A buf 714) to an audio. The encoded data is restored by the decoder (A dec 716). The video compression encoded data is restored by the video decoder (V dec 719) via the video buffer (V buf 718).

  The decompression method in the content data decompression apparatus 710 has been described above. Next, a cover video information selection method applied to the cover video information selection device 720 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, individual identification information is acquired by the individual identification information acquisition apparatus 500. The individual identification information acquisition device 500 includes an individual identification information reading device 512 and an image recognition device 514 as shown in FIG. When reading the individual identification information from the information recording medium 120, the individual identification information is supplied from the information recording medium 120 to the individual identification information reading device 512 via the buffer 122. On the other hand, when the individual identification information imprinted on the surface of the information recording medium 120 is imaged and the individual identification information is read out, the individual identification information captured by the imaging device 210 is supplied to the image recognition device 514.

  When the individual identification information is acquired by the individual identification information reading device 512, the information recording medium 120 must be inserted into the information processing device, but when the individual identification information is acquired by the image recognition device 514, the information It is only necessary to hold the recording medium 120 over the imaging device 210. In addition, in order to read the individual identification information electronically recorded in the information recording medium 120 inserted into the individual identification information reading device 512, as described above, the information recording medium 120 is rotated and laser light is emitted. The amount of reflected light must be detected by an optical disk reader or the like. Therefore, the processing time for acquiring the individual identification information by the image recognition device 514 is shorter than the processing time acquired by the individual identification information reading device 512, and the individual identification number is recognized more quickly when the image recognition device 514 acquires the individual identification information. can do.

  As a method for acquiring the individual identification information, a method in which the user visually recognizes the individual identification information physically displayed on the surface of the information recording medium 120 and reads the individual identification information input by the user is also conceivable. . How the individual identification information is acquired can also be selected by the user. Further, when the information recording medium 120 is inserted into the information processing apparatus by the user, the individual identification information recorded electronically inside the information recording medium 120 may be automatically read.

  When the user selects any of the above-described individual identification information acquisition methods, the individual identification information acquisition apparatus 500 acquires individual identification information according to the individual identification information acquisition method selected by the user. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the user selects an individual identification information acquisition method.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the user can designate an acquisition method from among the three individual identification information acquisition methods described above (S101). When the method for acquiring the individual identification information from the information recording medium is designated, the individual identification information is acquired by reading the individual identification information electronically recorded in the information recording medium (S102). When individual identification information is imaged by the above-described imaging device including a CCD and the like, and the method for acquiring the individual identification information by recognizing the image of the individual identification information is specified, by reading the individual identification information from the image recognition result, Identification information is acquired (S103). When the user specifies a method for specifying individual identification information, the individual identification information is acquired by reading the individual identification information input by the user (S104).

  When the user specifies the individual identification information acquisition method, an individual identification information acquisition method suitable for the user's situation is provided. For example, there may be a situation where a certain information recording medium is inserted into the information processing apparatus, but the user wants to confirm the contents of an information recording medium different from the inserted information recording medium. In this case, it may be specified that the individual identification information is acquired from the user input instead of acquiring the individual identification information from the inserted information recording medium. In addition, there may be a situation where the user wants to confirm the contents of a plurality of information recording media. In this case, if it is specified that the individual identification information is acquired from the image recognition result, the user can check the contents of the information recording medium successively by simply holding the information recording medium over the imaging device. it can.

  Returning to FIG. 14, the individual identification information acquired by the individual identification information acquisition apparatus 500 by the method as described above is supplied to the cover video information storage apparatus 410 via the control apparatus 600. Since the cover video information is stored in the cover video information storage device 410 in association with the individual identification information, the cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device 410 is searched using the individual identification information as a key. can do. The cover video information searched in the cover video information storage device 410 is supplied to the cover video information selection device 720. Further, when there is no corresponding cover video information in the cover video information storage device 410, it is also possible to select cover video information from the information recording medium 120.

  As described above, the cover video information storage device 410 is a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, and includes, for example, a flash memory that is readable and writable and that does not erase the stored contents without supplying power from the outside. It is. Therefore, if the cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device 410 is selected and reproduced, the user can record information faster than when the cover video information on the information recording medium 120 is selected and reproduced. The contents of the medium 120 can be confirmed. Even if the information recording medium 120 is not inserted into the information processing apparatus, the user can quickly confirm the contents of the information recording medium 120 that the user wants to confirm by simply acquiring the individual identification information.

