JP2007234090A - Information reproducing device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information reproducing device and a program, facilitating an editing of data for specifying a reproduction sequence with respect to a content included in various resources of video or audio and also capable of circulating the data for specifying the reproduction sequence independently of the resources. <P>SOLUTION: A user can specify a plurality of reproduction sections for a plurality of DVDs or CDs, etc. The specified each reproduction section is recorded on a hard disk, etc., as a bookmark file 70. The bookmark file 70 is constituted of a source discriminating information 72 for recording disk discriminating information, etc., of the disk which is an uptake source, and a start and end points information 76 for specifying the reproduction section. Then, the reproduction sequence is specified by the plurality of bookmark files 70. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information playback apparatus and program suitable for continuous playback of content such as video / audio.

  In Patent Document 1, reproduction instruction data including a plurality of cue points or loop points is stored for each track of a DVD or CD, and when the user designates any reproduction instruction data, the cue points or loop points included therein are designated. Based on the above, a playback device for quickly playing back a corresponding video or audio track is disclosed. These cue point or loop point information can be output to an external storage medium or the like together with disc identification information for identifying a DVD or CD. Thus, based on information such as cue points or loop points created using a certain playback device, a DVD or CD can be played back using another playback device.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a multi-track recorder for audio signals with a built-in hard disk. In this multitrack recorder, an input audio signal is recorded on a hard disk as waveform data. In this document, data defining the reproduction range and reproduction timing of these waveform data is recorded as “tracks”. A collection of these waveform data and tracks is called “song data”, and the contents of the music are defined by this song data. Here, the entity of the waveform data is stored in a plurality of clusters in the hard disk. On the other hand, the track is data for designating a reproduction start timing, a reproduction range, and the like by indexing these clusters and addresses in the clusters on the reproduction time axis of the song data. For this reason, even if editing operations such as cut, copy, and paste are performed on the track, there is no change in the entity of the waveform data. Since the data constituting the track is very small, the history of editing is also stored quite a long time ago, and an undo operation for undoing editing once performed is also possible.

JP 2002-230944 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-124022

  However, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a user performs an operation for designating a cue point or a loop point, the operation content can be stored as reproduction instruction data. It was not considered that the user edited the instruction data. For this reason, it has been difficult for the user to create new reproduction instruction data by appropriately combining or editing a plurality of reproduction instruction data. Further, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, the user can edit the contents of a track so that an arbitrary portion of arbitrary waveform data is reproduced at an arbitrary timing on the reproduction time axis. However, such an editing operation is performed on the assumption that the track is recorded on the hard disk together with the waveform data as part of the song data. In the first place, the track is created / created based on the waveform data not recorded on the hard disk. It was impossible to edit.

Further, in the technique of Patent Document 2, there may be a case where copyright is claimed for the waveform data. In such a case, it may cause a copyright problem for the song data creator to transfer the song data including the waveform data to a third party.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and facilitates editing of data specifying a playback sequence for content included in various video or audio resources, and is independent of the resources. An object of the present invention is to provide an information reproducing apparatus and program capable of distributing data specifying a reproduction sequence.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configuration. The parentheses are examples.
In the information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, for one or a plurality of content storage means (21, 24) for storing audio or video data, a reproduction section on the reproduction time axis of the audio or video data is set. Bookmarks formed by associating the specified playback section specifying means (14, SP54, SP58) with identification information (72) indicating the corresponding content storage means (21, 24) for each of the specified playback sections. Bookmark storage means (52) for storing a plurality of (70), bookmark reading means (SP82, SP86) for sequentially reading bookmarks stored in the bookmark storage means (52), and bookmark reading means (SP82, SP86) Playback section of content storage means (21, 24) corresponding to the read bookmark And having a reproducing means (16, SP88) for reproducing audio or video data.
Furthermore, in the configuration according to claim 2, in the information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, the bookmark storage means (52) stores a plurality of bookmarks while specifying a reproduction order. It is characterized by.
Furthermore, in the configuration according to claim 3, the information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 further includes output means for outputting outside the bookmark stored in the bookmark storage means (52).
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus comprising reproducing means (16, 20) for reproducing audio or video data and a processing device (2) for controlling the reproducing means (16). A program to be applied, for specifying one or a plurality of content storage means (21, 24) for storing audio or video data, for specifying a playback section on the playback time axis of the audio or video data A plurality of bookmarks (70) each associated with the process (SP54, SP58) and identification information (72) indicating the corresponding content storage means (21, 24) is stored for each designated playback section. A bookmark storing process (SP62), a bookmark reading process (SP82, SP86) for sequentially reading the stored bookmarks, and the bookmarker Reproduction process (SP82, SP86) in which the reproduction means (16, 20) reproduces the audio or video data in the reproduction section of the content storage means (21, 24) corresponding to the bookmark read out (SP82, SP86) SP88) is executed by the processing device (2).

