JP2007281945A - Communication system, display control apparatus, display control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely use an image appropriately representing content when displaying the image representing the content. <P>SOLUTION: When information about a program to which a reservation of video recording is set or a program of which video recording has been executed, is transmitted from a video recording device 2-1, a thumbnail image of the program specified by the transmitted information is provided from a thumbnail image providing server 1 to the video recording device 2-1. The thumbnail image managed by the thumbnail image providing server 1 is a still picture to be selected as a picture representing content of each program by a person in charge of production of the program or the like. When displaying a title list in the video recording device 2-1, when a thumbnail image is acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1 as a thumbnail image representing the content of a program, that acquired thumbnail image is used. The present invention may be applicable to a video recording device that performs video recording of a program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, a display control device, a display control method, and a program, and in particular, when displaying an image representing the content, the image representing the content can be reliably used. The present invention relates to a communication system, a display control device, a display control method, and a program.

  In recent years, hybrid recording devices incorporating HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drives have become widespread.

  In such a recording device, when displaying a list of recorded program titles and broadcast dates so that the user can easily check the recorded programs, along with program information such as titles, Some have a function of displaying a still image (thumbnail image) obtained by capturing one scene of a program.

  The capture of the still image is generally performed by the recording device itself using the data of the recorded program. At this time, in order to obtain a still image that appropriately represents the content, The technology that determines the position to be captured based on information sent from a server connected via a network, and the scene immediately after the start of recording is the CM (Commercial Message) scene before the main program starts In many cases, instead of targeting the scene immediately after the start of recording as a target for capture, various technologies such as a technique for capturing a scene after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of recording are proposed. Has been.

  In Patent Document 1, based on audience rating information acquired from a server on a network, a portion having a high audience rating among recorded programs of a recording device is selected as a target for capture. A technique for obtaining a still image used for display is disclosed.

Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for creating an index image from a scene at the same position of a related program broadcast in a predetermined cycle in accordance with stored position information.
JP 2004-326971 A JP 2004-222268 A

  However, there is a problem that even with various techniques as described above, it is not always possible to obtain a still image that appropriately represents the contents of a program.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a still image is generated by capturing a scene of a program with a high audience rating, a high audience rating is not necessarily recorded immediately after the main program ends. A scene with a high audience rating is not necessarily a scene that appropriately represents the contents of a program.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and when displaying an image representing the content, it is possible to reliably use an image that appropriately represents the content.

  The communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a display control apparatus and an information management apparatus connected via a network. Among these, the display control device includes a generation unit that generates a first image representing the content of the content, and a screen that displays a list of the content information including the first image generated by the generation unit When the second image representing the content is acquired from the information management device by transmitting information related to the content to the information management device, a list of the content information is displayed. A display control means for displaying a screen on which information including the second image is displayed as a list instead of the first image, and the information management device is configured to display a second content representing content content. Among the second images stored in the storage means and the storage means for storing the images, the display control device displays a list of information. The second image representing the contents of the Ceiling and transmitting means for transmitting to the display control device.

  A display control apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is a display control apparatus connected to an information management apparatus via a network, generating means for generating a first image representing the content of content, and generating by the generating means A second image representing the content of the content by displaying a screen on which a list of the content information including the first image is displayed and transmitting information on the content to the information management device Is acquired from the information management device, a screen on which information including the second image is displayed in place of the first image is displayed as a screen on which the content information is displayed as a list. Display control means.

  The second image may be an image selected by the content creator as an image representing the content.

  The content may be a program that has been recorded. In this case, the generation means can generate the first image representing the content of the program based on the data of the program that has been recorded.

  The display control method or program according to the second aspect of the present invention generates a first image representing the content and displays a screen on which a list of the content information including the generated first image is displayed. In addition, when a second image representing the content is acquired from the information management device by transmitting information related to the content to the information management device, a screen on which the content information is displayed as a list is displayed. And displaying a screen on which information including the second image is displayed in a list instead of the first image.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, a first image representing the content is generated, and a screen on which a list of the content information including the generated first image is displayed is displayed. When a second image representing the content is acquired from the information management device by transmitting information related to the content to the information management device, a screen on which the content information is displayed as a list is displayed. Instead of the first image, a screen displaying a list of information including the second image is displayed.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, among the second images stored by the storage unit, the second image representing the contents of the content whose information is displayed as a list by the display control device is the display. Sent to the control device.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, a first image representing the content is generated, and a screen on which the content information including the generated first image is displayed as a list is displayed. In addition, when a second image representing the content is acquired from the information management device by transmitting information related to the content to the information management device, a screen on which the content information is displayed as a list is displayed. Instead of the first image, a screen displaying a list of information including the second image is displayed.

