JP2006303615A - Thumbnail selector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output a video image of an appropriate scene as a thumbnail video image. <P>SOLUTION: A hard disc recorder 10 comprises a tuner 24 and an antenna 60 receiving information indicative of a program title, a hard disc 42 storing video data of a program, data indicative of the image of a character, and data selected at a control section 36, the control section 36 for creating template data by compounding data stored on the hard disc 42, searching specific data, selecting data of an early output order in the specific data preferentially and reading out data stored in the hard disc 42, a remote control receiving section 34 for receiving an instruction from a user, and a video image output section 30 outputting data read out at the control section 36. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thumbnail selection device, and more particularly to a thumbnail selection device that processes a television signal.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a circuit that generates a video by receiving a broadcast wave, a device that records and reproduces video on a recording medium, and automatically receives a program reserved by a user and records the video. A device for displaying a still image selected in a video as a list for recording content, a circuit for setting a time for acquiring a still image for each reservation based on a user input, and a time for acquiring A broadcast receiving / recording / reproducing apparatus including a circuit for selecting a still image is disclosed. According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, a characteristic scene of a program can be easily set as a thumbnail image for list display.

Patent Document 2 discloses a reading circuit for reading recording medium information and image data information, a recording circuit for recording image data information read by the reading circuit in a database in association with the recording medium information, and a recording recorded by the recording circuit. An information processing apparatus including a display device that displays medium information and image data information is disclosed. According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, the contents of image data recorded on a recording medium such as a cassette tape can be easily confirmed.
JP 2004-336443 A JP 2003-61013 A

  However, the inventions disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a problem that it is difficult to output an appropriate scene as a thumbnail image.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a thumbnail selection device that can output an image of an appropriate scene as a thumbnail image.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a thumbnail selection device includes: a reception unit; a first storage unit; a second storage unit; a generation unit; a search unit; , Third storage means, receiving means, reading means, and output means. The receiving means receives information representing a program title. The first storage means stores program video data. The second storage means stores data representing a character image. The generation unit generates template data that is image data representing a program title by combining the data stored in the second storage unit. The search means searches for specific data whose value representing a difference from the template data is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold among the video data of the program. The selection means preferentially selects data having a fast output order among the specific data. The third storage means stores the data selected by the selection means. The accepting unit accepts a command from the user. The reading means reads either the first storage means or the third storage means so that the data stored in the third storage means is read out when the receiving means receives an instruction to output the thumbnail video data. Reads the stored data. The output means outputs the data read by the reading means.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the thumbnail selection device includes a reception unit, a first storage unit, a second storage unit, a generation unit, a search unit, a selection unit, and a third storage unit. , Receiving means, reading means, and output means. The receiving means receives information specifying a program. The first storage means stores program video data. The second storage means stores data representing a character image. The generation means generates template data that is image data representing information specifying the program in characters by combining the data stored in the second storage means. The search means searches for specific data whose value representing a difference from the template data is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold among the video data of the program. The selection means selects any one of the specific data. The third storage means stores the data selected by the selection means. The accepting unit accepts a command from the user. The reading means reads either the first storage means or the third storage means so that the data stored in the third storage means is read out when the receiving means receives an instruction to output the thumbnail video data. Reads the stored data. The output means outputs the data read by the reading means.

  The selection means preferably includes means for preferentially selecting data satisfying a predetermined requirement in the output order among the specific data.

  Further, it is desirable that the data in which the above-described output order satisfies a predetermined requirement includes data with an early output order.

  The thumbnail selection device according to the present invention can output an image of an appropriate scene as a thumbnail image.

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

  The hard disk recorder 10 in FIG. 1 incorporates two types of digital recording media playback devices, and supplies various contents supplied from the recording media such as video signals or audio to a monitor device 14 connected in advance to the outside of the device. It is a device that outputs a signal so that it can be viewed. The hard disk recorder 10 is also a thumbnail selection device that selects and outputs data representing thumbnails in accordance with user instructions. The remote controller (abbreviated as a remote controller) 12 is a device operated by a user to input various commands, and transmits an infrared signal corresponding to the commands.

  The hard disk recorder 10 includes a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) reading unit 20, an HD (Hard Disk) device 22, a tuner 24 that connects an external antenna 60 that receives a digital broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station, and an OSD ( On Screen Display) 50, a decoder 26, a memory 28, a video output unit 30, an audio output unit 32, a remote control receiving unit 34, a control unit 36, and an external device for supplying digital information from the outside And an external I / F (Inter Face) 38 for connecting 70.

  The DVD reading unit 20 is a device that reads information of digital contents recorded on an optical disc (in this embodiment, a DVD disc). In the case of this embodiment, arbitrary information (in the case of this embodiment, digital content information) is recorded on the DVD disc.

  The HD device 22 is a device that records a digital content signal desired by a user on the hard disk 42 and reads the recorded digital content signal. Here, examples of the signal recorded on the hard disk 42 include a video file conforming to the MPEG2 (Motion Picture Experts Group 2) standard and an audio file conforming to the MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer3) standard.

