JP2008102883A - Host device, database management system, database management method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a host device to select correspondence/non-correspondence for each function and easily add a new function in updating the DB of each function owned by a device. <P>SOLUTION: The host device 10 comprises a device information acquisition part 136 for acquiring, from the device 20, identification information of each function to which the device 20 corresponds and version information of the function; a host information acquisition part 156 for acquiring, from a function information storage part 154 of the host device 10, identification information of each function to which the host device 10 corresponds and version information of the function; an update function extraction part 158 for extracting, based on the information acquired by the device information acquisition part 136 and the host information acquisition part 156, a function to which the host device 10 can correspond of each function to which the device 20 corresponds as an update object function; a DB update part 160 for updating a DB corresponding to the update object function in the device 20; and a log recording part 162 for recording a log showing the update result to the device 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a host device, a database management system, a database management method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a recording / reproducing apparatus provided with a large-capacity storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a semiconductor memory as a recording / reproducing apparatus for digital content data (hereinafter simply referred to as “content”) such as music content data. Has been developed. As such a recording / reproducing apparatus, not only a host device such as a personal computer (PC) that can be easily mounted with a storage medium having a relatively large storage capacity and a processor having a high processing capacity, but also a small and portable portable device. A device such as a portable device (Portable Device: PD) is also widespread. Such a device can store a huge number of contents (for example, several hundred to several tens of thousands of songs) as the storage capacity of the storage medium increases.

  In general, a usage method is used in which content is transferred from the host device to the device, and the content is played back on the device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for easily transferring a large amount of music content from an audio server to a portable audio player.

  As described above, when a large amount of content is transferred to a device such as a portable playback device and played back, the device quickly searches for the content desired to be played from the large amount of content stored in the storage medium. It needs to be possible. A conventional device has a relational database (RDB) that lists contents and attribute information (title, album name, artist name, etc.), and queries this RDB based on a search key. A search display database (search display table or the like) is created, and a search display screen in which attribute information of contents is classified and displayed is generated. For example, when artist name 1 is used as a search key, a table in which album names are rearranged by searching with artist name 1 is created and displayed.

  However, in general, a device is limited in that it has a lower processing capacity and a smaller power supply capacity than a host device such as a PC. Therefore, since the process for creating the search display database has a high calculation load, when this process is performed by the device, there is a problem that not only is it time-consuming and complicated, but also a large amount of battery power is consumed.

  Therefore, a device is connected to a host device with high processing capacity and low power constraints, and a device search display database is created and maintained by the host device (the database is updated in accordance with addition / deletion of contents to the device). The method is adopted. Thus, there is an advantage that a plurality of search display databases possessed by the device can be quickly created and maintained regardless of power restrictions.

JP 2001-93226 A

  By the way, in recent years, in the above devices, as a search function for contents, not only a general search function (for example, normal search by artist name, album name, genre, etc.) but also a special function for improving user convenience. Search functions (for example, advanced searches based on links between similar artists, content playback history, transfer order to devices, etc.) have been developed one after another, and are implemented in devices as new functions.

  However, these special search functions are not indispensable functions and depend on the preference of each user. Therefore, the lifetime of each function is relatively short, and generational changes and version upgrades of each function can occur relatively frequently. In addition, in order to realize a special search function, it is necessary to store a database for the function in the device. However, in a device with a small storage capacity, the storage capacity for contents is limited, and Since the maintenance time also becomes longer, there has been a demand for non-supporting functions unnecessary for the user.

  However, the conventional database format is designed to handle the plurality of special search functions as a whole, and the database of each function in the device is also maintained in a batch by the host device. As described above, the conventional database format has a problem that the special functions cannot be selected in the host apparatus and the device.

  In the above conventional database format, when a host device equipped with a new function and a device not equipped with a new function are connected, or vice versa, the host device function and the device function are not connected. It is difficult to have compatibility, and the host device cannot properly maintain the device database. Furthermore, when the host device is a device with limited processing capability such as an HDD component, it cannot be expected that existing functions are frequently upgraded like a PC. As described above, since it is difficult for an existing host device to cope with a new device to which a new function is added, it has been a factor that hinders the addition of a new function.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to support / not support each function when the database of each function of the device is updated by the host device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved host device, database management system, database management method, and program which can be selected and can easily add a new function.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host device that updates a database included in a connected device: from the device, identification information of one or more functions to which the device corresponds; A device information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the version of the function; identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the host device from the function information storage unit of the host device, and information indicating the version of the function A host information acquisition unit that acquires the function; a function that can be supported by the host device among the functions that the device supports based on the information acquired by the device information acquisition unit and the information acquired by the host information acquisition unit Function extraction unit that extracts a function as an update target function; and a database update unit that updates a database corresponding to the update target function in the device ; A log recording unit that records log indicating the update result of the database updating unit in the device; characterized in that it comprises a host device is provided.

  The function is a search function for searching a plurality of content data stored in the device, and the database is a search display database in which attribute information of the plurality of content data is classified according to the search function. The device has a search display database corresponding to one or two or more search functions corresponding to the device, and the database update unit of the host device adds, deletes, or stores content data for the device. The search display database in the device may be updated for each update target function in accordance with the update of the attribute information.

  In addition, the database update unit is configured to store content data newly added from the host device to the device in a database corresponding to the function that cannot be supported by the host device among the functions supported by the device. The identification information may be registered as unclassified information.

  The database update unit may update the database of the update target function using the unclassified information when the unclassified information is registered in advance in the update target function database of the device.

  The device may store a plurality of databases corresponding to the functions, and the database update unit may update the plurality of databases corresponding to the update target functions in the device.

  The host device further includes a communication unit capable of communicating with an external device that provides information necessary for update processing by the database update unit, and when the communication unit is unable to communicate with the external device, the database update unit The database corresponding to the update target function may not be updated.

  Also, when one of the functions to be updated needs to update the database using information acquired from the external device via the communication unit, the communication unit cannot communicate with the external device. The database update unit may not update the database corresponding to one function.

  Further, the update function extracting unit is based on major version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the device information acquiring unit and major version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the host information acquiring unit. A function that can be supported by the host device may be extracted as an update target function.

  The update function extraction unit is based on minor version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the device information acquisition unit and minor version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the host information acquisition unit. A function that can be supported by the host device may be extracted as an update target function.

  In addition, the log recording unit records a device update date and time that is the date and time when the database update unit performs an update process on the device, a function update date and time that is a date and time when the database is updated for each update target function, and a host device The version information of the update target function on the side may be recorded in the device.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a database management system is provided in which a database included in a device is updated by a host device that can be connected to the device. In this database management system, the device corresponds to each function corresponding to the device; and a function information storage unit that stores identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the device and information indicating the version of the function. A terminal storage unit that stores the database; and a function execution unit that executes each function corresponding to the device using the database stored in the terminal storage unit. The host device has a device information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of each function supported by the device and information indicating the version of the function from the device; 1 from the function information storage unit of the host device Or a host information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of two or more functions and information indicating the version of the function; based on information acquired by the device information acquisition unit and information acquired by the host information acquisition unit An update function extraction unit that extracts, as an update target function, a function that can be supported by the host device among functions supported by the device; a database update unit that updates a database corresponding to the update target function in the terminal storage unit of the device; A log recording unit for recording in the device a log indicating an update result by the database updating unit.

  The function execution unit of the device may control each function corresponding to the device based on a log indicating the update result recorded by the log recording unit of the host device.

  In addition, the log recording unit records a device update date and time that is the date and time when the database update unit performs an update process on the device, a function update date and time that is a date and time when the database is updated for each update target function, and a host device The function execution unit records the version information of the function to be updated on the device side on the device, and the function execution unit functions based on the comparison result between the device update date and time and the function update date and time. May be specified.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a database update method for updating a database included in a device by a host device connectable to the device: A device information acquisition step of acquiring identification information of one or more functions and information indicating a version of the function; identification of one or more functions corresponding to the host apparatus from the function information storage unit of the host apparatus A host information acquisition step for acquiring information and information indicating the version of the function; each of which the device corresponds to based on the information acquired by the device information acquisition step and the information acquired by the host information acquisition step An update function extraction step of extracting a function that can be supported by the host device as an update target function from among the functions; There is provided a database update method comprising: a database update step for updating a database corresponding to an update target function in a chair; and a log recording step for recording a log indicating an update result in the database update step in a device. The

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host apparatus that updates a database of a device connected to a computer: from a device to one or more corresponding devices A device information acquisition unit that acquires the function identification information and information indicating the version of the function; from the function information storage unit of the host device, identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the host device; A host information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the version of the function; a host of each function supported by the device based on the information acquired by the device information acquisition unit and the information acquired by the host information acquisition unit Update function extraction unit that extracts functions that can be supported by the device as update target functions; updates the database corresponding to the update target functions in the device That the database updating unit and; a log indicating the update result of the database update unit and the log recording unit that records the device; program for functioning as a host device equipped with is provided.