  As described above, according to the present invention, the user designates a reproduction sequence by storing a plurality of bookmarks each associated with identification information indicating the corresponding content storage means for each designated reproduction section. The playback sequence can be easily changed by editing individual bookmarks.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the playback section is designated on the playback time axis of the audio or video data, it is independent of the state on the content storage means, for example, the cluster number of the hard disk. Thus, independent of the content storage means, a series of bookmarks can be distributed to a third party to reproduce the same playback state.

1． Hardware Configuration of Embodiment Next, the hardware configuration of the information reproducing system of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU, which controls other components via the bus 12 based on a program described later. Reference numeral 4 denotes a ROM which stores an initial program loader and the like. Reference numeral 6 denotes a RAM, which is used as a work memory for the CPU 2. A hard disk 8 stores an operating system, a musical sound analysis application program, waveform data, and the like. A communication port 10 performs various communication processes such as downloading audio / video files from an external site 24 via an IP communication network 22 such as the Internet. Reference numeral 14 denotes an input device, which includes a keyboard, various switches, a jog dial, and the like. Reference numeral 16 denotes an output device, which includes a display for reproducing video content, a sound system for reproducing audio content, and the like. Reference numeral 18 denotes an I / O port which inputs and outputs various data to and from the external device 30 via a serial communication network 26 such as IEEE1394 or USB. A drive device 20 writes / reads data to / from a disk 21 such as a DVD or a CD.

2． Data Configuration Next, a directory configuration in the hard disk 8 will be described with reference to FIG. A root directory 50 is formed on the hard disk 8, and a [bookmarks] directory 52, a [movies] directory 54, and a [musics] directory 56 are formed as child directories thereof. Here, the [movies] directory 54 and the [musics] directory 56 capture audio or video data on the disk 21 or the external site 24 as necessary. As described above, the first reason for capturing audio or video data in advance is that when content is reproduced using a larger number of discs than the number of discs that can be mounted on the drive device 20 (for example, one), the content is reproduced. This is because the contents of the disc that cannot be mounted are taken into the hard disk 8 in advance. The second reason is that when audio or video data is data downloaded from the external site 24, if the data is downloaded during reproduction, the reproduction response is deteriorated. For this reason, it is desirable to capture data in the hard disk 8 in advance. As described above, the directories 54 and 56 are not essential, and are provided as necessary.

  Video files 80-1 and 80-2 are stored in the [movies] directory 54, and audio files 90-1 and 90-2 are stored in the [musics] directory 56. The [bookmarks] directory 52 stores bookmark files 70-1, 70-4, 70-5, etc., and the [bookmarks] directory 52 includes a [group1] directory which is a child directory as required. 60, [group2] directory 62, and the like are formed. In these directories 60 and 62, etc., bookmark files 70-2, 70-3, 70-6 and the like are also stored. Each bookmark file represents a playback range of any audio or video file. In the illustrated example, the bookmark file 70-5 has the same contents as the bookmark file 70-1, except that the file name is different.

  Here, the audio files 90-1, 90-2 and the like and the video files 80-1, 80-2 and the like are taken from the disk 21 such as a DVD or CD via the drive device 20, or the IP communication network 22. Is taken from the external site 24 via The DVD or CD includes information such as TOC (table of contents) that can uniquely identify the disc. This is called disc identification information. Corresponding disc identification information is recorded in the audio and video files captured from such a disc. Further, when audio and video files are captured from the external site 24, the URL address of the capture source and / or identification information of content that uniquely identifies each file is recorded in these files.