  According to the present invention, when an image representing the content is displayed, an image that appropriately represents the content can be reliably used.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between the constituent elements of the present invention and the embodiments described in the specification or the drawings are exemplified as follows. This description is intended to confirm that the embodiments supporting the present invention are described in the specification or the drawings. Therefore, even if there is an embodiment which is described in the specification or the drawings but is not described here as an embodiment corresponding to the constituent elements of the present invention, that is not the case. It does not mean that the form does not correspond to the constituent requirements. On the contrary, even if an embodiment is described herein as corresponding to the invention, this does not mean that the embodiment does not correspond to other than the configuration requirements. .

  The communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a display control apparatus and an information management apparatus connected via a network. Among them, the display control device has substantially the same configuration as the display control device according to the second aspect of the present invention. Further, the information management apparatus (for example, the thumbnail image providing server 1 in FIG. 1) includes a storage unit (for example, the thumbnail image DB 32 in FIG. 5) that stores a second image representing the content contents, and the storage unit. Out of the stored second images, transmission means (for example, the thumbnail of FIG. 5) that transmits the second image representing the contents of the content whose information is displayed as a list by the display control device. An image management unit 31).

  The display control device according to the second aspect of the present invention is a first image representing the content of content in a display control device (for example, the recording device 2-1 in FIG. 1) connected to the information management device via a network. A generating unit (for example, the recorded program information management unit 72 in FIG. 8) and a screen on which a list of the content information including the first image generated by the generating unit is displayed. When a second image representing the content is acquired from the information management device by transmitting information related to the content to the information management device, the content information is displayed as a screen as a list. In place of the first image, display control means (for example, the display control unit 71 in FIG. 8) that displays a screen on which information including the second image is displayed as a list is provided. .

  The display control method or program according to the second aspect of the present invention generates a first image representing the content and displays a screen on which a list of the content information including the generated first image is displayed. In addition, when a second image representing the content is acquired from the information management device by transmitting information related to the content to the information management device, a screen on which the content information is displayed as a list is displayed. The method includes a step of displaying a screen on which information including the second image is displayed in place of the first image (for example, step S21 in FIG. 12).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this communication system is configured by connecting a thumbnail image providing server 1 and recording devices 2-1 to 2-n to each other via a network 3 such as the Internet.

  The thumbnail image providing server 1 manages thumbnail images representing the contents of a program broadcast by broadcast waves or a program distributed from a predetermined server connected to the network 3 via the network 3.

  The thumbnail image managed by the thumbnail image providing server 1 is a still image selected as representing the contents of each program by, for example, a person who is involved in the production of the program or a person who manages the thumbnail image providing server 1. . Therefore, the thumbnail images managed by the thumbnail image providing server 1 are mechanically obtained by the recording devices 2-1 to 2-n, such as still images obtained by capturing one scene of a recorded program. It can be said that the image represents the contents of the program more reliably than the still image.

  For example, for a drama or movie program, a single still image including the title of the drama or movie displayed at the beginning is selected as a thumbnail image representing the content, and is managed by the thumbnail image providing server 1. The As for a sport game relay, a thumbnail image representing the content is selected as a single still image showing a large player and managed by the thumbnail image providing server 1.

  When information related to a program is transmitted from the recording devices 2-1 to 2 -n, the thumbnail image providing server 1 sends a thumbnail of the program specified by the transmitted information to the recording device that has transmitted the information. The image is transmitted via the network 3 and provided. From the recording devices 2-1 to 2 -n, for example, recorded program information, which is information related to a program for which recording reservation is set or information related to a program for which recording has been executed, is transmitted.

  The recording devices 2-1 to 2 -n are programs that are broadcast by broadcast waves such as terrestrial analog broadcasts, terrestrial digital broadcasts, BS (Broadcasting Satellite) / CS (Communications Satellite) digital broadcasts, and predetermined networks connected to the network 3. It has a function of receiving and recording a program distributed from the server.