  Note that the detailed features of the database management system, the database update method, and the program are the same as the detailed features of the host device described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  According to the present invention, when the database of each function of the device is updated by the host device, it is possible to select corresponding / non-support for each function and to easily add a new function.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

(First embodiment)
The host device, device, database management system, database management method, and program according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

<System configuration>
First, the overall configuration of the database management system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the database management system 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the database management system 100 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a plurality of host devices 10A, 10B,... (Hereinafter may be collectively referred to as “host device 10”). Of the devices 20A, 20B,... (Hereinafter may be collectively referred to as “device 20”), a content distribution server 30 for distributing content, a network 5, a local line 9, and A wireless communication path and a storage medium 7 are included.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the content includes, for example, audio content such as music, a lecture, and a radio program, a moving image such as a movie, a television program, and a video program, or a photograph, a painting, a chart, and the like. It may be arbitrary digital content data such as video (Video) content including a still image, electronic book (E-book), game, software, and the like. Hereinafter, examples of audio content, particularly music content (music) distributed from the content distribution server 30 or music content (music) ripped from a music CD will be described as content, but the present invention is applied. It is not limited to examples. Further, the content according to the present embodiment may be, for example, copyright management target content, that is, content that is copyright-managed by various copyright management methods such as a check-in / check-out method and a group management method. Alternatively, the content may not be copyright-managed.

  The host device 10 is an information processing device capable of recording and reproducing content, and has a communication function via the network 5. The host device 10 functions as a host that provides various data such as contents and attribute information to the device 20 as a terminal. As shown in the figure, the host device 10 is, for example, a computer device (a laptop computer or a desktop computer) such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 10A, or a stationary recording / reproducing device. It is comprised with HDD component 10B etc. which are. However, the host device 10 is not limited to such an example, and if it is an information processing device having a communication function via the network 5, for example, it is configured by a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a home game machine, an information appliance, etc. You can also.

  The host device 10 can be connected to an external device such as the content distribution server 30 via the network 5, for example. The network 5 is a communication line network that connects a plurality of host devices 10 and the content distribution server 30 so that bidirectional communication is possible. The network 5 is, for example, a public line network such as the Internet, a telephone line network, a satellite communication network, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), an IP-VPN (Internet Protocol-Virtual Private Network), etc. It consists of a dedicated network and can be wired or wireless. In addition to the content distribution server 30, there may be a server device that provides information (for example, artist link information) used for a content search function, which will be described later, on the network 5.

  For example, the host device 10 can install software for content distribution service and software for ripping content sharing service. Thereby, the host device 10 can acquire the content distributed from the content distribution server 30 (hereinafter, “distributed content”) and record the distributed content in a storage medium such as the storage device or the removable storage medium 7. .

  Further, the host device 10 can newly create content by, for example, self-recording (self-recording, recording, etc.) or ripping, and record the content in the storage device or the removable storage medium 7. Self-recording refers to recording video / audio or the like imaged / sound collected by the imaging device / sound collecting device of the host device 10 itself as video / sound digital data. Ripping is a file format that can be extracted by digital content data (audio data, video data, etc.) recorded on a storage medium such as a music CD, video DVD, or software CD-ROM, and can be processed by a computer. Is recorded in the storage device or the storage medium 7.

  Further, the host device 10 transmits / receives the distribution content and the ripped content to / from other host devices 10 or devices 20 via a wireless communication path such as the network 5, the local line 9, or a wireless LAN, or is removable. Communication is possible via the storage medium 7. As a result, content can be provided / acquired and shared among the plurality of host devices 10 and devices 20.

  The removable storage medium 7 is a storage medium that stores various data such as content attribute information and is detachable from the host device 10 or the device 20. For example, the removable storage medium 7 is a DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R. , CD-RW, various types of optical disks such as magneto-optical disks, flexible disks, magnetic disks such as hard disks, and various semiconductor memories. The removable storage medium 7 may be, for example, a storage medium with a copyright management function that restricts copying and reproduction of content using an encryption key or the like.

  The device 20 is a playback device capable of playing back content. For example, the device 20 includes a portable device (Portable Device: hereinafter referred to as “PD”) that is a portable playback device. More specifically, the device 20 is configured by a portable audio player including a hard disk drive (HDD) or a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, but is not limited to such an example. Various portable terminals such as an audio player, a portable game machine, a PDA, a cellular phone, and a PHS may be used, and a stationary information processing apparatus may be used. The storage medium built in the device 20 or the removable storage medium 7 that can be attached to the device 20 is a randomly accessible storage such as a hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, flash memory, FeRAM, or magnetic memory. Any medium can be used. The device 20 may be a content reproduction dedicated machine or a recording / reproducing apparatus. In addition, the device 20 may have a communication function via the network 5.

  The device 20 can be wired / wirelessly connected to the host apparatus 10 via a local communication line such as the local line 9 or a wireless LAN, and can communicate various data with the host apparatus 10. is there. The local line 9 is configured by, for example, a wired cable such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) cable, or the like.

  By connecting the device 20 to the host device 10, content can be transferred from the host device 10 to the device 20 and recorded on the recording medium of the device 20. For example, if the device 20A is connected to the host device 10A, the device 20A can acquire the contents of the host device 10A. Similarly, if the device 20A is connected to the host device 10B, the device 20A is connected to the host device 10B. You can also get the content you have. The device 20 can reproduce the content transferred from the host device 10 in this way and the content provided by the removable storage medium 7. Furthermore, the device 20 has various search functions in order to search for contents that the user desires to reproduce from among a plurality of contents stored in its own storage medium. This search function will be described later.

  The content distribution server 30 is configured by a computer device having a server function. The content distribution server 30 functions as a server that provides a content distribution service, for example, an EMD server that provides an electronic music distribution (EMD) service. The content distribution server 30 distributes content to the host device 10 via the network 5 in response to a distribution request from the host device 10. At this time, the content distribution server 30 compresses and encodes the music content to be distributed by a compression encoding method such as an ATRAC3 (Advanced Transform Acoustic Coding) method or an MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3) method. The data is encrypted by an encryption method such as Encryption Standard) and then distributed to the host device 10. Further, the content distribution server 30 encrypts the content key for decrypting the distribution content together with the encrypted distribution content, and transmits the encrypted content key to the host device 10. Further, the content distribution server 30 performs billing processing for the user who purchased the content in accordance with the distribution of the content.

  The schematic configuration of the database management system 100 according to the present embodiment has been described above with reference to FIG. In the database management system 100, a plurality of contents can be transferred from the host device 10 to the device 20 and stored in the storage medium of the device 20. Further, the device 20 has a plurality of types of content search functions so that the user can easily search for desired content from among a large number of contents stored in the storage medium of the device 20. In order to execute the plurality of types of search functions, it is necessary to maintain a search display database in which attribute information of contents is classified for each search function.

<Relationship between host device and device>
Here, with reference to FIG. 2, the exchange of the search display database between the host device 10 and the device 20 according to the present embodiment will be schematically described. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a method for displaying the search screen 11 using the search display database in the device 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, a plurality of types of search display databases 15 used for content search processing in the device 20 are created by the host device 10 having a high processing capability, The search display database 15 is transferred to the device 20 and recorded. Further, each time the host device 10 adds or deletes the content of the device 20 or changes the attribute information of the content, the host device 10 stores each search display database 15 stored in the device 20. The device 20 is updated so as to correspond to the latest content held by the device 20.

  Examples of the search display database 15 include an artist link search display database 15a, a reading kana search display database 15b, a latest transfer song search display database 15c, a bookmark search display database 15d, and the like. Each search function is provided. At least a part of such various search display databases 15 is a tree-like table in which content attribute information is hierarchically structured according to each search function, and is sequentially displayed when searching for content in the device 20. Each search screen 11 has a data structure corresponding to 1: 1.

  The device 20 holds such a plurality of types of search display databases 15 so that the search display databases 15 can be displayed as they are on the search screen 11 when searching for content. At this time, it is not necessary for the device 20 to create the search display database 15 by itself, and the device 20 transferred from the host device 10 and stored therein may be read and used. Accordingly, since the calculation load for the device 20 to create and update the search display database 15 can be reduced to zero, the search screen display processing at the time of content search can be quickly executed even for the device 20 with low processing capability. There is an advantage that the battery consumption of the device 20 can also be reduced.

  By the way, as described above, in the conventional search display database format, all of the plurality of search functions as described above, in particular, a database of special search functions for performing advanced search, are grouped into one. It was handled (created, updated, etc.) as a database. In this conventional database format, it is not possible to select the correspondence / non-correspondence for each search function in each device. For this reason, in some existing devices, some functions with a high database calculation load and some that do not require a user. It is not possible to make this function non-compliant, or to make it possible to support only a part of a plurality of new functions in a new device.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the shortcomings of the conventional database format and the advantages of the database format of the present embodiment when a new function is added will be schematically described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the order of release (release) of the host device and device to the market accompanying the development of new functions. FIG. 4 is a table showing the correspondence between devices in the database format according to the prior art and the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, first, the host device A and the device A corresponding to the same function are put on the market almost simultaneously (S2, S4), and then a new function B is proposed and developed (S6). ) It is assumed that the host device B and device B corresponding to the new function B are released to the market almost at the same time (S8, S10). In the situation as shown in FIG. 3, the host devices A and B and devices A and B that are distributed in the market are connected to each other, and the database for the search display function that the devices A and B have by the host devices A and B. Suppose you are trying to update.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, in the conventional database format, the host apparatus B and the device B corresponding to the new function B when the host apparatus A and the device A distributed in the market are connected. Are connected to the devices A and B, respectively, and the databases of the devices A and B can be updated.

