JP2006323971A - Reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reproducing device capable of easily selecting a content viewable within a limited period among contents being recorded on a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: This reproducing device 1 accepts a specified playback time desired by the user and retrieves the content reproducible within the specified playback time or reproducible in the coincident period in a predetermined error range in the specified playback time, from among the contents being recorded on the recording medium by a drive section 32, then the information showing the retrieved content is outputted. The content is selected on the basis of the outputted information, and the reproduction is carried out by the reproducing device 1 in the manner of outputting the selected content to a TV receiver 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a playback apparatus that searches for content that meets a specific condition from content recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk, and plays back the searched content.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a reproduction apparatus that reproduces content recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or an optical disk by outputting content composed of video and audio to a display device such as a television receiver has become widespread. In addition, a reproducing apparatus that records the broadcast content on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, an optical disk, or a hard disk, and can reproduce the recorded content at a later date is also popular. Many of these playback devices have a function of playing back content by fast-forwarding such as double speed when playing back the content. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for reproducing recorded content at a variable speed. Also, many playback devices that record broadcast content have a function of automatically recording content using a timer or the like. In addition, in the playback device, it is possible to record a plurality of contents on a recording medium, and the title or thumbnail image of the content is displayed on the display device, and any of the contents recorded on the recording medium is displayed. Some of them have a function of making it possible to reproduce the content.
JP-A-10-257438

  When a user views content using a playback device, the content recorded on a recording medium may be viewed when the user has leisure time such as a holiday. For example, the broadcast content is recorded for one week with a playback device, and the recorded content is viewed on the weekend by playing back with the playback device. Since the user's leisure time is limited, it is not always possible to view all of the content recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, when viewing the content using the playback device, there is a problem that it is necessary to select content that can be viewed during leisure time from the content recorded on the recording medium.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to easily select contents that can be viewed within a limited time from contents recorded on a recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a playback apparatus that can be selected.

  The playback apparatus according to the present invention includes a time specifying means for receiving specification of a playback time and one or a plurality of contents recorded on the recording medium in a playback apparatus including playback means for playing back the content recorded on the recording medium. The content that can be played back by the playback means within the playback time accepted by the time designating means, or the playback time that the time designating means accepted within a predetermined error range. It is characterized by comprising search means for searching for content that can be played back by the playback means and output means for outputting information indicating the content searched by the search means.

  In the present invention, a playback device that plays back content recorded on a recording medium accepts a playback time specification, and can be played back within a specified playback time or within a predetermined error range within a specified playback time. Content that can be played back at the matching time is searched, and information indicating the searched content is output.

  The reproduction apparatus according to the present invention includes a content designating unit that accepts designation of content to be reproduced from the content indicated by the information output by the output unit, and the content that the content designation unit has accepted designation. And regenerating means.

  In the present invention, the playback device accepts designation of content to be played from the content for which information has been output, and plays back the designated content.

  The playback apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that the playback unit can play back the content recorded on the recording medium at a plurality of playback speeds, and the search unit includes the playback unit. Content that can be played back within the playback time when played at a specific playback speed, or when the playback means plays back at a specific playback speed, it matches the playback time within a predetermined error range Means for searching for content that can be played back in time, and the output means includes means for associating information indicating a specific playback speed and outputting information indicating the content searched by the search means. It is characterized by that.

  In the present invention, the playback device can play back content at a plurality of playback speeds, and can be played back at a specific playback speed such as double speed within a specified playback time, or specified. Content that can be played back at a specific playback speed is searched for at a time that matches the playback time within a predetermined error range.

  When the content specifying unit receives the specification of the content associated with the information indicating the specific playback speed, the playback device according to the present invention receives the content received by the content specifying unit at the specific playback speed. The apparatus further comprises means for causing the reproducing means to reproduce.

  In the present invention, the playback apparatus plays back content associated with information indicating a specific playback speed such as double speed at a specific playback speed such as double speed.

  In the playback apparatus according to the present invention, when the search unit records a plurality of contents on the recording medium, the combination of a plurality of contents that can be played back by the playback unit within the playback time. Or a means for searching for a combination of a plurality of contents that can be reproduced together by the reproduction means within a time that coincides with the reproduction time within a predetermined error range.

  Further, in the present invention, the playback device has a plurality of contents whose total playback time is within the specified playback time or whose total playback time matches the specified playback time within a predetermined error range. The combination is searched, and information indicating the combination of the plurality of searched contents is output.