  The recording devices 2-1 to 2-n have a function of playing back a recorded program, and display a recorded program video on a display of a television receiver (not shown) or a sound. Output from the speaker. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the recording device 2-1 will be mainly described. However, the recording devices 2-2 to 2-n have the same configuration as the recording device 2-1, so that the same operation is performed. Done.

  The recording device 2-1 displays a screen of a title list that is a list of information related to a program for which recording has been executed and a program for which recording reservation has been set, together with program information such as a title and broadcast date and time (recording date and time), A screen including thumbnail images representing the contents is displayed.

  At this time, if the thumbnail image is not acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1 as the thumbnail image representing the content of the program, the recording device 2-1 generates itself based on the program data obtained by the recording. On the other hand, when the thumbnail image is acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1, the thumbnail image acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1 is used.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a title list displayed by the recording device 2-1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the title list, for each program, along with program information such as the program title, broadcast station, broadcast date and time, recording time, image quality, and data amount, a thumbnail image is displayed at the left position. Is displayed.

In the example of FIG. 2, on the left side of the program information of the program title “I am a pet“ love infection ””, the recording device 2 is an image representing the content of the program of “I am a pet“ love infection ””. thumbnail image P _1, which is generated by -1 is displayed, on the left side of the program information of the program title "Soccer 'Japan versus Brazil"', as an image representing the contents of the program "Soccer 'Japan versus Brazil"' A thumbnail image P ₂ generated by the recording device 2-1 is displayed.

Similarly, a thumbnail image P ₃ generated by the recording device 2-1 is displayed as an image representing the content of the program “Town of Tokyo” on the left side of the program information of the program title “Town of Tokyo”. on the left side of the program information of the program title "movie" die hard Man, "", "movie" die hard Man, "" thumbnail image P _4, which is generated by the recording apparatus 2-1 as an image representing the contents of the program is displayed ing.

The thumbnail images P _{1 to} P ₄ are generated by capturing a scene immediately after the start of recording, for example. That is, the title list in FIG. 2 shows an example of the title list before the thumbnail image is acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a title list displayed by the recording device 2-1 after the thumbnail image is acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1.

When information related to a program is transmitted to the thumbnail image providing server 1 and a thumbnail image representing the contents of the program is acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1 in accordance with the information, the thumbnail images displayed in the title list are shown in FIG. As described above, the thumbnail images P _{1 to} P ₄ generated by the recording device 2-1 displayed so far are replaced with the thumbnail images P _{11 to} P ₁₄ acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1, respectively.

  Thus, in the title list, the image acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1 that can be said to appropriately represent the contents of the program rather than the thumbnail image generated by the recording device 2-1 is preferentially displayed. become.

In FIG. 3, for example, as a thumbnail image representing the content of the program “I am a pet“ love infection ””, the thumbnail image P _{1 of} FIG. represented, it has been replaced with the thumbnail images P ₁₁ is an image the animal is reflected.

In addition, as a thumbnail image representing the content of the “Soccer“ Japan vs. Brazil ”” program, the thumbnail image P _{2 of} FIG. 2, which is an image showing a baseball game obtained by capturing a CM portion or the like, the contents of the program adequately represented, has been replaced by the thumbnail image P ₁₂ is an image of a soccer game is reflected.

The title list in FIG. 3 is the same as the title list in FIG. 2 except that the thumbnail images are replaced with thumbnail images P _{11 to} P ₁₄ .

  As described above, since an image selected by a person who is involved in the production of a program is used as a thumbnail image displayed in the title list, the user can display an image generated by the recording device 2-1. Compared to the above, it is possible to intuitively confirm the contents of a program for which recording reservation is set or a program for which recording has been executed, from the thumbnail image.

  In order to understand that the thumbnail image displayed in the title list is an image acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1, the edge of the thumbnail image acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1 and displayed in the title list is the recording device. The thumbnail image generated by 2-1 and displayed in the title list may be displayed in a color different from the edge of the thumbnail image.

  Operations of the thumbnail image providing server 1 and the recording device 2-1 will be described later with reference to flowcharts.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the thumbnail image providing server 1.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 or a storage unit 18. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 appropriately stores programs executed by the CPU 11 and data. The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are connected to each other by a bus 14.