  The method for selecting cover video information has been described in detail above. Next, a description will be given of what processing is performed in the information processing apparatus and the cover video information is displayed by the three individual identification information acquisition methods described above.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing from when the information processing apparatus acquires individual identification information to display cover video information.

  First, it is determined how the individual identification information is acquired (S202). As described above, the method for acquiring the individual identification information includes the method for acquiring the individual identification information from the information recording medium inserted in the information processing apparatus, and the individual identification information by imaging the individual identification information with an imaging device including a CCD or the like. There are a method for acquiring individual identification information by recognizing an image of information and a method for acquiring individual identification information from user input. In step S202, it is determined whether individual identification information is acquired from the information recording medium.

  If the method of acquiring individual identification information is not a method of acquiring from an information recording medium, that is, a method of acquiring individual identification information by recognizing an image of individual identification information, or a method of acquiring individual identification information from user input. In this case, the determination in step S204 is performed. In step S204, it is determined whether the acquired individual identification information exists in the cover video information storage device. When it is determined that the individual identification information acquired in the cover video information storage device exists, the cover video information associated with the individual identification information is acquired from the cover video information storage device (S206). Then, the cover video information acquired from the cover video information storage device is displayed (S208).

  As described above, the user can refer to the cover video information only by holding the information recording medium over the information processing apparatus or inputting the individual identification information, and can quickly confirm the contents of the information recording medium. Can do.

  If it is determined in step S204 that the acquired individual identification information does not exist in the cover video information storage device, the user is notified that the cover video information could not be acquired from the cover video information storage device (S210).

  In step S202, when the individual identification information is acquired from the information recording medium, the determination in step S212 is performed. In step S212, it is determined whether the acquired individual identification information exists in the cover video information storage device. When the individual identification information exists in the cover video information storage device, the time stamps of the cover video information stored in the information recording medium and the cover video information storage device are acquired (S214).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the information recording medium acquired in step S214 matches the time stamp of the cover video information storage device (S216). Here, why the time stamps of the cover video information need to be compared will be described.

  For example, it is conceivable that the cover video information is generated by a device different from the information processing device. When the cover video information is generated by another device, the content of the cover video information recorded on the information recording medium and the time stamp of the cover video information may be changed. In order to determine whether the content of the cover video information inserted in the information processing apparatus has been changed, it is only necessary to confirm whether the time stamp of the cover video information has been changed. Therefore, by comparing the time stamps of the respective cover video information stored in the information recording medium and the cover video information storage device, it can be determined whether or not the content of the cover video information has been changed.

  If it is determined in step S216 that the time stamps of the information recording medium and the cover video information storage device match, the cover video information is acquired from the cover video information storage device (S222). Then, the cover video information acquired in step S222 is displayed (S208).

  When the time stamps match, it can be determined that the content of the cover video information recorded on the information recording medium has not been changed. In this case, the contents of the cover video information stored in the information recording medium and the cover video information storage device are the same. It takes less time to acquire the cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device than to acquire the cover video information recorded on the information recording medium. By acquiring and displaying the cover video information from the cover video information storage device, the user can quickly confirm the contents of the information recording medium.

  If it is determined in step S216 that the time stamps of the information recording medium and the cover video information storage device do not match, cover video information is acquired from the information recording medium (S218). If the time stamps do not match, the contents of the cover video information recorded on the information recording medium have been changed, so that the contents of the cover video information stored in the information recording medium and the cover video information storage device are different. Therefore, it is necessary to acquire the cover video information recorded on the information recording medium and change the cover video information of the cover video information storage device and the time stamp of the cover video information (S220). Then, the cover video information acquired in step S218 is displayed (S208).

  Thus, updating the cover video information so that the content of the cover video information in the cover video information storage device is the same as that of the information recording medium is effective when the user manages the information recording medium.

  If it is determined in step S212 that the individual identification information does not exist in the cover video information storage device, the cover video information is acquired from the information recording medium (S224). The case where the individual identification information does not exist in the cover video information storage device may be, for example, the case where the information recording medium is inserted into the information processing device for the first time. If the information recording medium has never been inserted into the information processing device, the corresponding cover video information does not exist in the cover video information storage device. Therefore, the cover video information is acquired from the information recording medium, and the cover video information, the time stamp of the cover video information, etc. are added to the cover video information storage device (S226). Then, the cover video information acquired in step S224 is displayed (S208).