  The playback apparatus according to the present invention further comprises priority designating means for accepting designation of priority conditions indicating conditions for preferential playback of the content to be recorded on the recording medium, wherein the output means is , And means for preferentially outputting information indicating content corresponding to the priority condition received by the priority designating unit from the content retrieved by the retrieval unit.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the playback device receives designation of priority conditions for content to be played with priority, such as the genre of the content, and outputs information indicating content corresponding to the priority conditions with priority.

  In the present invention, by searching for content that can be played back at the playback time desired by the user and outputting information indicating the searched content, the user can select the content that can be played back at the playback time desired. It becomes possible to select easily.

  Also, in the present invention, by selecting and playing back the searched content according to the desired playback time, the user can use his / her convenience to limit the time available for viewing the content. In addition, it is possible to view the content.

  In the present invention, the playback device can search and play back content based on playback time when playback is performed at a plurality of playback speeds, and the user can change the playback speed. Thus, it is possible to easily select a content that can be reproduced in a desired reproduction time.

  Further, according to the present invention, when playback is performed at a playback speed faster than the normal playback speed, content that can be played back at the playback time desired by the user can be selected and played back. The content can be viewed in a short time.

  Also, in the present invention, the playback device searches for a combination of a plurality of contents that can be played back at the playback time desired by the user, so the user can use the limited time available for viewing the content. Thus, it is possible to view as much content as possible.

  Further, according to the present invention, the playback device accepts designation of the priority condition of the content to be played with priority, such as the content genre, and outputs information indicating the content corresponding to the priority condition with priority. The present invention has an excellent effect such that it becomes easy for a person to select and view a content that the user wants to view with priority, such as a program according to a hobby, without overlooking the content.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main internal configuration of the playback apparatus 1 of the present invention. The playback apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11 that controls the operation of the entire playback apparatus 1. The control unit 11 includes a RAM 12 that stores various types of information necessary for processing performed by the playback device 1, a ROM 13 that stores a control program for the control unit 11 to control the playback device 1, and a time within the playback device 1. Is connected to a time measuring unit 14 that measures time. The control unit 11 performs processing necessary for the playback device 1 in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 13. The control unit 11 includes a display unit 15 for displaying necessary information such as a small liquid crystal display, an operation unit 16 for receiving an operation by the user, and a remote control (remote control) device 20 operated by the user. A remote control receiving unit 17 for receiving the transmitted signal is connected. The remote control receiving unit 17 is configured to receive a signal from the remote control device 20 and input the content of the received signal to the control unit 11. The operation unit 16 is a set of various switches and buttons that can be operated by the user. When the switch or button is operated by the user, signals assigned to the switches or buttons are transmitted to the control unit 11. It is the composition which inputs to. The display unit 15 and the operation unit 16 may be configured using a touch panel.

  The control unit 11 is connected to a signal processing unit 21 that processes and transmits a signal representing content including video and audio. The signal processing unit 21 is connected to a tuner unit 23 for receiving various broadcast signals such as terrestrial broadcast, satellite broadcast, cable broadcast, analog broadcast, and digital broadcast. The tuner unit 23 receives a broadcast signal, and the signal processing unit 21 performs signal processing such as decoding of the broadcast signal received by the tuner unit 23.

  The control unit 11 and the signal processing unit 21 are connected to a drive unit 22 for recording and reading data on a recording medium such as an optical disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, or a semiconductor memory. The drive unit 22 has a built-in hard disk that cannot be taken out to the outside, and may be configured to record and read data from / to the built-in hard disk. A configuration may be adopted in which a semiconductor memory card is taken in and data is recorded and read out. In addition, although a single drive unit 22 is shown in FIG. 1, the playback apparatus 1 may be configured to include a plurality of drive units, such as both a hard disk drive and an optical disk drive. The control unit 11 controls the operation of the signal processing unit 21 and the drive unit 22, the signal processing unit 21 processes the broadcast signal received by the tuner unit 23 and encodes it for recording, and the drive unit 22 The data encoded by 21 is recorded. The data recorded by the drive unit 22 represents content composed of broadcast video and audio.

  The signal processing unit 21 is connected to an output unit (output unit) 24 that outputs data such as video or audio to the outside. The output unit 24 is usually connected to a television receiver 3 using a cathode ray tube display or a liquid crystal display. Under the control of the control unit 11, the drive unit 22 reads necessary data from the recording medium, the signal processing unit 21 decodes the data read by the drive unit 22, and the output unit 24 outputs the data decoded by the signal processing unit 21. Is output to the television receiver 3. The television receiver 3 outputs content composed of video and audio based on the output data. In this way, the control unit 11, the signal processing unit 21, the drive unit 22, and the output unit 24 function as reproducing means according to the present invention.