  An input / output interface 15 is also connected to the CPU 11 via the bus 14. The input / output interface 15 is connected to an input unit 16 such as a keyboard and a mouse and an output unit 17 such as a display.

  The storage unit 18 connected to the input / output interface 15 includes, for example, a hard disk, and stores programs executed by the CPU 11 and various data. The storage unit 18 also stores thumbnail images representing the contents of the program. The communication unit 19 communicates with an external device such as the recording device 2-1 via the network 3.

  The drive 20 connected to the input / output interface 15 drives a removable medium 21 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and drives the program or data recorded therein. Get etc. The acquired program and data are transferred to and stored in the storage unit 18 as necessary.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the thumbnail image providing server 1. At least a part of the functional units shown in FIG. 5 is realized by the CPU 11 shown in FIG. 4 executing a predetermined program.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the thumbnail image providing server 1, a thumbnail image management unit 31 and a thumbnail image DB 32 are realized.

  The thumbnail image management unit 31 receives an input of a thumbnail image by a person who is involved in the production of a program, and stores the received thumbnail image in the thumbnail image DB 32 for management. The thumbnail image is input by, for example, connecting a personal computer used by a person who has selected the thumbnail image and the thumbnail image providing server 1 via a network, and transmitting the thumbnail image from the personal computer to the thumbnail image providing server 1. Done.

  When information related to a program is transmitted from the recording device 2-1, the thumbnail image management unit 31 controls the communication unit 19 to acquire the thumbnail image, and displays a thumbnail image representing the content of the program specified by the acquired information. Read from the thumbnail image DB 32. The thumbnail image management unit 31 transmits the thumbnail image read from the thumbnail image DB 32 to the recording device 2-1.

  The thumbnail image DB 32 stores thumbnail images according to control by the thumbnail image management unit 31.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of thumbnail image data transmitted from the thumbnail image providing server 1 to the recording device 2-1 when providing a thumbnail image.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the thumbnail image is provided to the recording device 2-1 in a form stored in a packet. One packet for storing a thumbnail image is composed of a data link header, an IP header, a TCP header, and a data portion. Among these, a thumbnail in JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) format provided by the thumbnail image providing server 1 is included. An image is included. As shown in FIG. 6, the data portion also includes “id” that is identification information of the thumbnail image.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the recording device 2-1.

  The recording device 2-1 receives an antenna input terminal 41 to which a signal from an antenna for receiving a terrestrial analog broadcast is input and a signal from an antenna for receiving a digital broadcast (terrestrial digital broadcast, BS / CS digital broadcast). The antenna input terminal 42 is provided. Only one of the terminals may be provided.

  The terrestrial tuner 43 receives and demodulates the broadcast wave signal input to the antenna input terminal 41, and acquires a video signal and an audio signal. The terrestrial tuner 43 outputs the acquired audio signal to an audio A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion circuit 44 and outputs a video signal to the video decoder 45.

  The audio A / D conversion circuit 44 performs A / D conversion processing on the audio signal supplied from the terrestrial tuner 43 and outputs the audio data to an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) encoder 46.

  The video decoder 45 performs a decoding process on the video signal supplied from the terrestrial tuner 43 and outputs video data representing a digital component signal to the MPEG encoder 46.

  The MPEG encoder 46 converts the audio data supplied from the audio A / D conversion circuit 44 and the video data supplied from the video decoder 45 into, for example, data in the MPEG2 format, and the obtained MPEG-TS (MPEG-Transport Stream) Is output to an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) I / F 52 via the internal bus 47.

  The digital tuner 48 receives and demodulates the broadcast wave signal input to the antenna input terminal 42, and acquires MPEG-TS. The digital tuner 48 outputs MPEG-TS including video data and audio data of a program to be recorded to the IDE I / F 52 via the internal bus 47.

  When the MPEG-TS, which is the recorded program data, is read out by the HDD 53 and supplied via the IDE I / F 52 and the internal bus 47, the MPEG decoder 49 decodes it and converts the obtained video data into the OSD. Output to (On Screen Display) 50. When displaying the title list, the MPEG decoder 49 also acquires, for example, thumbnail images and program information read from the flash memory 60 via the internal bus 47 and the like, and outputs them to the OSD 50.