  As described above, once the cover video information is stored in the cover video information storage device, the cover video information of the cover video information storage device can be read out next time when the contents of the information recording medium are confirmed. .

  For example, when the user owns a plurality of information recording media, all the information recording media are inserted into one information processing apparatus, and the cover video information of each information recording medium is stored in the cover video information storage device. be able to. If the cover video information of the owned information recording medium is stored in the cover video information storage device, the user can manage the information recording medium with the information processing device. Further, the contents of the information recording medium can be confirmed by only reproducing the cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device without inserting a plurality of information recording media into the information processing apparatus again. .

  Further, for example, consider a case where a user takes a video game of a tennis game held every weekend. The file name of a certain information recording medium is “2004.5.1 Tennis game”. Also, assume that the file name of another information recording medium is “2004.5.8 Tennis game”. A user who plays a tennis game every week owns a plurality of information recording media having a file name “date tennis game”. Therefore, the user wants to see the best shot of a certain game again, but cannot remember how many days and months of the game. Since the file name of the information recording medium is “date tennis game”, the user cannot search for the information recording medium that the user wants to see only by the file name. Also, it takes too much time to play back all information recording media and check the contents. Therefore, by reproducing the cover video information representing the feature of the game stored in the cover video information storage device of the information processing device, the user can help remember which information recording medium was taken when the game was taken. Can do.

  As described above, a plurality of information recording media owned by the user can be managed by the cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device. Further, the fact that the cover video information is not text data but moving image data is an effective means for associating the contents of the information recording medium to the user.

  The flow of processing from the acquisition of individual identification information to the display of cover video information has been described above. Next, the flow of recording and reproducing cover video information will be described.

  FIG. 17 is a timing chart regarding recording and reproduction of cover video information. First, the control device 600 switches the input destination of input data in the content data recording device 300 (S502). Here, as described above, the input destination is, for example, an imaging apparatus such as a video camera or an external input for capturing data. The control device 600 determines whether the input destination is an imaging device or an external input.

  Next, the content data recording device 300 reads input data from the switched input destination (S302). Data input from the imaging device is content data, and data input from an external input is moving image data used for cover video information. Thereafter, the input data read in step S302 is compressed (S304). Next, the content data compressed in step S304 is recorded on the information recording medium (S306). Further, cover video information is generated from the content data compressed in step S304 (S308). Step S308 is a cover video information generation step for generating cover video information according to the present embodiment. The cover video information generated in step S308 is recorded on the information recording medium (S310).

  Through step S306 and step S310, content data and cover video information are recorded on the information recording medium. In this embodiment, after content data is recorded on the information recording medium, cover video information is generated and recorded on the information recording medium. However, the cover video information is generated and the cover video information is recorded on the information recording medium. Thereafter, the content data may be recorded on an information recording medium. In addition, since the compression of the input data is performed collectively in step S304, the compression format of the content data recorded on the information recording medium and the cover video information is the same.

  As described above, the cover video information generated in S308 may be part of the content data, or may be moving image data input from the outside in S302.

  The control device 600 instructs the individual identification information acquisition device 500 to read the individual identification information (S504). The individual identification information acquisition apparatus 500 instructed to read the individual identification information reads the individual identification information from the information recording medium inserted in the information processing apparatus (S602). Next, the individual identification information read in step S602 is provided to the control device 600 (S604).

  The control device 600 provided with the individual identification information provides the individual identification information to the content data recording device 300 and instructs the content data recording device 300 to associate the individual identification information with the cover video information (S506). The content data recording device 300 associates the individual identification information provided from the control device 600 with the cover video information and stores them in the cover video information storage device (S312). Step S310 is a content data management step according to the present embodiment, in which the individual identification information and the cover video information are associated and stored in the cover video information storage device.

  The control device 600 instructs the cover video information reproducing device 700 to reproduce the cover video information (S508). The control device 600 notifies the individual identification information acquisition device 500 of the individual identification information acquisition method selected by the user (S510).