  However, when the host apparatus A and the device B are connected, the host apparatus A does not support the new function B, and therefore cannot support the device B, and the device B database (not only the new function B but all Database of functions cannot be updated. In this case, it is conceivable to upgrade the function of the host device A so as to be compatible with the function B. However, if the host device A is a device with limited processing capability such as the HDD component 10B, It is very difficult to upgrade the HDD component 10B already on the market as easily as a PC.

  Even when the host apparatus B and the device A are connected, the host apparatus B cannot support the device A because the database format is different from that of the device A to which the new function B is not added. In this case, it is not realistic to mount the host apparatus B so as to be compatible with both the old and new devices A and B, because it requires a significant cost for the correspondence.

  On the other hand, in the database format according to the present embodiment, as will be described later, the database of the device 20 is decomposed for each function, and the host device 10 updates the database of a plurality of functions of the device 20 for each function. Designed to be.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the database format according to the present embodiment, even when the host apparatus B and the device A are connected, the host apparatus B can correspond to the device A, and the device The database of each function of A can be updated.

  When the host device A and the device B are connected, the host device A cannot update the database of the new function B of the device B unlike the host device B, but the database of the new function B Minimum processing is provisionally performed (details will be described later). By performing such provisional processing, when the device B and the host apparatus B that have been subjected to the provisional processing are subsequently connected, the host apparatus B causes the host apparatus A and the device B to be connected in the past. The function B database of the device B can be suitably updated by reflecting the content transfer at the time of connection.

<Database format>
Next, an outline of the database format according to the present embodiment will be schematically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a database format according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the database format according to the present embodiment is divided into a function specification 12, a basic specification 14, and a normal function specification 16.

  The function specification 12 is a function (content search function) that actually appears on the user interface (UI) of the device 20 (that is, on the display screen). This functional specification 12 includes, for example, an artist link search function (function A), a reading kana search function (function B), a latest transfer song search function (function C), a bookmark function (function D), and a playback history search function (function E). ) And a deleted bookmark search function (not shown). The user of the device 20 can find desired content from a large amount of content stored in the device 20 by using each of the search functions of the device 20.

  The databases of the functions A, B, C, D, E... Included in the function specification 12 are independent, and the specifications of the functions are individually defined for each function. As a result, each function can be selected in the device 20 and a new function can be easily added. As described above, the individual functions are separated in the functional specification 12 according to the present embodiment, in contrast to the case where the database of each of these functions is managed by one specification in the conventional data format. .

  Here, each search function A, B, C, D, E... Included in the functional specification 12 will be described.

(A) Artist link search function The artist link search function is based on artist link information that associates artists whose music contents (songs) have similar characteristics. And search for songs. For example, when the artist link button is pressed by the user while a song of a certain artist is being played on the device 20, the device 20 sequentially scans representative songs of other artists belonging to the same group as the artist being played. To play. Further, when the playback button is pressed by the user during the playback and an artist is selected, the device 20 plays back the song of the selected artist. As a result, the user can easily search for content of an unknown artist that matches his / her preference.

(B) Reading Kana Machine Search Function The reading kana machine search function is a method of reading attribute information (music title, album name, artist name, etc.) of each content in the order of reading kana / character string / initial (in the following description). This is a function for displaying a list rearranged in accordance with “reading order” and searching for contents in accordance with this list display. With this function, even if the title, album name, artist name, etc. of the content are expressed in various notations such as English, numbers, hiragana and katakana, the user can easily search for the desired content. be able to.

(C) Latest Transfer Song Search Function The latest transfer song search function displays a list of content titles and the like in the order of transfer to the device 20 based on the transfer date / time information of the content from each host device 10 to the device 20. This is a function for searching for contents according to a list display. With this function, the user can easily search for content that has recently been transferred to his / her device 20 (or the previous time or the last time).

(D) Bookmark Search Function The bookmark search function is a function that displays a list of content titles registered by the user and searches for content according to this list display. With this function, the user can register content that matches his / her preference as a favorite and easily search for the favorite content. The deletion bookmark search function is a function that displays a list of content titles and the like that the user has instructed the device 20 to delete.

(E) Playback history search function The playback history search function sorts content titles and the like according to the playback date / time of the content, the number of playbacks or the priority (rating) based on the playback history information of the content in the device 20 or the host device 10 This is a function for displaying a list and searching for contents according to the list display. With this function, the user can easily search for content that has been listened to at any time in the past, content that has been played many times, content that has high priority, and the like.

  Next, the basic specification 14 will be described. The basic specification 14 is a basic function necessary for realizing the database format according to the present embodiment, and does not appear on the UI unlike the functional specification 12 described above. In the basic specification 14, for example, commands exchanged between the host apparatus 10 and the device 20, data contents and format of files, and the like are defined.

  Here, an outline of operations of the host apparatus 10 and the device 20 according to the basic specification 14 will be described. First, when the host apparatus 10 and the device 20 are connected, the device 20 generates a list (corresponding function list) including identification information (for example, function ID) of the function required by the device 20 and version information of the function. The host device 10 is notified, and the host device 10 is requested to perform maintenance of functions necessary for the device 20. Here, “maintenance” means that the host device 10 updates a database of search functions corresponding to the device 20 in accordance with addition or deletion of content to the device 20. The “functions required by the device 20” are functions that are set (for example, user settings) to be executed by the device 20 among the functions supported by the device 20.

  Next, the host device 10 extracts an update target function that is a function that can be handled by the host device 10 itself (i.e., a function that can be maintained) from the functions notified from the device 20. Update the 20 databases. Further, the host device 10 records a log of the update result (maintenance result) of the update target function in an update log file in the device 20. In this update log file, as information indicating that the maintenance has been normally completed, the identification information (function ID) and version information of the updated function and the update date and time when the update is completed are recorded in association with each other. As described above, by recording the update log for each function, the device 20 can change the operation of each function (for example, execute only the updated function) by referring to the update log. .

  In addition, among the functions notified from the device 20, the host device 10 has a function that cannot be handled by the host device 10 itself (that is, that cannot be maintained) as a provisional process in the database of each function that cannot be handled. The minimum necessary processing is performed. This provisional process is, for example, a process of registering identification information of content newly added from the host apparatus 10 to the device 20 as unclassified information in the database of each function that cannot be handled. As a result, information on the content newly added to the device 20 from the host device 10 that cannot support the function is recorded in the device 20, and then the host device 10 that can support the function. When connected to the database, it is possible to appropriately update the database of the functions including the additional content.

  Next, the normal function specification 16 will be described. The normal function specification 16 is also a content search function that actually appears on the UI of the device 20, but this normal function specification 16 is the above-described advanced search function in that it is a normal search function that is generally used. Different from the functional specification 12. For example, the normal function specification 16 includes an album search function (search in the order of album name-song title), an artist search function (search in the order of artist name-album name-song title), and a genre search function (genre). -Search in the order of artist name-album name-song title). In this embodiment, the function specification 12 and the normal function specification 16 are distinguished from each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and these normal search functions are included in the function specification 12 and all search functions are handled in the same line. May be.

  As described above, by defining the database format according to the present embodiment, the compatibility between the new and old host devices 10 and the old and new devices 20 is improved, and the host device 10 supports the functions required by the devices 20. Regardless of whether or not it is possible, each host device 10 can flexibly maintain the database of each device 20. For this reason, in the device 20, it is possible to select the correspondence / non-correspondence of each function of the functional specification 12, and it becomes possible to add a new function to the new device 20 relatively easily. The configurations of the host device 10 and the device 20 for realizing the database format according to the present embodiment as described above will be described in detail below.

<Hardware configuration of host device>
Next, the hardware configuration of the host device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the hardware configuration of the PC as the host device 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the host device (PC) 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, a host bus 104, a bridge, and the like. 105, an external bus 106, an interface 107, an input device 108, an output device 110, a storage device (HDD) 111, a drive 112, a connection port 114, and a communication device 115.

  The CPU 101 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, operates according to various programs, and controls each unit in the host device 10. The ROM 102 stores programs and calculation parameters used by the CPU 101. The RAM 103 primarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 101, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like. These are connected to each other by a host bus 104 including a CPU bus.

  The host bus 104 is connected via a bridge 105 to an external bus 106 such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interface) bus.

  The input device 108 includes, for example, operation means such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a button, a switch, and a lever, and an input control circuit that generates an input signal and outputs it to the CPU 101. The user of the host device 10 can input various data and instruct processing operations to the host device 10 by operating the input device 108.

  The output device 110 includes, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, a display device such as a lamp, and an audio output device such as a speaker. For example, the output device 110 outputs reproduced content. Specifically, the display device displays various information such as reproduced video data as text or images. On the other hand, the audio output device generates reproduced audio data and the like.

  The storage device 111 is a data storage device configured as an example of a storage unit of the host device 10 according to the present embodiment, and includes, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage device 111 drives a hard disk as a storage medium and stores programs executed by the CPU 101 and various data.

  The drive 112 is a storage medium reader / writer, and is built in or externally attached to the host device 10. The drive 112 records / reproduces various data such as content attribute information on / from a removable storage medium 7 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory loaded in the host apparatus 10.