  The MPEG decoder 49 decodes MPEG-TS and outputs the obtained audio data to an external television receiver or the like. In the television receiver, the audio data supplied from the MPEG decoder 49 is subjected to D / A conversion processing and amplification processing, adjusted to a predetermined volume, and then the audio of the recorded program is output from the speaker. Is done.

  The OSD 50 outputs the video data of the recorded program supplied from the MPEG decoder 49 to the television receiver. Further, the OSD 50 appropriately superimposes the video data of the title list generated based on the thumbnail image supplied from the MPEG decoder 49 or the recorded program information on the video data of the recorded program, as shown in FIGS. The video data for realizing the user interface as shown in FIG. 6 is generated, and the generated video data is output to the television receiver. In the television receiver, the video of the recorded program and the title list are displayed based on the video data supplied from the OSD 50.

  In addition to the MPEG encoder 46, digital tuner 48, and MPEG decoder 49, the CPU 51, IDE I / F 52, and network I / F 55 are connected to the internal bus 47. A light receiving unit 58, SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 57, and flash memory 60 are connected to the CPU 51 via a CPU bus 57, and an HDD 53 and a DVD drive 54 are connected to the IDE I / F 52. In FIG. 7, the internal bus 47 and the CPU bus 57 are provided separately, but each part connected to the internal bus 47 and the CPU bus 57 may be connected to one common bus. Good.

  The CPU 51 develops and executes the program stored in the flash memory 60 on the SDRAM 59, and performs the entire operation of the recording device 2-1 according to the control code supplied from the light receiving unit 58 via the CPU bus 57. Control.

  The IDE I / F 52 controls the HDD 53 and the DVD drive 54 according to the control of the CPU 51. For example, when the MPEG-TS of the program to be recorded is supplied from the MPEG encoder 46 or the digital tuner 48 via the internal bus 47. , It is stored in the HDD 53. When playing back a recorded program, the IDE I / F 52 reads the MPEG-TS of the program stored in the HDD 53 and outputs it to the MPEG decoder 49 via the internal bus 47.

  The IDE I / F 52 reads the MPEG-TS of the recorded program from the HDD 53, outputs it to the DVD drive 54, and copies the program data to the DVD mounted on the tray provided in the casing of the recording device 2-1. Or move it.

  The network I / F 55 is connected to the network 3 via a cable attached to the network terminal 56 and transmits / receives data to / from the thumbnail image providing server 1 connected to the network 3. For example, when the recorded program information, which is information on a program for which recording reservation is set or a program for which recording has been executed, is supplied from the CPU 51 via the internal bus 47, the network I / F 55 uses the thumbnail image providing server. 1 to send. Further, when the thumbnail image data is transmitted from the thumbnail image providing server 1 via the network 3, the network I / F 55 receives it and outputs it to the CPU 51 via the internal bus 47.

  The light receiving unit 58 receives infrared rays from the remote controller 61 and outputs a control code representing the contents of the user operation obtained by demodulation to the CPU 51 via the CPU bus 57.

  The SDRAM 59 stores various data necessary for the CPU 51 to perform processing.

  The flash memory 60 stores a program executed by the CPU 51. The program stored in the flash memory 60 is read by the CPU 51 at a predetermined timing such as when the recording device 2-1 is activated, and is expanded and executed in the SDRAM 59.

  The flash memory 60 stores not only EPG data acquired via digital broadcasting and EPG data acquired from a predetermined server via the network 3, but also thumbnail images acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1. The The EPG data stored in the flash memory 60 is read out by the CPU 51 not only when displaying the program table but also when displaying the program information in the title list.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the recording device 2-1. At least a part of the functional units shown in FIG. 8 is realized by executing a predetermined program by the CPU 51 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the recording device 2-1, a display control unit 71, a recorded program information management unit 72, and a recorded program information DB 73 are realized.

  The display control unit 71 controls the MPEG decoder 49 and the OSD 50 to control the display of the program video and title list. For example, when displaying a title list, the display control unit 71 displays recorded program information, which is information related to a program for which recording reservation is set or a program for which recording has been executed, and a thumbnail image is a recorded program information management unit. 72.