  As described above, the method for acquiring the individual identification information is a method for acquiring the individual identification information from the information recording medium, a method for acquiring the individual identification information by imaging the individual identification information stamped on the surface of the information recording medium, Alternatively, there is a method of acquiring individual identification information by user input. The user can select the acquisition method by which the individual identification information is acquired, and the control device 600 acquires the acquisition method selected by the user and notifies the individual identification information acquisition device 500 of the acquisition method.

  The individual identification information acquisition apparatus 500 notified of the individual identification information acquisition method acquires the individual identification information based on the notified individual identification information acquisition method (S606). Step S606 is an individual identification information acquisition step for acquiring individual identification information preset in the information recording medium according to the present embodiment. Then, the individual identification information acquisition apparatus 500 provides the individual identification information acquired in step S606 to the cover video information reproduction apparatus 700 (S608).

  The cover video information reproducing device 700 instructed to reproduce the cover video information from the control device 600 needs the individual identification information in order to retrieve the cover video information in the cover video information storage device.

  In step S608, the individual identification information acquisition apparatus 500 provides the individual identification information to the cover video information reproduction apparatus 700, and the cover video information reproduction apparatus 700 can start preparation for reproducing the cover video information.

  In step S608, when the individual identification information is provided from the individual identification information acquisition device 500, the cover video information reproduction device 700 acquires the cover video information associated with the provided individual identification information (S702). Since the cover video information is stored in the cover video information storage device of the information processing device, the cover video information reproduction device 700 selects the cover video information associated with the individual identification information from the cover video information storage device. , Get cover video information.

  Next, the cover video information reproducing apparatus 700 decompresses the cover video information acquired in step S702 (S704). Then, the cover video information decompressed in step S704 is reproduced (S706). Step S706 is a cover video information reproduction step according to the present embodiment.

  The flow of recording and playing back cover video information has been described above. As described above, the content data recording device and the cover video information reproducing device may be included in one information processing device, or may be included in separate information processing devices. For example, if the cover video information storage device of the information processing device is a removable storage medium (for example, a memory card), the cover video information generated by the information processing device including the content data recording device is converted into the cover video information reproducing device. It can be played back by the included information processing apparatus.

  Next, the playback timing of the cover video information will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the timing of reproducing the cover video information.

  Normally, the above-described thumbnail data is displayed for the user to select and reproduce desired content data from the content data recorded on the information recording medium. However, in order to display thumbnail data, the necessary data must be read from the information recording medium, and the read data must be transferred to the display device. During that time, nothing is displayed on the display device. A blue screen or other waiting screen is displayed.

  However, by reproducing the cover video information stored in the cover video information storage device that is separate from the information recording medium, the cover video information can be reproduced during the waiting time until the thumbnail data is displayed. As a result, the user can display the thumbnail data recorded on the information recording medium and be recorded on the information recording medium without using the waiting time until the content data is reproduced. It is also possible to quickly check the contents of existing content data.

  Below, the case where cover video information is stored in a cover video information storage device separate from the information recording medium will be described. In addition, the user selects desired thumbnail data from the displayed thumbnail data, and the content data associated with the thumbnail data is reproduced.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the sequence management unit 10, moving image management unit 11, moving image data acquisition unit 12, moving image decompression unit 13, still image management unit 14, still image data acquisition unit 15, This will be described using the image decompression unit 16. The sequence management unit 10, the moving image management unit 11, and the still image management unit 14 are examples of the control device 600 described above, and the moving image data acquisition unit 12, the moving image decompression unit 13, the still image data acquisition unit 15, and the still image decompression unit 16. Is an example of the cover video information reproducing apparatus 700 described above.

  The sequence management unit 10 controls each unit in time series, for example, notifies the moving image management unit 11 and the still image management unit 14 of the start of the process and receives a process end notification. The moving image management unit 11 controls the reproduction processing of moving image data, and the still image management unit 14 controls the display processing of still image data. The moving image data acquisition unit 12 acquires moving image data from an information recording medium or an information storage device separate from the information recording medium, and stores the moving image data in a buffer. The moving image decompression unit 13 decodes the moving image data stored in the buffer and causes the display device to reproduce it. The still image data acquisition unit acquires still image data recorded on the information recording medium and stores it in the buffer. The still image decompressing unit 16 decodes the still image data stored in the buffer and displays it on the display device.