  Specifically, the drive 112 reads data recorded in the removable storage medium 7 and supplies the data to the RAM 103 connected via the interface 107, the external bus 106, the bridge 105, and the host bus 104. The CPU 101 stores these data in the ROM 102 or the storage device 111 as necessary. On the other hand, the drive 112 receives data stored in the ROM 102 or the storage device 111, newly generated data, or data acquired from an external device from the CPU 101 and writes it to the removable storage medium 7.

  The connection port 114 is a port for connecting an external peripheral device such as the device 20 and has a connection terminal such as USB and IEEE1394. The connection port 114 is connected to the CPU 101 and the like via the interface 107, the external bus 106, the bridge 105, the host bus 104, and the like. With this connection port 114, the host device 10 can communicate various data such as contents, attribute information thereof, and control signals via the device 20 and the local line 9. The main connection port 114 can be connected to the device 20 through wireless communication, not limited to wired communication. For example, the connection port 114 can correspond to Bluetooth, 802.11a / b / g, or the like.

  The communication device 115 is a communication interface configured with, for example, a communication device for connecting to the network 5. The communication device 115 transmits / receives various data such as content and its attribute information and control signals to / from external devices such as another information processing device (PC) 10 and the content distribution server 30 via the network 5. . The communication device 115 corresponds to, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) or Giga Ethernet (registered trademark), and in an environment capable of directly communicating with a wireless access point, for example, Bluetooth, 802.11a / b / It is also possible to support wireless communication such as g.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the content distribution server 30 is almost the same as the hardware configuration of the host device 10 described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

<Device hardware configuration>
First, a hardware configuration of the device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a portable playback device (PD) as the device 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the device 20 includes, for example, a main control device 201, a flash memory 202, a RAM 203, a bus 206, an input device 208, a display device 210, a storage device (HDD) 211, and a decoder. 213, a communication device 215, an audio output circuit 216, a remote controller 218, headphones 219, and a battery (not shown) that supplies power to each part of the device 20.

  The main control device 201 functions as a control device and controls each part of the device 20. The flash memory 202 stores, for example, a program that defines the operation of the main control device 201 and various data. The RAM 203 is composed of, for example, SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), and temporarily stores various data related to processing of the main control device 201.

  A bus 206 is a data line that connects the main control device 201, flash memory 202, RAM 203, input device 208, display device 210, storage device (HDD) 211, decoder 213, communication device 215, audio output circuit 216, and the like.

  The input device 208 and the remote controller 218 are, for example, an input control circuit that generates an input signal and outputs it to the main control device 201 in accordance with an operation unit such as a touch panel, a button key, a lever, and a dial, and a user operation on the operation unit. Etc. The user of the device 20 can input various data and instruct processing operations to the device 20 by operating the input device 208 and a remote controller 218 described later.

  The display device 210 includes, for example, an LCD panel and an LCD control circuit, an organic EL (Organic Electro Luminescence) panel, an organic EL control circuit, and the like. The display device 210 displays various information as text or images in accordance with the control of the main control device 201. For example, attribute information (title, album name, artist name, evaluation value, etc.) of content held in the device 20 can be displayed.

  The storage device 211 is a data storage device configured as an example of a storage unit of the device 20 according to the present embodiment. The storage device 211 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) having a storage capacity of several tens GB, and stores various data such as compressed content, a program of the main control device 201, and processing data. The device 20 may not include this hard disk drive as a storage medium. In this case, as the storage medium included in the device 20, for example, a semiconductor memory such as the flash memory 202, an optical disk drive, the removable storage medium 7, or the like can be employed.

  The decoder 213 performs decryption processing of the encrypted content data, decoding processing, surround processing, conversion processing to PCM data, and the like.

  The communication device 215 includes, for example, a USB controller and a USB port connection port, or a wireless communication device. The communication device 215 receives various data such as content, content attribute information, and control signals with the local line 9 such as a USB cable or the host device 10 connected via a wireless communication path such as a wireless LAN. Send and receive. The communication device 215 can be connected to the host device 10 by wireless communication, not limited to wired communication, and can correspond to, for example, Bluetooth, 802.11a / b / g, or the like.

  The audio output circuit 216 amplifies the analog audio data decoded by the decoder 213 and DA-converted by the CPU, and outputs the amplified analog audio data to the remote controller 218. The analog audio data is output from the remote controller 218 to the headphone 219 and output from a speaker built in the headphone 219.

<Device functional configuration>
Next, the functional configuration of the device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the device 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the device 20 includes, for example, a content storage unit 220, a playback operation unit 222, a playback unit 224, a date / time information generation unit 226, a playback history generation unit 228, and a playback history storage unit 230. , Deletion instruction reception unit 232, deletion content storage unit 234, function setting unit 236, function information storage unit 238, update request unit 239, terminal storage unit 240, evaluation value input unit 242, and information reading unit 244, a communication unit 246, an information writing unit 248, an update log storage unit 250, a function execution unit 254, and a display unit 256 are mainly provided.

  The content storage unit 220 includes, for example, a storage device 211 such as an HDD, a flash memory 202, and a removable storage medium 7, and has a function of storing a plurality of contents. A content ID, which is identification information uniquely assigned to each content, is added to the content stored in the content storage unit 220. The content stored in the content storage unit 220 is, for example, content transferred from each host device 10 to the device 20 or content acquired via the removable storage medium 7. The content stored in the content storage unit 220 may be content acquired by the device 20 from an external device such as the content distribution server 30 or another device 20.

  The reproduction operation unit 222 receives a user input operation on the device 20, and instructs each unit to perform a predetermined operation in accordance with the input operation. For example, the playback operation unit 222 receives various playback operations related to content playback and outputs the received playback operations to the playback unit 224. The playback operation that can be input by the user includes, for example, selection of content to be played back, playback of the selected content, fast-forwarding of the content being played back, rewinding of the content being played back, and playback stop (pause) of the content being played back. Included), and skipping of the content being played back.

  In addition, the reproduction operation unit 222 receives content search / selection input by the user in accordance with execution of various search functions of the function execution unit 254 described later. That is, the playback operation unit 222 selects the content to be played back from the list of content (song title, album name, etc.) searched and displayed on the display unit 256 by the function execution unit 254 according to the user's selection input, The reproduction unit 224 is instructed to reproduce the selected content. Note that the reproduction operation unit 222 can be configured to automatically select the content to be reproduced based on a predetermined standard (for example, a playlist).

  The playback unit 224 has a function of playing back content stored in the content storage unit 220. The playback unit 224 includes the decoder 213, the audio output circuit 216, and the like, decompresses (decodes) the compressed content stored in the content storage unit 220, and outputs analog data obtained by D / A conversion to the headphones 219. , Make audio output. The playback unit 224 performs processing on the content based on the playback operation information acquired from the playback operation unit 222. The processing on the content performed by the playback unit 224 includes playback of the content, fast-forwarding of the content being played back, rewinding of the content being played back, stop playback of the content being played back, and the like.

  When the reproduction unit 224 starts each process for the content, the reproduction unit 224 notifies the reproduction history generation unit 228 of the start of the process (hereinafter, the start of the process for the content by the reproduction unit 224 is also referred to as the occurrence of an event). When notifying the occurrence of an event, the playback unit 224 starts the type of processing (content playback, fast-forwarding the content being played back, rewinding the content being played back, stopping playback of the content being played back, etc.) The type of processing that has been started is also referred to as an event type) and identification information (for example, content ID) of the content to be processed is provided to the reproduction history generation unit 228.

  The date information generator 226 generates date information. Specifically, the date / time information generation unit 226 acquires the date and time from the built-in clock of the device 20, and generates date / time information including the date and time information. In response to the request from the reproduction history generation unit 228, the date information generation unit 226 outputs the generated date information to the reproduction history generation unit 228.

  The playback history generation unit 228 has a function of generating playback history information representing the playback history of content by the playback unit 224 and recording it in the playback history storage unit 230. Specifically, the playback history generation unit 228 generates an event log in accordance with processing (event generation) for the content performed by the playback unit 224, and writes the generated event log in the playback history storage unit 230. Specifically, when receiving the event occurrence notification from the reproduction unit 224, the reproduction history generation unit 228 acquires the date information from the date information generation unit 226, and is included in the acquired date information and the event occurrence notification. An event log is generated by associating the event type with the content ID to be processed. Then, the playback history generation unit 228 writes the generated event log in the playback history storage unit 230 so that the event logs are arranged in time series. Based on the event log accumulated by the device 20 as described above, the host device 10 obtains the number of times of content reproduction, the reproduction start / end date and time, the operation evaluation value, and the like.

  The reproduction history storage unit 230 includes, for example, a storage device 211 such as an HDD, a flash memory 202, and the like, and stores an event log generated by the reproduction history generation unit 228.

  Upon receiving a deletion instruction for a plurality of contents stored in the content storage unit 220 in response to a user input, the deletion instruction reception unit 232 assigns a content ID corresponding to the deletion-instructed content to the deletion content storage unit 234. To record. Specifically, the deletion instruction receiving unit 232 generates a deletion schedule list corresponding to the above-described deletion bookmark and stores it in the deletion content storage unit 234. This deletion schedule list is a list of content IDs corresponding to the content that has been instructed to be deleted by the user in the device 20. In addition to the deletion schedule list, the deletion instruction receiving unit 232 may record information (for example, content attribute information such as a title name, album name, and artist name) that can specify the content instructed to be deleted. Good.