  Next, the data structure of the bookmark files 70-1 to 70-6 will be described with reference to FIG. One bookmark file 70 includes source identification information 72, start point information 74, and end point information 76. The source identification information 72 includes disc identification information of a disc from which a source (audio or video data) to be reproduced is taken in, a URL address of the external site 24 and / or identification information of contents that uniquely specify each file. To be recorded. The start point information 74 and end point information 76 specify the playback section of the audio or video file, that is, the playback start position and the playback end position, respectively. Since the bookmark file 70 is configured as a text file, the user can freely edit the contents using a text editor or the like.

Here, as the start point information 74 and the end point information 76, for example, the following information can be adopted.
(1) When the source identification information 72 is disc identification information, the start point information 74 and the end point information 76 are based on the track (or chapter) number on the disc and the track (or chapter). It can be expressed by an address.
(2) When the content takes the form of an audio or video file, the start point information 74 and the end point information 76 can be represented by physical addresses in the file.

3． Operation of the embodiment
3.1. Main Processing Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, when the information reproducing system is powered on, the main routine shown in FIG. 3 is started. In FIG. 3, when the process proceeds to step SP2, it is detected whether or not any disk 21 is mounted on the drive device 20. Next, when the process proceeds to step SP4, the process branches based on the detection result. That is, if the disk 21 is not mounted, the process proceeds to step SP6, and after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed, the process returns to step SP2. On the other hand, if the disk 21 is mounted, the process proceeds to step SP10, and the disk identification information of the mounted disk 21 is read into the RAM 6.

  Next, when the process proceeds to step SP12, it is determined whether or not a predetermined normal reproduction instruction operation has been performed on the input device 14. If “YES” is determined here, the process proceeds to step SP14, and a normal reproduction processing routine (FIG. 4, details will be described later) for reproducing audio or video data on the disk 21 is executed. When calling this normal reproduction processing routine, the reproduction start position and the reproduction end position are designated in the calling source routine. In this step SP14, for example, the start position of the disc 21 is designated as the reproduction start position, and the end position of the disc 21 is designated as the reproduction end position.

Next, when the process proceeds to step SP16, it is determined whether or not a predetermined bookmark reproduction instruction operation has been performed on the input device. If "YES" is determined here, the process proceeds to step SP18, and bookmark reproduction processing for reproducing audio or video data based on the bookmark files 70-1 to 70-6 and the like (FIG. 5, details will be described later). Is executed. When this bookmark reproduction processing routine is called, one of the following reproduction modes is designated in the calling routine.
Playback mode A: All playback mode for playing back all bookmark files existing in the [bookmarks] directory 52 including those existing in subdirectories.
Reproduction mode B: A reproduction mode in which only bookmark files existing in any one or a plurality of subdirectories in the [bookmarks] directory 52 are reproduced.
Reproduction mode C: A reproduction mode in which bookmark files existing in the [bookmarks] directory 52 are reproduced except those existing in subdirectories.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2A, when the playback mode A is selected, the bookmark files 70-1 to 70-6 are selected as playback targets. When the reproduction mode B is selected and “all subdirectories” is selected as the reproduction target directory, bookmark files 70-2, 70-3, and 70-6 are selected as reproduction targets. When the playback mode C is selected, bookmark files 70-1, 70-4, and 70-5 are selected as playback targets.

  Returning to FIG. 3, when the process proceeds to step SP20, it is determined whether or not a bookmark editing instruction operation for bookmark editing has been performed on the input device. If “YES” is determined here, the process proceeds to step SP22, and bookmark files 70-1 to 70-6 and the like are added, deleted, edited, and the like based on a user operation. Next, when the process proceeds to step SP24, it is determined whether or not a bookmark output instruction operation for outputting a bookmark to the outside is performed on the input device 14. If “YES” is determined here, the process proceeds to step SP 26, and part or all of the data in the [bookmarks] directory 52 is transferred to the external device 30 or the like via the I / O port 18 or the communication port 10. Is done. As a result, the bookmark files 70-1 to 70-6 can be used in other information reproduction systems (not shown) provided outside as well as the information reproduction system of the present embodiment.

  Thereafter, the processing of steps SP12 to SP26 is repeated. Here, when the user performs an opening / closing operation of the drive device 20, an interrupt occurs (step SP8), and the process is forcibly returned to step SP2. Then, when a new disk 21 is set in the drive device 20, the processing after step SP2 is executed on the new disk 21.