  First, when an information recording medium is inserted into the information processing apparatus, the sequence management unit 10 recognizes that the information recording medium has been inserted into the information processing apparatus, and starts a mount process (20). The information processing apparatus that has recognized the insertion of the information recording medium mounts the application (26) after mounting the file system (25). In the file system mount (25), the file system which is the recording method of the information recording medium is recognized, and in the application mount (26), the application recorded on the information recording medium is recognized. In the application mount (26), individual identification information is acquired (27) and content information is read (28).

  The individual identification information is identification information of an information recording medium necessary for reproducing the cover video information as described above. The content information is information related to the content data, such as a file name of the content data, directory configuration information, and the like. In this embodiment, in order to reproduce the cover video information and quickly confirm the contents of the content data, the individual identification information is acquired prior to reading the content information.

  When the disk ID is acquired, the moving image management unit 11 causes the moving image data acquisition unit 12 to start acquiring cover video information. The moving image data acquisition unit 12 acquires the cover video information stored in the information storage device associated with the disk ID, stores the initial data amount necessary for starting the decoding of the cover video information in the buffer, and then completes the storage. The video management unit 11 is notified.

  Receiving the notification of the completion of the initial storage by the moving image data acquisition unit, the moving image management unit 11 instructs the moving image decompression unit 13 to start decoding data and start reproducing the decoded data. The moving image decompression unit 13 decrypts the data of the cover video information and reproduces the decrypted data. As a result, the cover video information is reproduced (42) on the display device on which the waiting screen such as the blue background is displayed (40).

  Thereafter, when all the cover video information stored in the information storage device is acquired and reproduced, the moving image decompression unit 13 notifies the moving image management unit 11 that the reproduction of the cover video information has been completed.

  The moving image management unit 11 notified of the end of the reproduction of the cover video information notifies the sequence management unit 10 that the reproduction process of the cover video information has been completed. The sequence management unit 10 notified of the end of reproduction of the cover video information instructs the moving image decompression unit 13 to hold the final image of the cover video information.

  Further, the sequence management unit 10 instructs the still image management unit 14 to start the thumbnail acquisition process 34 when the application mount 26 ends. The still image management unit 14 that has received the activation instruction of the thumbnail acquisition procedure 34 instructs the still image data acquisition unit 15 to acquire thumbnail data. Receiving the thumbnail data acquisition instruction, the still image data acquisition unit 15 acquires the thumbnail data recorded on the information recording medium. The still image data acquisition unit 15 that has acquired all the thumbnail data recorded on the information recording medium notifies the still image management unit 14 of the completion of the thumbnail data acquisition, and ends the acquisition process. The still image management unit 14 notified of the completion of thumbnail data acquisition from the still image data acquisition unit 15 notifies the sequence management unit 10 of the completion of thumbnail acquisition.

  The sequence management unit 10 notifies the still image management unit 14 of a content thumbnail menu display instruction 22 after being notified of the completion of thumbnail acquisition and further notified of the end of the cover video information reproduction process. Upon receiving the content thumbnail menu display instruction notification, the still image management unit 14 instructs the still image decompression unit 16 to decode the thumbnail data. The still image decompression unit 16 instructed to decode the thumbnail data decodes the thumbnail data as many times as necessary, and displays the thumbnail data on the display device. The display device displays one or more thumbnail data as a content thumbnail menu (44).

  When all the thumbnail data recorded on the information recording medium is displayed, the sequence management unit 10 waits for one thumbnail data to be selected from among the thumbnail data displayed by the user (23).

  When one thumbnail data is selected from the displayed thumbnail data, the sequence management unit 10 instructs the moving image management unit 11 to acquire the selected content data (24). The moving image management unit 11 instructed to acquire the content data instructs the moving image data acquisition unit 12 to acquire the content data, and the moving image data acquisition unit 12 starts acquiring the content data recorded on the information recording medium.

  The moving image data acquisition unit 12 stores the initial data amount necessary for starting the decoding of the content data in the buffer, and then notifies the moving image management unit 11 of the completion of the storage. Receiving the notification of job accumulation completion by the moving image data acquisition unit, the moving image management unit 11 instructs the moving image decompression unit 13 to start decoding the data and start reproducing the decoded data. The moving image decompression unit 13 decrypts the content data and reproduces the decrypted data. As a result, the content data designated by the user is reproduced on the display device on which the content thumbnail menu was displayed (46).