  Some contents recorded on a recording medium have an identifier attached to each part constituting the content, and such content particularly has an identifier indicating that it is a CM in a commercial message (CM) part. It is attached. The playback apparatus 1 according to the present invention has a function of using this identifier to play back content while skipping the CM portion included in the content. In addition to the data corresponding to the content, the drive unit 22 relates to the content, such as the title of the content, the broadcast station of the content, the date and time when the content was recorded, the playback time required to play the content, the genre of the content, etc. Metadata is recorded on a recording medium. Some metadata is included in the broadcast signal and received by the tuner unit 23, and some metadata is created by the control unit 11 according to the situation where the broadcast signal is received. Furthermore, the playback device 1 of the present invention changes the playback speed when playing back content to a speed such as 2 × speed, 3 × speed, 1.5 × speed, or 0.7 × speed compared to the original playback speed. The content can be played back at a plurality of playback speeds.

  Next, processing performed by the playback apparatus 1 of the present invention having the above configuration will be described. In the present invention, the user inputs a desired length of playback time for viewing the content, such as one hour before going to bed, to the playback device 1, and the playback device 1 plays back the input playback time. A process for searching for contents that can be performed is performed.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by the playback apparatus 1 of the present invention. The control unit 11 of the playback device 1 executes the following processing based on the control program stored in the ROM 13. The control unit 11 of the playback device 1 specifies the playback time and the priority condition indicating the conditions for the content to be played back by the user operating the operation unit 16 or the remote control device 20. Is received by the operation unit 16 or the remote control receiving unit 17 (S1). At this time, the control unit 11 causes the television receiver 3 to display an input screen for inputting the playback time and the priority condition, and the user operates the operation unit 16 or the remote control device 20 to display the playback time and the priority time on the input screen. By inputting priority conditions, designation of playback time and priority conditions is accepted. In this way, the control unit 11, the operation unit 16, and the remote control reception unit 17 function as a time designation unit and a priority designation unit according to the present invention. The priority condition is a condition such as a genre of content to be reproduced with priority, a broadcasting station, a recording date and time, or a reproduction history. For example, when a user particularly wants to watch sports among genres such as sports, news, or dramas, the genre of sports is designated as a priority condition. In addition, when it is desired to check the contents in the order of recording date and time, or to check unviewed contents, a new recording date and time or an unviewed playback history is designated as a priority condition.

  When the designation of the reproduction time and priority condition is not received in step S1 (S1: NO), the control unit 11 continues to wait for the designation of the reproduction time and priority condition. When the operation unit 16 or the remote control receiving unit 17 accepts the specification of the playback time and priority conditions in step S1 (S1: YES), the control unit 11 selects the content recorded on the recording medium by the drive unit 22. Then, the content matching the reproduction time for which the designation is accepted is searched (S2). In this way, the control unit 11 functions as search means according to the present invention.

  At this time, the control unit 11 searches for content that can be played back within the designated playback time or content that can be played back at a time that matches the specified playback time within a predetermined error range. For example, if the specified playback time is 1 hour, search for content that can be played back within 1 hour, or play within 50 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes with a predetermined error range of 10 minutes. Search possible content based on metadata. Note that the playback apparatus 1 may be configured to search for content by any method, and may be configured such that the setting of which method is used or the value of the error range is variable depending on the setting. The control unit 11 also searches for content whose playback time matches the specified playback time when the playback speed is changed from the normal speed, even if the content does not match the specified playback time at the normal playback speed. To do. Further, the control unit 11 may perform a process of searching for a content that can be skipped as a playback time of the content when the CM portion is skipped. The playback time when the CM portion is skipped may be processed by the control unit 11 in step S2, or may be recorded in advance on the recording medium as metadata.