  The recorded program information management unit 72 acquires the program information of the target program from the EPG data stored in the flash memory 60 when the recording reservation is set or the recording is executed, and the acquired program information The recorded program information, which is information of those programs, is generated based on the above. Further, the recorded program information management unit 72 associates the generated recorded program information with the thumbnail image generated by itself based on the data of the program stored in the HDD 53 by recording, in the recorded program information DB 73. Remember me.

  The recorded program information management unit 72 reads the recorded program information stored in the recorded program information DB 73 at a predetermined timing, controls the network I / F 55, and transmits the read recorded program information to the thumbnail image providing server 1. To do. When a thumbnail image is transmitted from the thumbnail image providing server 1 in response to transmitting the recorded program information, the recorded program information management unit 72 acquires it and associates it with the recorded program information in the recorded program information DB 73. The thumbnail image to be stored is replaced with the thumbnail image acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1 from the thumbnail image generated by itself.

  When displaying the title list, the recorded program information management unit 72 reads the recorded program information and thumbnail images stored in association with the recorded program information from the recorded program information DB 73, and displays the read recorded program information and thumbnail images on the display control unit 71. Output to.

  The recorded program information DB 73 stores recorded program information and thumbnail images in association with each other under the control of the recorded program information management unit 72.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of recorded program information transmitted from the recording device 2-1 to the thumbnail image providing server 1 when receiving a thumbnail image.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the recorded program information is transmitted to the thumbnail image providing server 1 in a packetized form. One packet of recorded program information is composed of a data link header, an IP header, a TCP header, and a data part. Among these, program information related to a program for which recording reservation is set or a program for which recording has been executed is recorded. Described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, “id”, “service_id”, “original_network_id”, “event_id” are described in the data portion, or “id”, “area”, “channel”, “Start time” is described. The former “id”, “service_id”, “original_network_id”, and “event_id” are described when the target program is a digital broadcast program, for example, and the latter “id”, “area”, “channel”, The “start time” is described, for example, when the target program is an analog broadcast program.

  “Id” is identification information of the recording device 2-1.

  “Service_id” is identification information of a broadcast service of a program for which the recording device 2-1 has set a recording reservation or a program for which recording has been executed. “Original_network_id” is a program for which the recording device 2-1 has set a recording reservation. And the program that has been recorded is a network provided by which of the terrestrial and BS / CS networks. “Event_id” is identification information (event identification information) of a program for which the recording apparatus 2-1 has set a recording reservation or a program that has performed recording. That is, by “service_id”, “original_network_id”, and “event_id”, it is specified which program of digital broadcasting is a program for which recording reservation is set or a program for which recording has been executed.

  Note that “service_id”, “original_network_id”, and “event_id” are, for example, EIT (Event Information Table) included in SI (Service Information) of digital broadcasting (for example, ARIB (Association of Radio Industries and Businesses) standard STD- B10) and is described in the data part.

  “Area” represents an area where the recording device 2-1 is installed, and “channel” represents a channel number for broadcasting a program for which the recording device 2-1 has set a recording reservation or a program for which recording has been performed. . “Start time” represents the broadcast start time of a program for which the recording apparatus 2-1 has set recording reservation or a program for which recording has been executed. Therefore, “area”, “channel”, and “start time” specify which analog broadcast program is a program for which recording reservation is set or a program for which recording has been executed.

  “Area”, “channel”, and “start time” are extracted from, for example, EPG data inserted in a VBI (Vertical Blanking Interval) section of analog broadcasting and described in the data portion. The EPG data inserted in the VBI section includes the program start time, category, identification information, title, detailed information, and the like.

  Recorded program information having such a structure is generated by the recorded program information management unit 72 and transmitted to the thumbnail image providing server 1.

  Next, operations of the thumbnail image providing server 1 and the recording device 2-1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  First, the processing of the recording device 2-1 for transmitting recorded program information to the thumbnail image providing server 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S1, the recorded program information management unit 72 (FIG. 8) of the recording device 2-1 determines whether or not a recording reservation has been set or a recording has been executed. If it is determined that it has not been executed, the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the recorded program information management unit 72 determines in step S1 that the recording reservation has been set or the recording has been executed, the process proceeds to step S2, and the program information of the target program is stored in the flash memory, for example. 60 is obtained from the EPG data stored in 60.