3.2. Details of normal playback processing (Fig. 4)
Next, the details of the normal reproduction process executed in step SP14 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, when the process proceeds to step SP50, the reproduction start position and the reproduction end position designated by the calling source routine are acquired. Next, when the process proceeds to step SP52, playback of audio or video data is started with the playback start position as the current playback position. At this time, if there are video files 80-1, 80-2 or audio files 90-1, 90-2 in which sections of the playback start position and playback end position are recorded, the contents of these files are read and played back. Is started.

  Next, when the process proceeds to step SP54, it is determined whether or not a predetermined mark start instruction operation has been performed on the input device 14. If "YES" is determined here, the process proceeds to step SP56, and the current reproduction position is held in a predetermined area in the RAM 6 as a mark start position. On the other hand, if “NO” is determined here, step SP56 is skipped. Next, when the process proceeds to step SP58, it is determined whether or not a predetermined mark end instruction operation has been performed on the input device 14. If "YES" is determined here, the process proceeds to a step SP60 to determine whether or not the mark start position is already stored in the RAM 6. If "YES" is determined here, the process proceeds to a step SP62. Here, a new bookmark file is created in the [bookmarks] directory 52 of the hard disk 8 by combining the current reproduction position as the mark end position and the mark start position previously stored in the RAM 6 and the disc identification information. The mark start position stored in the RAM 6 is cleared. Note that the file name of the bookmark file is set so as not to overlap with the existing file name.

  On the other hand, if “NO” is determined in any of steps SP58 and SP60, step SP62 is skipped. That is, even if the mark end instruction operation is performed even though the mark start position is not designated, the operation is ignored. Next, when the process proceeds to step SP64, it is determined whether or not the current playback position has reached the playback end position. If "NO" is determined here, the process returns to step SP54, and the operations of steps SP54 to SP62 are repeated until the reproduction position reaches the reproduction end position. When the reproduction position reaches the reproduction end position, the process proceeds to step SP66, and it is determined whether or not an isolated mark start position is stored in the RAM 6. That is, if a corresponding mark end position is not specified even though some mark start position is stored in the RAM 6, the mark start position is considered to be isolated. If "YES" is determined here, the process proceeds to step SP68 where the reproduction end position is set as the mark end position, and the new mark file of the hard disk 8 is combined with the isolated mark start position and the disc identification information. bookmarks] directory 52.

3.3. Details of bookmark playback processing (Fig. 5)
Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the details of the bookmark reproduction process executed in step SP18 will be described. In FIG. 5, when the process proceeds to step SP80, a bookmark arrangement in which bookmarks to be reproduced are arranged in the order of reproduction is acquired according to the designated reproduction mode. Here, the reproduction order of the bookmark file is determined by, for example, the appearance order in the FAT (file allocation table) or the order of the sorting results obtained by sorting the bookmark file names in the character code order.

Next, when the process proceeds to step SP82, the source identification information 72 is read out from the head bookmark among the bookmarks not yet reproduced in the bookmark array. Next, when the process proceeds to step SP84, it is determined in the following order whether there is a source (audio or video data) corresponding to the source identification information 72.
(1) Whether a video file or an audio file corresponding to the source identification information 72 exists in the directories 54 and 56.
(2) Whether there is audio or video data corresponding to the source identification information 72 in the disk 21 mounted on the drive device 20.
(3) If the source identification information 72 includes a URL address, whether or not there is audio or video data corresponding to the URL address.

  In other words, if the source is found at any stage among the above (1) to (3), the determination result at step SP84 is “YES”, and any of (1) to (3) If the source is not found even in step, the determination result in step SP84 is “NO”. If "YES" is determined in the step SP84, the process proceeds to a step SP86, the start point information 74 and the end point information 76 are read from the bookmark file 70 currently being referred to, and the start point information 74 is started to be reproduced. At the same time, the end point information 76 is set as the reproduction end position. Next, when the process proceeds to step SP88, the above-described normal reproduction processing routine (FIG. 4) is called with the set reproduction start position and reproduction end position. Therefore, a new bookmark file can be created by the processes in steps SP54 to SP66 described above even during the normal reproduction process. At this time, the bookmark array may be updated together.