  The deleted content storage unit 234 includes, for example, a storage device 211 such as an HDD, a flash memory 202, and the like, and stores the deletion schedule list. The device 20 may not be suitable for deleting content by itself due to processing capacity and battery constraints. For this reason, when content deletion is requested by the user, the device 20 writes the content ID of the content in the scheduled deletion list and stores it in the deleted content storage unit 234. When the host device 10 and the device 20 are connected, the information reading unit 244 reads the deletion schedule list from the deleted content storage unit 234 and transmits the host device 10 via the communication unit 246. As a result, the connected host device 10 deletes one or more contents specified in the deletion schedule list from the content storage unit 220 of the device 20.

  The function setting unit 236 sets correspondence / non-correspondence of various functions of the device 20 and registers the setting result in the function information storage unit 238. The device 20 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, the above-described artist link search function (function A), reading kana search function (function B), latest transfer song search function (function C), bookmark function (function D), and playback history. A plurality of search functions such as a search function (function E), a deleted bookmark search function (not shown), a normal search function, and the like can be supported. However, the device 20 does not always have to support all of these search functions. Depending on the user's request, the processing capability of the device 20, the storage capacity of the storage medium, etc., the device 20 It is also possible to make some of the functions non-compliant so that the non-compliant functions are not operated.

  Therefore, the function setting unit 236 has a plurality of functions (functions A to E) preinstalled in the device 20, for example, in response to user input or automatically in accordance with the remaining storage capacity of the storage medium of the device 20. Set correspondence / non-correspondence of. For example, when the user considers that the artist link search function (function A), which is a special search function, is unnecessary, and performs an input operation for disabling the function A, the function setting unit 236 displays the function A Can be set to “non-corresponding”, and other functions (functions B to E) can be set to “corresponding”. In this embodiment, it is possible to set the correspondence / non-correspondence of only the special search function such as the functions A to E. However, depending on the case, not only the special search function but also the normal search function can be set. Correspondence / non-correspondence can be set.

  When a function is set to “non-compliant” by the function setting unit 236, the function execution unit 254 does not execute the “non-compliant” function. Further, the database of the “non-supporting” function is deleted from the terminal storage unit 240, and the database of the “non-supporting” function is not maintained by the host device 10. This eliminates the problem that the storage capacity of the device 20 is limited because there is a database of unnecessary functions, and reduces the processing load and processing time when the host device 10 maintains the database of the device 20. it can.

  The function information storage unit 238 includes, for example, a storage device 211 such as an HDD, a flash memory 202, and the like, and stores a corresponding function list of the device 20. The corresponding function list of the device 20 is, for example, information in which identification information (function ID) of a function supported by the device 20 is associated with information indicating the version of the function.

  Here, the “function supported by the device 20” is a function that is actually supported by the device 20 among the functions installed in the device 20, and a function that is not installed in the device 20 or the function setting described above. The function set to “not supported” by the unit 236 is not included. In other words, the function set to “not supported” by the function setting unit 236 is a function that can be supported by the device 20 (that is, a function installed in the device 20, and “supported” by the function setting unit 236. If the function is a function that can be supported by the device 20), it is not included in the “function supported by the device 20”.

  In the present embodiment, the function version information itself (for example, version 2.2) is used as “information indicating the function version” in the corresponding function list of the device 20. It is not limited to. If the “information indicating the function version” is information that can identify the version information of the function of the device 20, for example, date and time information such as the release date and manufacturing date of the device 20, the product number and model number of the device 20, etc. It may be the information. The function version information includes, for example, major version information (for example, version 1.0 and version 2.0) in which compatibility with past versions is not ensured, and minor version information for which compatibility with past versions is ensured. (For example, version 1.1 and version 1.2).

  The update request unit 239 requests the host device 10 connected to the device 20 to update the function corresponding to the device 20. For example, the update request unit 239 reads a corresponding function list including the function supported by the device 20 and its version information from the function information storage unit 238, and sends an update request command including the corresponding function list to the communication unit 246. To the host device 10 via

  The terminal storage unit 240 includes, for example, a storage device 211 such as an HDD, a flash memory 202, and the like. The terminal storage unit 240 relates to a plurality of contents stored in the content storage unit 220 of the device 20, and a plurality of normal search function search display databases 13a and 13b included in the normal function specification 16 (see FIG. 5). , ... (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "search display database 13"), and search display databases 15a, 15b for special search functions included in the functional specification 12 (see FIG. 5),. (Hereinafter also collectively referred to as “search display database 15”) and the terminal database 17 which is a basic database. The search display databases 13 and 15 and the terminal database 17 are created and updated by the host device 10 connected to the device 20.

  The search display databases 13 and 15 are provided for each search function to which the device 20 corresponds. The search display databases 13 and 15 include a search display table obtained by classifying and hierarchically structuring attribute information of each content stored in the content storage unit 220 according to each search function. This search display table has a hierarchical structure corresponding to a plurality of search display screens that are sequentially displayed by the function execution unit 254 when searching for content in the device 20. Further, only one search display database 13 or 15 may be provided corresponding to each function, or a plurality of search display databases 13 and 15 may be provided. The search display database 15 has a characteristic configuration according to the present embodiment, and details thereof will be described later (see FIG. 11).

  The terminal database 17 includes attribute information (content title (song name), album name, artist name, genre, release year, evaluation value, initial information, reproduction history, transfer history, etc.) of each content stored in the content storage unit 220. ) Is a basic database associated with the content ID of the content. The data structure of the terminal database 17 is substantially the same as the host database 170 described later (see FIG. 10).

  The evaluation value input unit 242 sets the input evaluation value of the content stored in the content storage unit 220 according to the user input. This evaluation value (rating) is an index representing the priority of content, and includes, for example, an input evaluation value manually set by a user and an automatic evaluation value automatically calculated based on a reproduction history or the like. Of these, the input evaluation value setting method will be described. For example, when a user performs a predetermined operation during reproduction of certain content, the function execution unit 254 displays an input evaluation value setting screen on the display unit 256 of the device 20. The In response to this, when the user performs an evaluation value input operation, the evaluation value input unit 242 performs input evaluation in, for example, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5 points” according to the evaluation value input operation. Set the value. The evaluation value input unit 242 writes the input evaluation value set in this way in the terminal database 17 of the terminal storage unit 240 in association with the content ID of the corresponding content. Thereby, the device 20 can set the input evaluation value of the content, and can immediately display the latest input evaluation value in association with the content, and the user can select the content based on the input evaluation position.

  The information reading unit 244 is stored in a storage medium such as the reproduction history storage unit 230, the deleted content storage unit 234, the function information storage unit 238, or the terminal storage unit 240 in response to a transfer request from the connected host device 10. Read various information. The read information is transferred to the host device 10 via the communication unit 246.

  In addition to these pieces of information, the device 20 may transfer a device ID that is an identifier uniquely assigned to the device 20 to the host device 10. By transferring this device ID, it is possible to record the device ID in the host apparatus 10 and register the device 20 corresponding to the device ID in the host apparatus 10. For example, on the condition of such device registration, between the device 20 corresponding to the device ID and the host device 10, for example, content attribute information, reproduction history information, calculation evaluation value, input evaluation value, deletion schedule list, Information such as a playlist may be exchanged. As a result, it is possible to prevent such information from being shared among a large number of unspecified devices.

  The information writing unit 248 has a function of writing various information received from the host device 10 via the communication unit 246 to a storage medium such as the terminal storage unit 240 or the update log storage unit 250. Specifically, the information writing unit 248 acquires the search display tables 13 and 15 created and updated by the host device 10 from the host device 10 and stores them in the terminal storage unit 240. Further, the information writing unit 248 acquires content, playlist, transfer history, rating information that is an evaluation value added to the content, and the like from the host device 10, and the terminal database 17 of the terminal storage unit 240. Write to. Further, the information writing unit 248 acquires a log indicating the update result of the search display databases 13 and 15 by the host device 10 from the host device 10 and updates the log indicating the update result in the update log storage unit 250. Write in the log file 252.

  The update log storage unit 250 includes a storage device 211 such as an HDD, a flash memory 202, and the like, and stores an update log file 252. In the update log file 252, as a log indicating the update result of the search display database 15 by the host device 10, for example, for each updated function, version information of the function on the host device 10 side at the time of update, and the function The function update date and time that is the date and time (for example, a time stamp) when the update is completed is written in association with the function ID. In addition, in this update log file 252, the latest date and time (for example, time stamp) at which at least one of the search display database 15 in the terminal storage unit 240 is updated is written as the device update date and time.

  The function execution unit 254 uses the search display databases 13 and 15 stored in the terminal storage unit 240 to execute each search function corresponding to the device 20. Here, the search function supported by the device 20 is a search function that is not set to “not supported” by the function setting unit 236 among the search functions installed in the device 20.