  As described above, when cover video information is stored in an information storage device that is separate from the information recording medium, thumbnail acquisition processing is performed while the cover video information is being reproduced. As a result, a waiting screen or the like is displayed on the display device until the conventional thumbnail is displayed, and the cover video information can be reproduced at a time that is a waiting time for the user.

  Further, as described above, the cover video information represents the characteristic content of the content data, and is moving image data having a reproduction time shorter than that of the content data recorded on the information recording medium. The user can reproduce the cover video information and image the content data recorded on the information recording medium quickly and easily.

  Further, the cover video information is not stored in the information storage device separate from the information recording medium, and the cover video information is displayed even when the cover video information is recorded on the information recording medium. , Thumbnail data acquisition processing can be performed. Even when cover video information is recorded on the information recording medium, the cover video information reproduction process is executed prior to the content thumbnail acquisition process or the content reproduction process. Specifically, cover video information playback processing is started after application mounting, and thumbnail acquisition processing is started after cover video information acquisition processing. Since the cover video information is being reproduced while the thumbnail acquisition process is being performed, the user can effectively use the waiting time until the thumbnail is acquired and displayed.

  In FIG. 18, the thumbnail data is displayed before the content data is reproduced. However, the content data may be reproduced immediately after the cover video information is reproduced without displaying the thumbnail data. Even when thumbnail data is not displayed, the cover video information is played before the content data is played, so that the preparation for playing the content data can be made during the playback of the cover video information. It becomes possible to use it.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are of course within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  In the above-described embodiment, each information recording medium is identified by reading the individual identification information represented by numbers or characters physically displayed on the surface of the information recording medium with an imaging device or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, individual identification information such as a barcode can be physically displayed on the surface of the information recording medium to identify the information recording medium. A bar code is a combination of a bar and a space that expresses numbers and characters in a form that can be read by a machine. The bar code is read using an optical recognition device called a bar code scanner. Therefore, when the barcode is physically displayed on the surface of the information recording medium, it is possible to recognize the individual identification information of the information recording medium by including an optical recognition device in the information processing apparatus.

  The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for generating and recording or reproducing moving image data specifying content data recorded on an information recording medium.

It is a 1st figure explaining the recording method of the content data and the cover video information to the information recording medium in embodiment of this invention. It is a 2nd figure explaining the recording method of the content data and the cover video information to the information recording medium in the embodiment. It is the 3rd figure explaining the content data to the information recording medium in the embodiment, and the recording method of cover video information. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus in the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the thumbnail data in the embodiment. It is a display example of thumbnail data in the same embodiment. It is a figure explaining the recording method of the content data and cover video information in the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the compression method of the content data and cover video information in the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the correlation method of the individual identification information and cover video information in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the individual identification information acquisition apparatus in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the cover video information storage device in the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the reproduction | regeneration method of the content data and cover video information in the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the decompression method of contents data and cover video information in the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the selection method of the cover video information in the embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the flow of the process in which the user in the embodiment selects an individual identification information acquisition method. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of cover video information display processing in the embodiment. 5 is a timing chart regarding recording and reproduction of cover video information in the same embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the timing of reproduction | regeneration of the cover video information in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Information processing apparatus 110 Individual identification information input apparatus 120 Information recording medium 315 Thumbnail data generation apparatus 320 Cover video information generation apparatus 400 Content data management apparatus 500 Individual identification information acquisition apparatus 700 Cover video information reproduction apparatus S308 Cover video information generation process S312 Content Data management process S602 Individual identification information acquisition process S706 Cover video information reproduction process

Claims (26)