  In the EPG data, when the target program is a program broadcast by digital broadcasting, “service_id”, “original_network_id”, “event_id” are described, and when the target program is a program broadcast by analog broadcasting, “Area”, “channel”, and “start time” are described. The recorded program information management unit 72 generates recorded program information having a structure as shown in FIG. 9 based on the program information.

  At this time, the recorded program information management unit 72 generates a thumbnail image by itself and stores the generated thumbnail image in the recorded program information DB 73 in association with the recorded program information.

  When the recording reservation is set, for example, a black image (an image in which nothing is shown) is generated as a thumbnail image, and the black image thumbnail image is stored in the recorded program information DB 73 in association with the recorded program information. When recording is performed, for example, a still image obtained by capturing a frame immediately after the start of recording is used as a thumbnail image, and the thumbnail image is stored in the recorded program information DB 73 in association with the recorded program information. Is done.

  In step S <b> 3, the recorded program information management unit 72 controls the network I / F 55 to transmit the recorded program information to the thumbnail image providing server 1.

  In the thumbnail image providing server 1, in response to the reception of the recorded program information transmitted here, the contents of the program for which recording reservation has been set in the recording device 2-1 or the program for which recording has been executed are displayed. When the thumbnail image to be represented is searched and there is a thumbnail image, thumbnail image data including the thumbnail image obtained by the search is transmitted to the recording device 2-1.

  In step S4, the recorded program information management unit 72 determines whether or not the thumbnail image data transmitted from the thumbnail image providing server 1 has been received by the network I / F 55. End.

  If the recorded program information management unit 72 determines in step S4 that the thumbnail image data transmitted from the thumbnail image providing server 1 has been received, the recorded program information management unit 72 proceeds to step S5 and associates it with the recorded program information in the recorded program information DB 73. The thumbnail image to be stored is replaced with the thumbnail image acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1 from the thumbnail image generated by itself. Thereafter, the process is terminated.

  Next, processing of the thumbnail image providing server 1 that transmits thumbnail image data to the recording device 2-1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11.

  In step S11, the thumbnail image management unit 31 (FIG. 5) of the thumbnail image providing server 1 determines whether or not the recorded program information transmitted from the recording device 2-1 has been received.

  If the thumbnail image management unit 31 determines in step S11 that the recorded program information has not been received, the thumbnail image management unit 31 ends the process. If the thumbnail image management unit 31 determines that the recorded program information has been received, the thumbnail image management unit 31 proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, the thumbnail image management unit 31 searches the thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail image DB 32 for a thumbnail image representing the content of the program specified by the information described in the recorded program information. For example, program identification information indicating which program contents each thumbnail image represents is added to the thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail image DB 32.

  In step S13, the thumbnail image management unit 31 sets a recording reservation in the recording device 2-1, which is specified by the target thumbnail image, that is, information described in the recorded program information, based on the search result. It is determined whether there is a thumbnail image representing the contents of the recorded program or the recorded program.

  If the thumbnail image management unit 31 determines in step S13 that there is a target thumbnail image, the thumbnail image management unit 31 proceeds to step S14 and stores the thumbnail image obtained by the search and has a structure as shown in FIG. Generate data.

  On the other hand, if the thumbnail image management unit 31 determines in step S13 that there is no target thumbnail image, the process proceeds to step S15 to generate thumbnail image data. No image is stored in the thumbnail image data generated here, and in the recording device 2-1 that has received the thumbnail image data in which no image is stored, the thumbnail image managed in association with the recorded program information is stored. There is no replacement.

  In step S16, the thumbnail image management unit 31 transmits the thumbnail image data generated in step S14 or step S15 to the recording device 2-1, and ends the processing.

  In the recording device 2-1, the thumbnail image managed in association with the recorded program information is appropriately replaced based on the thumbnail image data transmitted here (step S5 in FIG. 10).

  Next, processing of the recording device 2-1 for displaying the title list will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When a predetermined button provided on the remote controller 61 is pressed and the user instructs to display the title list, the display control unit 71 of the recording device 2-1 controls the MPEG decoder 49 and the OSD 50 to record the recorded program. A title list is displayed on the television receiver based on the recorded program information and thumbnail images supplied from the information management unit 72.