  The hard disk 42 of the HD device 22 includes a first area, a second area, and a third area. The first area is an area for storing video data of a program. The second area is an area for storing data representing a character image. The third area is an area for storing specific data described later.

  The HD device 22 includes a read head 44 for reading any of information constituting a program recorded on a recording medium (hard disk 42 in the present embodiment), and a recording head 46 for recording information on the recording medium.

  When the antenna 24 receives a digital broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station, the tuner 24 extracts and outputs a broadcast signal (digital content signal) of a channel designated by the control unit 36.

  The decoder 26 receives the digital content signal reproduced by the DVD reading unit 20, the digital content signal read from the hard disk 42 built in the HD device 22, the digital content signal extracted by the tuner 24, and the external I / F 38. When any one of the digital content signals inputted from the external device 70 is given by the switching control of the control unit 36, the given digital signal is received, decoded (decoded), and outputted. The OSD 50 built in the decoder 26 generates image data based on the information given by the control unit 36 and outputs it to the video output unit 30 for visual display on the screen of the monitor device 14.

  In the memory 28, broadcast channels that can be received by the tuner 24 are acquired and stored in advance by channel scanning (auto-scanning), and an operation program of the control unit 36 is stored. The memory 28 also stores flags and data for information processing described later.

  The video output unit 30 is a device that outputs video data that is read from the hard disk 42 by the device including the control unit 36 and the read head 44 and decoded by the decoder 26. The video output unit 30 converts the video data into a video signal that can be output by the monitor device 14, and then outputs the video signal to the monitor device 14.

  The audio output unit 32 is a device that outputs audio data that is read from the hard disk 42 by the device that includes the control unit 36 and the read head 44 and that is decoded by the decoder 26. The audio output unit 32 converts the audio data into an audio signal that can be output by the monitor device 14, and then outputs the audio signal to the monitor device 14.

  The remote control reception unit 34 receives various command signals transmitted from the remote control 12 via infrared rays. The remote control receiving unit 34 transmits the received command signal to the control unit 36.

  The control unit 36 controls each unit of the apparatus based on the operation program stored in the memory 28. The control unit 36, together with the read head 44 of the HD device 22, as one device, when the remote control receiving unit 34 receives a command to output thumbnail video data, the data stored in the third area of the hard disk 42 In order to read (I picture), data stored in either the first area or the third area of the hard disk 42 (either I picture or video data of the program) is read.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the program executed by hard disk recorder 10 executes the following control with respect to thumbnail registration.

  In step 100 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S), the tuner 24 and the antenna 60 receive EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information. EPG information is information representing a program title. When the EPG information is received, the tuner 24 and the antenna 60 receive the video data of the program according to the instruction from the user received by the remote control receiving unit 34. When the video data of the program is received, the HD device 22 stores the video data of the program under the control of the control unit 36.

  At S102, control unit 36 reads information representing a character image from the second area of hard disk 42. When the information is read, control unit 36 generates data (template data) of the image representing the program title by combining the data stored in the second area of hard disk 42 (data representing the image of the character). To do. In the case of the present embodiment, the control unit 36 creates a plurality of template data. The plurality of template data are image data representing program titles with characters of different sizes. In the case of the present embodiment, the size of the character represented by the template data is any one of 5% to 50% with respect to the size of the video stored in the second area of the hard disk 42. The control unit 36 also generates a plurality of template data that have the same character size and different character positions. The control unit 36 also generates a plurality of template data such that the character size and the character position are the same and the character fonts are different from each other.

  In S 104, control unit 36 reads the video data of the program received by tuner 24 and antenna 64 from the first area of hard disk 42. The video data read in this step is video data of one scene in the program. In the present embodiment, the video data read at this time is called an I picture. In S106, control unit 36 compares the character image data generated in S102 with the I picture. This process corresponds to each process of S120 to S128 described later.

  At S108, control unit 36 determines whether or not the value representing the difference from the template data in the I picture (that is, the video data of the program) is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (whether or not the video patterns match). Or). If it is determined that the video patterns match (YES in S108), the process proceeds to S110. If not (NO in S108), the process proceeds to S112.

  In S110, control unit 36 stores the I picture in the third area of hard disk 42. In the case of the present embodiment, the control unit 36 stores the I picture in the third area of the hard disk 42 when the I picture satisfies a predetermined condition regarding the order of output. Thereby, the control unit 36 preferentially selects and stores data satisfying a predetermined requirement in the output order among the specific data searched by itself. The “predetermined requirement” in the present embodiment means that the output order is as early as possible. Thereby, in the third area of the hard disk 42, the data that is output earliest among the specific data whose value representing the difference from the template data is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value is stored.

  In S112, control unit 36 determines whether or not the process of searching for specific data (data whose difference value is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value) has been completed for all I pictures. If it is determined that the process has been completed (YES in S112), the process ends. If not (NO in S112), the process proceeds to S104.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the program executed by hard disk recorder 10 performs the following control regarding pattern comparison.

  In S120, control unit 36 converts the I picture to monochrome. In S122, control unit 36 obtains a logical product for each pixel of the I picture and each pixel of the character image. In S124, control unit 36 obtains the ratio of pixels for which the logical product is true with respect to all the pixels of the I picture.