  Thus, when the reproduction of the audio or video data ends, the process proceeds to step SP90. On the other hand, if the source corresponding to the bookmark does not exist, “NO” is determined in step SP84, and steps SP86 and SP88 are skipped. In step SP90, it is determined whether or not the next bookmark exists in the bookmark array. If "YES" is determined here, the process returns to step SP82, and the processes of steps SP82 to SP88 are repeated based on the new bookmark. Then, when reproduction of all bookmarks in the bookmark array is completed, the processing of this routine ends.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when there is no source corresponding to a bookmark, the processing for the bookmark is simply skipped (SP84), so that the audio or video data specified in the bookmark file is used. Even if there is no, the reproduction sequence is executed within the reproducible range. Further, in step SP84, the source corresponding to the source identification information 72 may be stored in the [movies] directory 54 or the [musics] directory 56 in the form of audio and video files, and is mounted on the drive device 20. Alternatively, it may be stored in the disk 21 or stored in the external site 24 on the IP communication network 22. As a result, the user can appropriately determine what source is stored in the directories 54 and 56, and there is no need to change the contents of the bookmark file in accordance with the determined contents.

  In the present embodiment, since the bookmark file 70 is a text file, the user can change the contents as appropriate. In addition, since each bookmark is stored in the form of “bookmark file”, the user can create another bookmark file having the same contents by simply copying the file and changing the file name. Can do. For example, in the example of FIG. 2A described above, the bookmark file 70-5 can be created by simply copying the bookmark file 70-1 and changing the file name.

Four. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made as follows, for example.
(1) In the above embodiment, the audio or video data reproduction processing is executed by the program executed by the CPU 2, but only this program is stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a memory card and distributed. Alternatively, it can be distributed through a transmission line.

(2) In the above embodiment, the bookmark playback order is determined by, for example, the order of appearance in the FAT (file allocation table) or the order of the sort results obtained by sorting the bookmark file names in the character code order. . However, an index file listing the file names of the respective bookmark files may be placed in the [bookmarks] directory 52, and the appearance order in the index file may be set as the bookmark reproduction order.

(3) In the above embodiment, each bookmark is recorded in an independent file. However, a plurality of bookmarks may be recorded in one file.

It is a block diagram of the information reproduction system of one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure of this information reproduction system. It is a flowchart of the main routine of the information reproduction system. It is a flowchart of the normal reproduction | regeneration processing routine of this information reproduction | regeneration system. It is a flowchart of the bookmark reproduction | regeneration processing routine of this information reproduction | regeneration system.

Explanation of symbols

  2: CPU (processing device), 4: ROM, 6: RAM, 8: hard disk, 10: communication port, 12: bus, 14: input device, 16: output device, 16: (reproducing means), 18: I / O port, 20: drive device, 21: disk, 21, 24: (content storage means), 22: IP communication network, 24: external site, 26: serial communication network, 30: external device, 50: route directory, 52 : [Bookmarks] directory (bookmark storage means), 54: [movies] directory, 56: [musics] directory, 60, 62: directory, 70, 70-1 to 70-6: bookmark file (bookmark), 72: source Identification information (identification information), 74: start point information, 76: end point information, 80-1, 80-2: video file, 90-1, 9 0-2: Audio file.

Claims (4)

Reproduction section designating means for designating a reproduction section on the reproduction time axis of the audio or video data for one or a plurality of content storage means for storing the audio or video data;
Bookmark storage means for storing a plurality of bookmarks each associated with identification information indicating the corresponding content storage means for each designated playback section;
Bookmark reading means for sequentially reading bookmarks stored in the bookmark storage means;
An information reproduction apparatus comprising: reproduction means for reproducing audio or video data in a reproduction section of the content storage means corresponding to the bookmark read by the bookmark reading means.   2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bookmark storage means stores a plurality of bookmarks while specifying a reproduction order.   2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting outside the bookmark stored in the bookmark storage means. A program applied to an information reproducing apparatus having a reproducing means for reproducing audio or video data and a processing device for controlling the reproducing means,
A playback section designating process for designating a playback section on the playback time axis of the audio or video data for one or a plurality of content storage means for storing audio or video data;
A bookmark storing step of storing a plurality of bookmarks each associated with identification information indicating a corresponding content storage means for each designated playback section;
A bookmark reading process for sequentially reading the stored bookmarks;
A program for causing the processing device to execute a reproduction process in which the reproduction means reproduces audio or video data in a reproduction section of the content storage means corresponding to the bookmark read in the bookmark reading process.

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