  When it is instructed to display the title list, the recorded program information management unit 72 outputs the recorded program information and thumbnail images stored in the recorded program information DB 73 to the display control unit 71. When a thumbnail image is acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1 as a thumbnail image output from the recorded program information management unit 72 to the display control unit 71, it is output, and the thumbnail image is acquired from the thumbnail image providing server 1. If not, a thumbnail image generated by the recorded program information management unit 72 is output.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, thumbnail images that appropriately represent the contents of the program are reliably displayed in the title list.

  In the above, the case where the information displayed in the title list is information on a program for which recording reservation has been set or information on a program on which recording has been executed has been described, but also when displaying information on various contents, The display of the list as described above can be applied. For example, if the recording device that recorded the sound itself represents the recorded music and displays it on the list, after acquiring the still image from the server, replace the still image generated by the server with the server. The acquired still image may be displayed.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, it is installed from a program recording medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a program recording medium that stores a program that is installed in a computer and can be executed by the computer is a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only). Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magneto-optical disk, a removable medium 21 which is a package medium made of a semiconductor memory, or the like, a ROM 12 in which a program is temporarily or permanently stored, or a storage unit 18 It is comprised by the hard disk etc. which comprise. The program is stored in the program recording medium using a wired or wireless communication medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting via a communication unit 19 that is an interface such as a router or a modem as necessary. Done.

  In the present specification, the steps for describing a program are not only processes performed in time series in the order described, but also processes that are executed in parallel or individually even if they are not necessarily processed in time series. Is also included.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a title list. It is a figure which shows the other example of a title list. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of a thumbnail image provision server. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a thumbnail image provision server. It is a figure which shows the example of the data structure of thumbnail image data. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of a video recording apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a video recording apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the data structure of recorded program information. It is a flowchart explaining the recorded program information transmission process of a recording device. It is a flowchart explaining the thumbnail image data transmission processing of the thumbnail image providing server. It is a flowchart explaining the display processing of a video recording apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thumbnail image provision server, 2-1 thru | or 2-n recording device, 3 Network, 31 Thumbnail image management part, 32 Thumbnail image DB, 71 Display control part, 72 Recorded program information management part, 73 Recorded program information DB

Claims (6)

In a communication system consisting of a display control device and an information management device connected via a network,
The display control device includes:
Generating means for generating a first image representing the content,
By displaying a screen on which a list of information on the content including the first image generated by the generation unit is displayed, and transmitting information on the content to the information management apparatus, When the second image to be represented is acquired from the information management apparatus, a list of information including the second image is displayed instead of the first image as a screen on which the content information is displayed as a list. Display control means for displaying a screen to be displayed,
The information management device includes:
Storage means for storing a second image representing the content,
Transmission means for transmitting, to the display control device, the second image representing the content of the content whose information is displayed as a list by the display control device among the second images stored in the storage means. Communications system. In a display control device connected to an information management device via a network,
Generating means for generating a first image representing the content,
By displaying a screen on which a list of information on the content including the first image generated by the generation unit is displayed, and transmitting information on the content to the information management apparatus, When the second image to be represented is acquired from the information management apparatus, a list of information including the second image is displayed instead of the first image as a screen on which the content information is displayed as a list. A display control device comprising display control means for displaying a screen. The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second image is an image selected by a creator of the content as an image representing content details. The content is a program that has been recorded,
The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the generation unit generates the first image representing the content of a program based on data of a program that has been recorded. In a display control method for a display control device connected to an information management device via a network,
Generating a first image representing the content,
A second image representing the contents of the content is displayed by displaying a screen on which a list of information on the content including the generated first image is displayed and transmitting information on the content to the information management device. Is acquired from the information management device, a screen on which information including the second image is displayed in place of the first image is displayed as a screen on which the content information is displayed as a list. A display control method including steps. In a program for causing a computer to execute display control processing of a display control device connected to an information management device via a network,
Generating a first image representing the content,
A second image representing the contents of the content is displayed by displaying a screen on which a list of information on the content including the generated first image is displayed and transmitting information on the content to the information management device. Is acquired from the information management device, a screen on which information including the second image is displayed in place of the first image is displayed as a screen on which the content information is displayed as a list. A program that includes steps.

Images