  The function execution unit 254 controls the search unit 256 to display a search screen corresponding to each search function according to the search display databases 13 and 15 when searching for content. More specifically, the function execution unit 254 reads, for example, the search display databases 13 and 15 corresponding to the search function designated by the user from the terminal storage unit 240, and performs the search display according to the user's selection input. Various search screens representing content attribute information included in the databases 13 and 15 are sequentially displayed on the display unit 256. At this time, the function execution unit 254 only needs to display the information of the search display databases 13 and 15 stored in the terminal storage unit 240 as it is, and does not require a calculation process such as a query process for structuring the database. It is.

  When searching for content, the function execution unit 254 determines, for example, a search display screen for an artist link search function (function A) or a search for a reading kana search function depending on the types of search display databases 13 and 15 used for search display. Various search services such as a screen and a search screen for a normal search function can be displayed to provide users with various search services.

  Further, the function execution unit 254 can control the operation of each search function corresponding to the device 20 based on the log indicating the update result recorded in the update log storage unit 250 by the host device. At this time, the function execution unit 254 compares the device update date and time recorded in the update log file 252 of the update log storage unit 250 with the function update date and time, and based on the comparison result, each search function corresponding to the device. Among them, the function whose search display database 15 has been updated can be identified.

  Specifically, the function execution unit 254 checks the update state (maintenance status) of each search display database 15 based on the update result log for each function recorded in the update log file 252 of the update log storage unit 250. The operation of each search function can be controlled according to the check result. For example, when the function update date and time of a search function described in the update log file 252 is a date and time before the device update date and time, the database of the search function is sufficiently updated to match the latest state. It may not be. In this case, the function execution unit 254 may change the display screen (UI) so as not to display the search function, or notify the user that the search function is incomplete (for example, a warning) The search function may be executed after display).

  The functional configuration of each part of the device 20 according to the present embodiment has been described above. Each unit of the device 20 may be configured as hardware having each of the above functions, or may be configured by installing a program that causes the computer to realize the above functions in the device 20. .

<Functional configuration of host device>
Next, the functional configuration of the host device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the host device 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the host device 10 includes a content storage unit 120, a playback operation unit 122, a playback unit 124, a date / time information generation unit 126, a playback history generation unit 128, a playback history storage unit 130, Communication unit 132, connection detection unit 134, device information acquisition unit 136, playback history analysis unit 138, analysis result storage unit 140, evaluation value calculation unit 142, evaluation value input unit 144, and host storage unit 146 A playlist generation unit 148, a content update unit 150, a function information storage unit 154, a host information acquisition unit 156, an update function extraction unit 158, a database update unit 160, a log recording unit 162, and a distribution service use Unit 164, ripping unit 166, function executing unit 168, and display unit 169.

  Among these, the content storage unit 120, the playback operation unit 122, the playback unit 124, the date / time information generation unit 126, the playback history generation unit 128, and the playback history storage unit 130 are the content storage unit 220 and playback unit included in the device 20 described above. 224, the reproduction operation unit 222, the date / time information generation unit 226, the reproduction history generation unit 228, and the reproduction history storage unit 230, the description thereof will be omitted. Similar to the device 20, the host device 10 can perform each process on the content based on the reproduction operation by the user, and generate and record an event log.

  The content storage unit 120 includes, for example, a storage device 111 such as an HDD, a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, and a removable storage medium 7, and has a function of storing a plurality of contents.

  The communication unit 132 includes, for example, the connection port 114, the communication device 115, and the like, and the device 20, the content distribution server 30, or another host device 10 via the local line 9, the wireless communication path, the network 5, or the like. Various types of information can be communicated with such external devices.

  The connection detection unit 134 detects that another external device is connected to the host device 10 via the communication unit 132. Specifically, the connection detection unit 134 detects that the device 20 is connected to the connection port 114 and notifies the device information acquisition unit 136 of it.

  The device information acquisition unit 136 acquires various types of information stored in the storage medium of the device 20 from the device 20 connected to the host device 10. Specifically, upon receiving notification of detection of connection with the device 20 from the connection detection unit 134, the device information acquisition unit 136 accesses the device 20 via the communication unit 132 and acquires necessary information.

  For example, the device information acquisition unit 136 acquires an event log stored in the playback history storage unit 230 of the device 20 from the device 20 and outputs the event log to the playback history analysis unit 138. In addition, the device information acquisition unit 136 acquires the calculation evaluation value and the input evaluation value of each content stored in the device 20 from the device 20 and outputs the acquired calculation evaluation value and the input evaluation value to the evaluation value calculation unit 142.

The device information acquisition unit 136 also includes attribute information of content stored in the content storage unit 220 of the device 20, search display tables 13 and 15 stored in the terminal storage unit 240, and content of the terminal database 17. Etc. can also be acquired. The content acquired in this way is stored in the content storage unit 120, and the attribute information and the search display tables 13 and 15 are stored in the host database 170. Further, the content attribute information acquired from the device 20 is also notified to the content update unit 150. In addition, the device information acquisition unit 136 acquires a deletion schedule list including one or more content IDs from the device 20 and outputs the list to the content update unit 150.
Further, the device information acquisition unit 136 receives, from the update request unit 239 of the device 20, identification information (for example, function ID) of the function to which the device 20 corresponds and information (for example, version information itself) indicating the version of the function. An update request command including the associated corresponding function list is acquired. By this update request command, the host apparatus 10 can grasp the function supported by the device 20 among the plurality of released functions and the version of the function. The device information acquisition unit 136 outputs the corresponding function list acquired from the device 20 to the update function extraction unit 158 and uses it for determining the update target function of the device 20.

  In addition, the device information acquisition unit 136 acquires the update log file 252 from the update log storage unit 250 of the device 20, and by acquiring the update log file 252, the host device 10 allows the connected device 20 to be connected. The update status of the databases 13 and 15 for each function can be grasped. The device information acquisition unit 136 outputs the update log file 252 acquired from the device 20 to the database update unit 160 and uses it for database update of the device 20.

  The reproduction history analysis unit 138 analyzes the event log stored in the reproduction history storage unit 130 of the host device 10 and the event log acquired from the device 20 by the device information acquisition unit 136, and the host device 10 and the device 20. The reproduction history information of each content reproduced in step 1 is obtained. Specifically, the playback history analysis unit 138, as the analysis result of the event log, for example, the playback start date / time, playback end date / time, playback count, pause count, skip count, repeat count, total playback time, etc. of each content Ask for. The reproduction history analysis unit 138 records the analysis result in the analysis result storage unit 140. The analysis result storage unit 140 includes a storage device 211 such as an HDD or a storage medium such as a flash memory 202, and stores an analysis result of the event log by the reproduction history analysis unit 138.

  The evaluation value calculation unit 142 calculates the calculation evaluation value of each content based on the analysis result (reproduction history information) of the event log of the device 20 and the host device 10 and records it in the host storage unit 146. This calculated evaluation value is an evaluation value automatically calculated based on the reproduction history information of the content (for example, a five-level evaluation value indicating the priority of the content). This calculated evaluation value is automatically generated and stored in the content. The association is referred to as “auto-rating”. On the other hand, the input evaluation value is an evaluation value set based on the user input, and manually setting the input evaluation value and associating it with the content is referred to as “manual rating (Manual-Rating)”. The calculation evaluation value and the input evaluation value can be used for, for example, (1) use as a reference parameter when the user searches for content, or (2) calculating profile data for grasping the user's preference. Use as an index, and (3) use as a reference for selecting contents to be deleted in the device 20 due to storage capacity limitations when transferring many contents from the host device 10 to the device 20.

  Similar to the evaluation value input unit 242 of the device 20, the evaluation value input unit 144 sets an input evaluation value corresponding to the content stored in the content storage unit 120 according to the user input. Further, the evaluation value input unit 144 records the input evaluation value set in this way and the content ID of the content in the host storage unit 146. As a result, the host device 10 can set the input evaluation value of the content and display the latest input evaluation value immediately.

  The host storage unit 146 includes, for example, a storage device 111 such as an HDD, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, and a storage medium such as a removable storage medium 7, and stores various types of information such as content attribute information. The host storage unit 146 stores a host database 170. The host database 170 is constituted by, for example, a relational database (RDB) and includes content attribute information stored in the content storage unit 120. Based on the data of the host database 170, the above-described plural types of search display data tables 13 and 15 are created.

  Here, the data structure of the host database 170 of the host storage unit 146 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the host database 170 of the host storage unit 146 includes, for example, a content ID 170a, a title 170b, an artist name 170c, an album name 170d, a genre 170e, a performance time 170f, a calculation evaluation value 170g, and an input evaluation value 170h. Information such as the release year 170i is stored in association with each content. The content ID 170a is an identifier that uniquely identifies the content. The title 170b is the name of the content (the name of the music content (song)), the artist name 170c is the name of an artist who sings, performs, composes, composes, and produces the music content, and the album name 170d is The name of the music album in which the music content is recorded, the genre 170e is the genre to which the music content belongs (for example, jazz, pop, rock, etc.), and the performance time 170f is the performance time of the music content ( The calculation evaluation value 170g is an evaluation point automatically added to the music content by the automatic rating, and the input evaluation value 170h is manually applied to the music content by the manual rating. The evaluation points added in Scan year 170i, the music content is released (release) has been the year (or date).