An information processing apparatus for managing content data in which individual identification information is recorded / recorded on a preset information recording medium:
A cover video information generating device for generating moving image data capable of specifying the content data as cover video information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a content data management apparatus that manages the individual identification information of the information recording medium on which the content data is recorded / recorded in association with the cover video information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover video information and the content data are recorded on the same information recording medium. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover video information and the individual identification information are associated with each other and recorded on a recording apparatus separate from the information recording medium. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover video information and the content data are managed in the same compression format. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content data includes a plurality of sub-content data, and the moving image data is generated from content data recorded most recently.   2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a thumbnail data generation unit that generates one or more thumbnail data capable of specifying the content data recorded on the information recording medium. Processing equipment. An information processing apparatus for managing content data in which individual identification information is recorded / recorded on a preset information recording medium:
A content data management device that manages the individual identification information of the information recording medium on which the content data is recorded / recorded in association with cover video information that can identify the content data;
An individual identification information acquisition device for acquiring the individual identification information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a cover video information reproducing device that selects and reproduces corresponding cover video information based on the individual identification information acquired by the individual identification information acquisition device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the individual identification information acquisition apparatus is configured as an apparatus similar to a reading apparatus that reads the content data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the individual identification information acquisition apparatus is configured as a separate apparatus from a reading apparatus that reads the content data from the information recording medium. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the separate apparatus is an individual identification information input apparatus that allows a user to input individual identification information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the separate apparatus is a reading apparatus that reads out individual identification information physically stamped on the information recording medium. The cover video information and the content data are recorded on the same information recording medium, and the cover video information reproducing device is configured to perform the information based on the individual identification information acquired by the individual identification information acquisition device. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein corresponding cover video information is selected from a recording medium and reproduced. The cover video information and the individual identification information are associated with each other and recorded in a recording device separate from the information recording medium, and the cover video information reproducing device is operated by the individual identification information acquisition device. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein corresponding cover video information is selected from the recording apparatus and reproduced based on the acquired individual identification information.   8. The cover video information can be reproduced from the time when the information processing apparatus recognizes insertion of the information recording medium to the time when the content data can be reproduced. The information processing apparatus described in 1.   The cover video information can be reproduced from the time when the information processing apparatus recognizes the insertion of the information recording medium to the time when one or more thumbnail data capable of specifying the content data can be displayed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: An information processing method in which individual identification information is recorded / recorded on an information recording medium set in advance by an information processing device:
Generating moving image data capable of specifying the content data as cover video information by a cover video information generating device;
The content data management device comprises the step of associating and managing the individual identification information of the information recording medium on which the content data is recorded / recorded and the cover video information. Method. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the cover video information and the content data are recorded on the same information recording medium. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the cover video information and the individual identification information are associated with each other and recorded on a recording device separate from the information recording medium. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the cover video information and the content data are managed in the same compression format. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein the content data includes a plurality of sub-content data, and the moving image data is generated from the most recently recorded sub-content data. An information processing method in which individual identification information is recorded / recorded on an information recording medium set in advance by an information processing device:
A step of associating and managing the individual identification information of the information recording medium on which the content data is recorded / recorded by the content data management device and the cover video information capable of specifying the content data;
An individual identification information acquisition step of acquiring the individual identification information by an individual identification information acquisition device;
An information processing method comprising: a cover video information reproducing step of selecting and reproducing corresponding cover video information based on the individual identification information by a cover video information reproducing device. The individual identification information acquisition step includes a step of reading the individual identification information from the information recording medium, a step of inputting the individual identification information by a user, and a step of reading the individual identification information physically stamped on the information recording medium. The information processing method according to claim 21, further comprising: The cover video information and the content data are recorded on the same information recording medium, and the cover video information reproduction step is based on the individual identification information acquired in the individual identification information acquisition step. The information processing method according to claim 21, wherein the corresponding cover video information is selected from the recording medium and reproduced. The cover video information and the content data are associated with each other and recorded in a recording device separate from the information recording medium, and the cover video information reproduction step is acquired in the individual identification information acquisition step. The information processing method according to claim 21, wherein the corresponding cover video information is selected and reproduced from the recording device based on the individual identification information. A computer program for causing an information processing apparatus to manage individual content information recorded / recorded on a preset information recording medium:
Generating moving image data capable of specifying the content data as cover video information;
A program for executing a procedure for managing the individual identification information of the information recording medium on which the content data is recorded / recorded in association with the cover video information. A computer program for causing an information processing apparatus to manage individual content information recorded / recorded on a preset information recording medium:
A procedure for associating and managing the individual identification information of the information recording medium on which the content data is recorded / recorded and the cover video information capable of specifying the content data;
An individual identification information acquisition procedure for acquiring the individual identification information;
A program for executing a cover video information reproduction procedure for selecting and reproducing corresponding cover video information based on the individual identification information.

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