  Next, the control unit 11 gives priority to the information indicating the content corresponding to the priority condition for which the designation has been received from the content searched in step S2, and outputs the information indicating the searched content from the output unit 24 to the television set. The image is displayed on the John receiver 3 (S3). At this time, the control unit 11 causes the television receiver 3 to display metadata such as a content title as information indicating the content. In addition, the control unit 11 associates information indicating a specific playback speed for matching the playback time with respect to the content that matches the playback time specified when the playback speed is changed from the normal speed, and indicates the content. Output information.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the television receiver 3 displaying information indicating the searched content. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the playback time is 1 hour and the priority condition is a sports genre. FIG. 3A shows an example of searching for content that can be played back within 1 hour. b) shows an example of searching for content that can be played back in 50 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes. In FIG. 3A, marathon relay information that can be played back in 55 minutes when played back at double speed is displayed at the top as content of a sports genre that can be played back within one hour. Further, since there is no other content of a sports genre that can be played back within one hour, information on other content whose genre is news or drama is displayed. In FIG. 3B, information of three contents is preferentially displayed as sports genre contents that can be played back in 50 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes. Note that when the priority condition is a broadcasting station, the playback device 1 preferentially displays information on contents broadcast by the designated broadcasting station. If the priority condition is a new recording date and time or an unviewed playback history, the playback device 1 displays content information with priority on the order of the recording date and time or the unviewed content. Further, the playback apparatus 1 of the present invention may be configured to output not only the text shown in FIG. 3 as characters but also a thumbnail of the content as information indicating the content.

  Next, the control unit 11 waits for the operation unit 16 or the remote control reception unit 17 to accept designation of content to be reproduced by designating one piece of information indicating the output content (S4). Here, the user operates the operation unit 16 or the remote control device 20 to move the cursor on the display screen as shown in FIG. Specify content. If no content designation is received (S4: NO), the control unit 11 ends the process. When the specification of content is received by the operation unit 16 or the remote control reception unit 17 (S4: YES), the control unit 11 associates a specific playback speed changed from the normal playback speed with the content for which the specification has been received. It is determined whether or not (S5). When a specific playback speed is not associated with the designated content (S5: NO), the control unit 11 reads the data of the designated content from the recording medium by the drive unit 22 and outputs it from the output unit 24. The designated content is reproduced by causing the television receiver 3 to output content composed of video and audio (S6). When a specific reproduction speed is associated with the designated content (S5: YES), the control unit 11 reproduces the designated content at the associated reproduction speed such as 2 × speed or 1.5 × speed. (S7). After step S6 or step S7 ends, the control unit 11 ends the process.

  In the processing described above, the playback device 1 always performs processing for accepting designation of priority conditions in step S1, but the playback device 1 of the present invention stores information indicating priority conditions in the RAM 12 in advance. In step S3, the process of outputting the information indicating the content in preference to the content corresponding to the priority condition indicated by the information stored in the RAM 12 is performed without accepting the specification of the priority condition one by one. Also good. When the priority condition is changed in the playback device 1 of this form, the change of the priority condition is accepted by the user operating the operation unit 16 or the remote control device 20.

  Further, the playback apparatus 1 of the present invention may be configured to be able to specify a plurality of types of priority conditions at once. For example, when a sports genre and a new recording date / time are designated, the playback apparatus 1 outputs information indicating the content with priority given to a content with a newer recording date / time among the contents of the sports genre. Further, for example, the playback device 1 designates the first priority condition as a sports genre and the second priority condition as a drama genre, and outputs information indicating the content with the highest priority given to the sports genre content. Then, a mode of performing processing for outputting information indicating the content of the drama genre with priority over other genres may be employed.

  As described above in detail, in the present invention, the playback apparatus 1 of the present invention receives designation of a playback time desired by the user, and is able to play back content that can be played within the specified playback time or a predetermined playback time. The content that can be played back within the error range within the matching time is searched, and information indicating the searched content is output. This allows the user to easily select content that can be played back in the desired playback time. In addition, by selecting a specific content from the searched content and causing the playback device 1 to play back the content, the user can use the content that is available for viewing the content in accordance with his / her convenience. It becomes possible to watch.

  Further, the playback device 1 of the present invention can play back content at a plurality of playback speeds, and can be played back within a playback time specified at a specific playback speed such as double speed, or specified playback. Content that can be played back at a specific playback speed at a time that matches the time within a predetermined error range is searched. As a result, the user can easily select content that can be played back in a desired playback time by changing the playback speed. In particular, when playback is performed at a playback speed faster than the normal playback speed, it is possible to select and play back content that can be played back at the playback time desired by the user. Can be watched.

  Furthermore, the playback apparatus 1 of the present invention receives the designation of the priority condition of the content to be played with priority, such as the genre of the content, and outputs information indicating the content corresponding to the priority condition with priority. As a result, the user can easily select and view the content that the user wants to view with priority, such as a program according to the hobby, without missing the content.