  The playlist generation unit 148 is based on the analysis result (playback history) of the event log stored in the analysis result storage unit 140, various content attribute information stored in the host storage unit 146, user input, and the like. Collection of attribute information of contents satisfying predetermined conditions (for example, playback period, total playback time, playback count, skip count, pause count, repeat count, calculation evaluation value, input evaluation value, release year, user selection, etc.) Generate a customized playlist. The playlist is a list in which content identification information (content ID and the like) and content attribute information are collected, and the host device 10 and the device 20 reproduce content corresponding to the content ID in the playlist according to the playlist. It can be performed. Therefore, for example, if the device 20 or the host device 10 has a playlist in which the attribute information of the content according to the user's preference is collected, the device 20 or the host device 10 reproduces the content along the playlist. As a result, it is possible to reproduce the content according to the user's preference. The playlist generated by the playlist generation unit 148 is stored in, for example, the host storage unit 146 or a separate playlist storage unit (not shown).

  The content update unit 150 adds / deletes content to / from the device 20. That is, the content update unit 150 transfers part / all of the content stored in the content storage unit 120 of the host device 10 to the device 20 and adds it to the content storage unit 220 of the device 20, A part / all of the content stored in the storage unit 220 can be deleted.

  Specifically, when receiving the content addition instruction based on the user input, the content update unit 150 reads the content to be added from the content storage unit 120, accesses the device 20, and stores the content to be added to the content storage unit 220. Control device 20 to record. In addition, when receiving a content deletion instruction based on a user input, the content update unit 150 accesses the device 20 and controls the device 20 to delete the content to be deleted from the content storage unit 220.

  In addition, when the host device 10 and the device 20 are connected, the content update unit 150 receives an instruction to synchronize (sink) the content stored in both, and is stored in the content storage unit 120 of the host device 10. The content stored in each content storage unit 120, 220 is controlled to be exchanged and recorded without excess or shortage so that the content stored in the content storage unit 220 of the device 20 is the same. To do. The content synchronization processing may be automatically performed when the host device 10 and the device 20 are connected.

  As described above, the content update unit 150 has a function of updating (adding / deleting / synchronizing) content stored in the device 20 from the host device 10 side in a state where the host device 10 and the device 20 are connected. . This is because when the device 20 and the host device 10 are connected, the host device 10 recognizes the device 20 as an external storage medium (HDD or the like), and adds / deletes data to / from the device 20 from the host device 10 side. By being designed to be able to perform.

  In addition, when the deletion schedule list is acquired from the device 20, the content update unit 150 controls to delete the content corresponding to the content ID included in the deletion schedule list from the content storage unit 220 of the device 20. . By using the deletion schedule list, the host device 10 performs the deletion control of the contents in the device 20, thereby reducing the processing load on the device 20 and suppressing the battery consumption.

  The content update unit 150 can also update content attribute information (for example, a playback history, an evaluation value, etc.) stored in the terminal storage unit 240 of the device 20. For example, when the content such as the title and genre of the existing content is updated, or when the reproduction history of the content is updated by the reproduction history analysis unit 138, the evaluation value calculation unit 142 or the evaluation value input unit 144 When the evaluation value is updated, or when the playlist is updated by the playlist generation unit 148, the content update unit 150 reflects the update of the attribute information in the database on the device 20 side.

  The function information storage unit 154 includes, for example, a storage device 111 such as an HDD, a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a removable storage medium 7, and the like, and stores a corresponding function list of the host 10. The corresponding function list of the host 10 is, for example, information in which identification information (for example, function ID) of a function supported by the host device 10 is associated with information indicating the version of the function.

  Here, the “function supported by the host device 10” is a function that is actually supported by the host device 10 among the functions installed in the host device 10, and is not installed in the host device 10. The functions set to “non-compliant” by the function setting unit (not shown) for setting the correspondence / non-correspondence of each function in the host device 10 are not included. In the present embodiment, the function version information itself (for example, version 2.2) is used as “information indicating the function version” in the corresponding function list of the host device 10 as in the corresponding function list of the device 20. Although used, it is not limited to such an example.

  The host information acquisition unit 156 associates from the function information storage unit 154 the function identification information (for example, function ID) corresponding to the host device 10 and information indicating the version of the function (for example, version information itself). The corresponding function list of the device 10 is read and acquired. From the corresponding function list of the host device 10, the host device 10 can grasp the function to which the host device 10 corresponds among a plurality of released functions and the version of the function. The host information acquisition unit 156 outputs the corresponding function list acquired from the function information storage unit 154 to the update function extraction unit 158 and uses it for determining the update target function of the device 20.

  The update function extraction unit 158 is acquired by the host information acquisition unit 156 and the corresponding function list (function ID and version information of each function supported by the device 20) of the device 20 acquired by the device information acquisition unit 136. Based on the corresponding function list of the host 10 (function ID and version information of each function supported by the host apparatus 10), the functions that can be supported by the host apparatus among the functions supported by the device 20 are described later. It is extracted as a function to be updated by the database update unit 160. In other words, the update function extraction unit 158 can support one or more functions requested for maintenance from the device 20 by the host device 10 (database maintenance is possible) and the host device 10 cannot support (database Functions that can be handled by the host device 10 are extracted as functions to be updated.

  When the update function extraction unit 158 determines whether or not the host device 10 can support the function supported by the device 20, first, (1) whether or not the host device 10 supports the function supported by the device 20. Next, when the host device 10 corresponds to the function supported by the device 20, (2) a function version database supported by the device 20 is stored in the function version database supported by the host device 10. Determine whether it can be updated. As a result of this determination, functions that satisfy both conditions (1) and (2) are extracted as update target functions.

  First, the condition (1) will be described. The update function extraction unit 158 determines whether or not the host device 10 corresponds to the function supported by the device 20, and if the host device 10 corresponds to the function supported by the device 20, the update function extraction unit 158 On the other hand, if the host device 10 does not correspond to the function supported by the device 20 as a candidate for the update target function, the function is excluded from the update target function. For example, when the host device 10 corresponds to the functions A and B and the device 20 corresponds to the functions A, B, and C, the function C is excluded from the update target functions, and the functions A and B are the update target functions. The following condition (2) is determined.

  The condition (1) can be determined by comparing the function ID acquired by the device information acquisition unit 136 with the function ID acquired by the host information acquisition unit 156. When the function ID corresponding to the device 20 corresponds to one of the function IDs corresponding to the host device 10, both the device 20 and the host device 10 correspond to the function of the function ID. On the other hand, when the function ID corresponding to the device 20 does not correspond to any of the function IDs corresponding to the host device 10, the function corresponding to the function ID of the host device 10 cannot be supported.

  Next, the condition (2) will be described. When the device 20 and the host device 10 support the function with the same function ID, the update function extraction unit 158 can support the function supported by the device 20 based on the version of both functions. Determine whether or not. For example, the update function extraction unit 158 includes major version information and minor version information included in the version information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 136, major version information included in the version information acquired by the host information acquisition unit 156, and Based on the minor version information, the host device 10 determines whether or not the corresponding function of the device 20 can be supported.

  Here, the major version is a version in which compatibility with functions of different major versions is not ensured. For example, the functions of version 1.0 and the functions of version 2.0 are the same even if they are the same function. Incompatible. On the other hand, the minor version is a version that ensures compatibility with different minor versions. For example, if the minor version has the same function and the same major version, the version 1.1 function and the version 1. The two functions are compatible. For example, the minor version upgrade is performed, for example, when the search accuracy of the reading kana search function is improved.

  Based on the match / difference between the major version and minor version of the function of the host device 10 and the major version and minor version of the function of the device 20, the update function extraction unit 158 causes the host device 10 to Determine whether the function can be supported. In the following, two examples of a relatively simple first version determination method and a relatively detailed second version determination method will be described.

(A) First Version Determination Method In this first version determination method, for the same function A, if the major version of the function A of the host device 10 and the major version of the function A of the device 20 are the same, the minor version It is determined that the host device 10 can support the function A of the device 20 regardless of the difference. On the other hand, if the major versions are different from each other, it is determined that the host apparatus 10 cannot cope with the function A of the device 20. For example, if the version of the function A of the host apparatus 10 is 2.0 and the version of the function A of the device 20 is 2.2, it is determined that the function can be supported, and the version of the function A of the host apparatus 10 is 2.0. If the version of the function A of the device 20 is 3.0, it is determined that it cannot be handled. In this method, if the minor version is different, it is necessary to design each function so that the database of each function is compatible.

(B) Second Version Determination Method In this second version determination method, for the same function A, either the major version or minor version of the function A of the host device 10 or the major version or minor version of the function A of the device 20 is Whether or not the host device 10 is compatible with the function A is determined as shown in the following (a) to (f) depending on the latest version. In this second version determination method, in principle, if the major version is the same, it is determined that the host apparatus 10 can support the function A regardless of the minor version. For this purpose, it is necessary to design each function so that the database processing is not hindered by a difference in minor version of each function.

  In the following description, the major version and minor version of the function supported by the host device 10 are referred to as “host major version” and “host minor version”, respectively, and the major version and minor version of the function supported by the device 20 are Represented as “device major version” and “device minor version”, respectively. In addition, the new and old versions of two versions are represented by symbols “>” and “=”. For example, when version A is a version newer than version B, “version A> version B” is represented, and version A And version B are the same version, “version A = version B” is written.