  In S126, control unit 36 determines whether or not the processing for obtaining the pixel ratio is completed for all character images generated as template data in S102. If it is determined that the process has ended (YES in S126), the process ends. If not (NO in S126), the process proceeds to S120.

  The operation of the hard disk recorder 10 based on the structure and flowchart as described above will be described.

  The tuner 24 and the antenna 60 receive EPG information (S100). The EPG information includes “NEWS 2.3” as information representing the program title. When the EPG information is received, the control unit 36 generates template data (S102). When the template data is generated, the control unit 36 reads the I picture from the first area of the hard disk 42 (S104). When the I picture is read, the control unit 36 converts the I picture to monochrome (S120). When the I picture is monochromeized, the control unit 36 obtains a logical product for each pixel of the I picture and each pixel of the character image (S122). When the logical product is obtained, the control unit 36 obtains the ratio of the pixels for which the logical product is true to all the pixels of the I picture (S124). When the pixel ratio is obtained, the control unit 36 determines whether or not the processing has been completed for all the character images (S126). In this case, since the process has not been completed yet (NO in S126), the processes of S120 to S126 are repeated. Finally, when the processing is completed for all character images (YES in S126), control unit 36 determines whether or not the video patterns match (S108). The video immediately after the start of recording is often a commercial video. As a result, since the video patterns do not match (NO in S108), control unit 36 determines whether or not the process of searching for specific data has been completed for all I pictures (S112). In this case, since all the searches have not been completed yet (NO in S112), the processes of S104 to S112 are repeated. By repeating the processing of S104 to S112, the control unit 36 searches for specific data having a value representing a difference from the template data within a predetermined threshold value in the I picture. Among them, the control unit 36 reads out an I picture representing a program title as an I picture (S104). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the video of the title read at this time. When the video of the program title is read, the control unit 36 determines whether or not the video pattern matches through the processing of S120 to S126 (S108). At this time, since the video patterns match (YES in S108), control unit 36 stores the I picture representing the program title as a thumbnail in the third area of hard disk 42 (S110). Thereafter, the control unit 36 and the read head 44 read the I picture stored in the third area of the hard disk 42 when the remote control receiving unit 34 receives an instruction to output the thumbnail video data. The video output unit 30 outputs an I picture.

  As described above, the hard disk recorder according to the present embodiment can search video data of a program title using the program title as a search key and output it as a thumbnail. When the video data of the program title is output as a thumbnail, the contents of the thumbnail represent the program title. Conventional recording apparatuses often automatically use thumbnails for images at the start of recording. The image at the start of recording is often a commercial image. Therefore, it is difficult to make an appropriate scene as a thumbnail in the conventional recording apparatus. In the case of the hard disk recorder according to the present embodiment, since the thumbnail represents the program title, the thumbnail video is an appropriate scene. As a result, it is possible to provide a hard disk recorder capable of using thumbnails of particularly appropriate scene images.

  In addition, information for specifying a program other than EPG information (information indicating a program title) may be used. The specific content of “information for specifying a program” is not particularly limited.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a control block diagram of the hard disk recorder which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of control of the thumbnail registration process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of the pattern comparison process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the image | video of the title which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  10 hard disk recorder, 12 remote control, 14 monitor device, 20 DVD reading unit, 22 HD device, 24 tuner, 26 decoder, 28 memory, 30 video output unit, 32 audio output unit, 34 remote control receiving unit, 36 control unit, 38 external I / F, 42 hard disk, 44 reading head, 46 recording head, 0 OSD, 60 antenna, 70 external device.

Claims (4)

Receiving means for receiving information representing a program title;
First storage means for storing video data of the program;
Second storage means for storing data representing an image of a character;
Generating means for generating template data which is image data representing the program title by combining the data stored in the second storage means;
Search means for searching for specific data having a value representing a difference from the template data that is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold among video data of the program;
A selection means for preferentially selecting data having a fast output order among the specific data;
Third storage means for storing the data selected by the selection means;
A receiving means for receiving a command from the user;
One of the first storage means and the third storage means so that the data stored in the third storage means is read out when the reception means receives an instruction to output thumbnail video data. Reading means for reading the data stored by
A thumbnail selecting device including output means for outputting the data read by the reading means; Receiving means for receiving information identifying a program;
First storage means for storing video data of the program;
Second storage means for storing data representing an image of a character;
Generating means for generating template data which is image data representing information specifying the program in characters by combining the data stored in the second storage means;
Search means for searching for specific data having a value representing a difference from the template data that is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold among video data of the program;
Selecting means for selecting any of the specific data;
Third storage means for storing the data selected by the selection means;
A receiving means for receiving a command from the user;
One of the first storage means and the third storage means so that the data stored in the third storage means is read out when the reception means receives an instruction to output thumbnail video data. Reading means for reading the data stored by
A thumbnail selecting device including output means for outputting the data read by the reading means;   The thumbnail selection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selection means includes means for preferentially selecting data satisfying a predetermined requirement in an output order among the specific data.   The thumbnail selection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data satisfying a predetermined requirement for the output order includes data with an early output order.

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