  In the present embodiment, the playback device 1 shows a form for performing processing for searching for individual contents that meet the specified playback time. However, the playback device 1 of the present invention has a plurality of playback times for content. A mode of performing a process of searching for a combination of contents whose total matches the designated reproduction time may be employed. The playback device 1 in this form calculates a total time of the playback times of the plurality of contents in step S2 in the above-described processing procedure, and a combination of the plurality of contents whose total playback time is within the specified playback time, Alternatively, a combination of a plurality of contents that match the specified reproduction time within a predetermined error range is searched for, and information indicating the combination of the searched plurality of contents is output in step S3.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the television receiver 3 displaying information indicating a combination of a plurality of searched contents. In the figure, an example in which the playback time is 2 hours and the priority condition is a sports genre is shown. In addition to displaying information on soccer broadcast content that can be played back in 1 hour and 50 minutes, it shows a combination of 3 content that has a total playback time of 2 hours in 1 hour, 50 minutes, and 10 minutes Information is displayed. Furthermore, information indicating a combination of three contents in which the total reproduction time is 1 hour and 45 minutes is displayed for the soccer relay and other contents reproduced at 1.5 times speed. The combination of the plurality of contents can be designated as contents to be reproduced by the user operating the operation unit 16 or the remote control device 20. When a combination of a plurality of contents is specified in step S4, the playback device 1 in this form performs a process of continuously playing the specified plurality of contents in step S6 or step S7.

  In this embodiment, the playback device 1 searches for a combination of a plurality of contents that can be played back at the playback time desired by the user, so that the user can use the limited time available for viewing the content. It is possible to view as much content as possible.

  In the present embodiment, the playback device 1 of the present invention includes the tuner unit 23, receives the broadcast content by the tuner unit 23, records it on the recording medium by the drive unit 22, and records it on the recording medium. Although a mode of reproducing content has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The playback device 1 of the present invention receives a recording medium such as an optical disk on which a content is recorded on the market or a recording medium on which the content is recorded by another recording device by the drive unit 22 and records the recording medium on the received recording medium. It is also possible to search for and play back the content that is present. In addition, the playback device 1 may not include the tuner unit 23.

  In the present embodiment, the playback apparatus 1 plays back content by outputting content composed of video and audio using the television receiver 3. However, the playback apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to this. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a form in which content is reproduced by other methods may be used, and a form in which content consisting only of video or only audio may be reproduced. For example, the playback apparatus 1 may include a display and a speaker, display information indicating the content on the built-in display, and output the content using the display and the speaker. Further, for example, the playback apparatus 1 may be configured such that a speaker is connectable to the output unit 24 and music content is output using the speaker connected to the output unit 24.

It is a block diagram which shows the main internal structures of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of this invention performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display screen of the television receiver which displayed the information which shows the searched content. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display screen of the television receiver which displayed the information which shows the combination of the searched several content.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Playback apparatus 11 Control part 16 Operation part 17 Remote control receiving part 21 Signal processing part 22 Drive part 23 Tuner part 24 Output part (output means)
3 Television receiver

Claims (6)

In a playback device including playback means for playing back content recorded on a recording medium,
A time specification means for accepting a playback time specification;
The content that can be played back by the playback means within the playback time that the time specification means accepts from among one or a plurality of contents recorded on the recording medium, or the time specification means accepts the designation Search means for searching for content that can be played back by the playback means at a time that matches the playback time within a predetermined error range;
And an output means for outputting information indicating the content searched by the search means. Content specifying means for receiving specification of content to be reproduced from the contents indicated by the information output by the output means;
The playback apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that causes the playback unit to play back the content for which the content specifying unit has received the specification. The reproduction means is configured to be able to reproduce the content recorded on the recording medium at a plurality of types of reproduction speeds,
The search means is a content that can be played back within the playback time when the playback means plays back at a specific playback speed, or the playback time when the playback means plays back at a specific playback speed. A means for searching for content that can be played back at a matching time within a predetermined error range;
The playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the output means includes means for associating information indicating a specific playback speed and outputting information indicating the content searched by the search means. Means for causing the reproduction means to reproduce the content accepted by the content designation means at the specific reproduction speed when the content designation means accepts designation of content associated with information indicating a specific reproduction speed; The playback apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: The search means, when a plurality of contents are recorded on the recording medium, is a combination of a plurality of contents that can be reproduced together by the reproduction means within the reproduction time, or a predetermined value at the reproduction time. The reproduction according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising means for searching for a combination of a plurality of contents that can be reproduced together by the reproduction means within a matching time within an error range. apparatus. Priority specifying means for receiving specification of a priority condition indicating a condition of what content should be preferentially reproduced among the contents recorded on the recording medium,
The output unit includes a unit that preferentially outputs information indicating content corresponding to the priority condition received by the priority specifying unit from the content searched by the search unit. The playback device according to any one of 2 to 5.

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