(A) Host Major Version> Device Major Version For example, when the host version is 2.0 and the device version is 1.0, the host device 10 is designed to be compatible with the past version of the device 20. If it is, the host device 10 is determined to be compatible with the old function A of the device 20. For example, when both the old and new functions A (the function A of the new version 2.0 and the function A of the old version 1.0) are mounted on the host apparatus 10, the host apparatus 10 is connected to the version 1. The old function A of 0 can be supported. On the other hand, when the host device 10 is designed so as not to support the past version of the device 20, it is determined that the host device 10 cannot support the function A of the old version of the device 20.

(B) When host major version = device major version In this case, as shown in the following (d) to (f), the determination is made based on the difference between minor versions.

(C) When host major version <device major version For example, when the host version is 1.0 and the device version is 2.0, the host device 10 determines that the function 20 of the new version of the device 20 cannot be supported. Is done.

(D) When the host minor version> the device minor version For example, when the host version is 2.2 and the device version is 2.1, in principle, the host device 10 can support the function A of the device 20. To be judged. At this time, when the host apparatus 10 updates the function A database of the device 20, whether the maintenance is performed with the new version 2.2 of the host apparatus 10 or the old version 2.1 of the device 20. , Defined for each function. As described above, each function is designed to be compatible between minor versions, so there is no problem in maintaining both new and old versions. In this case, the update log file 252 of the device 20 records the version 2.2 of the host device 10 instead of the version 2.1 of the device 20 as the update result of the function A. As a result, when the device 20 is subsequently connected to the other host device 10, the other host device 10 determines the version 2... Of the host device 10 connected in the past based on the information in the update log file 252. 2 can be known.

(E) When the host minor version = the device minor version For example, when the host version is 2.2 and the device version is 2.2, it is determined that the host apparatus 10 can support the function A of the device 20. The

(F) When the host minor version is smaller than the device minor version For example, when the host version is 2.1 and the device version is 2.2, it is determined that the host apparatus 10 can support the function A of the device 20. The At this time, when updating the function A database of the device 20, the host apparatus 10 maintains the function A database of the device 20 with the latest version 2.1 that the host apparatus 10 can support. Also in this case, for the same reason as described above, the version 2.1 of the host device 10 is recorded as the update result of the function A in the update log file 252 of the device 20.

  In the second version determination method, the update function extraction unit 158 determines whether or not the host device 10 can support the function A in accordance with the determination criteria (a) to (f).

  As described above, the update function extraction unit 158 extracts a function that can be supported by the host device 10 from a plurality of functions corresponding to the device 20 notified by the update request command, and extracts the extracted function. The database update unit 160 is notified as the update target function. The update function extraction unit 158 also includes the database update unit 160 for functions that the host device 10 other than the update target function cannot handle (hereinafter, referred to as “unupdateable function”) among the corresponding functions of the device 20. Notify

  The database update unit 160 updates the search display databases 13 and 15 stored in the terminal storage unit 240 of the device 20 with respect to the update target function extracted by the update function extraction unit 158. For example, when the functions A and B are functions to be updated among the functions A, B, and C supported by the device 20, the search display database 15a for the functions A and B in the terminal storage unit 240 of the device 20 are provided. 15b is updated.

  At this time, the database update unit 160 updates the search display databases 13 and 15 and the terminal database 17 in accordance with content addition / deletion / update of content attribute information for the device 20 by the content update unit 150. For example, when new content is added (that is, transferred and recorded) from the host apparatus 10 to the device 20, the database update unit 160 uses the attribute information of the added content for each search display of the device 20. The information is added to the corresponding portions of the databases 13 and 15 and the terminal database 17. When the content stored in the device 20 is deleted by the host device 10, the database update unit 160 displays the attribute information of the deleted content on the search display databases 13 and 15 of the device 20 and the terminal. Delete from the corresponding part of the database 17. Further, when the content attribute information stored in the device 20 is updated by the host device 10, the database update unit 160 displays the updated attribute information on each of the search display databases 13, 15 and 15 of the device 20. Overwrite the corresponding part of the terminal database 17.

  By such database update processing, the attribute information in each database in the device 20 can be updated so that the content actually owned by the device 20 can be matched, and the content search function can be appropriately executed.

  In addition, when the search display database 15 corresponding to the update target function includes a plurality of databases, the database update unit 160 updates all necessary ones among the plurality of databases.

  In addition, the database update unit 160 checks whether the host device 10 can communicate with an external device via the network 5 for each update target function, and causes the network environment, the operating state of the host device 10 and the like. Thus, when the host device 10 and the external device cannot communicate with each other, the update of the update target function database in the device 20 can be stopped.

  The database updating unit 160 performs provisional processing on the search display database 15 corresponding to the non-updatable function of the device 20 for non-updatable functions other than the update target function among the functions supported by the device. For example, when the function C is the non-updatable function among the functions A, B, and C supported by the device 20, the provisional process is stored in the search display database 15c for the function C in the terminal storage unit 240 of the device 20. Is given. In this provisional process, the database update unit 160 is newly added from the host apparatus 10 to the device 20 in, for example, an unclassified box provided in each search display database 15 corresponding to the non-updatable function of the device 20. Content identification information (for example, content ID, track number, etc.) is registered as unclassified information. Furthermore, the database update unit 160 registers the attribute information of the added content in the terminal database 17 of the device 20. This provisional process is a process that does not depend on each function, and is common to all non-updatable functions.

  Furthermore, when the database update unit 160 updates the search function database 15 of the update target function in the device 20, the unclassified information is registered in advance by another host device 10 in the unclassified box of the search function database 15. It is checked whether it has been registered, and if registered, the search function database 15 of the update target function is updated using the unclassified information. For example, when two content IDs are registered as unclassified information in the unclassified box of the search function database 15 for the update target function, the attribute information of the content corresponding to the content ID is stored in the device 20. The search function database 15 of the update target function is updated so as to read from the terminal database 17 and reflect the attribute information of the content.

  In this way, the database update unit 160 of the host device 10 performs provisional processing for the non-updatable function, and when the host device 10 is connected to another host device 10 that can handle the non-updatable function, The database update unit 160 of the other host device 10 appropriately sets the search display database 15 of the non-updatable function so as to reflect the attribute information of the content added to the device 20 from the host device 10 connected in the past. Can be updated. Thereby, when a new function is added to the device 20 or when the host device 10 does not support the function of the device 20, content is added from the host device 10 to the device 20. In addition, information regarding the newly added content can be prevented from being lost.

  The log recording unit 162 records a log indicating the update result of the search display database 15 of the device 20 by the database update unit 160 in the update log storage unit 250 of the device 20. At this time, the log recording unit 162 displays, for each update target function, the function update date and time when the search display database 15 is updated, and the version information of the update target function on the host device 10 side, and the update log storage unit 250. Are written in the update log file 252 respectively. For example, when the search display databases 15a and 15b of the functions A and B among the functions A, B and C corresponding to the device are updated, the function is displayed in the corresponding column in the update log file 252. The function ID of A and B and the function update date and time are written respectively, and the function update date and time are not written in the corresponding column of function C.

  Further, the log recording unit 162 writes the device update date and time, which is the date and time when the database update unit 160 performs the update process of the database of the device 20, to the update log file 252 in the update log storage unit 250. This device update date and time is not written for each function, and when the host device 10 connected to the device 20 updates at least one of the plurality of search display databases 15 of the device 20, This is date / time information written as only one piece of information indicating completion of update.

  As a result, the host device 10 connected to the device 20 thereafter corresponds to the device 20 by comparing the function update date and time for each function in the update log file 252 of the device 20 with the entire device update date and time. It is possible to detect whether or not the search display database 15 of each function to be updated has been updated at the last connection with the host device 10 before that.

  The distribution service using unit 164 performs processing related to the content distribution service with the content distribution server 30. Specifically, the distribution service using unit 164 receives various pieces of information such as user authentication information (user ID, password, etc.), billing information, and content distribution request information necessary for using the content distribution service. It transmits / receives to / from the distribution server 30 and supports input / output of these information.

  In addition, the distribution service using unit 164 acquires the distribution content transmitted from the content distribution server 30 and the license of the distribution content via the network 5 and the communication unit 132. That is, when the user of the host device 10 purchases content using the content distribution service, the distribution service utilization unit 164 downloads the distribution content and the license that defines the use conditions of the distribution content from the content distribution server 30. .

  Also, the distribution service using unit 164 receives distribution content attribute information from the content distribution server 30 during content distribution. The distribution content attribute information includes, for example, a title, artist name, album name, genre, playback time, content ID, distribution date, data size, data format, copyright management method type, and the like.

  The distribution service using unit 164 as described above is configured, for example, by installing content distribution service software corresponding to the content distribution service to be used in the host device 10. Note that a plurality of distribution service using units 164 may be provided for each of a plurality of content distribution services used by the user.

  The ripping unit 166 rips content recorded on a recording medium such as a CD or DVD on which music content or the like is recorded. Specifically, for example, the ripping unit 166 controls the drive 112 in accordance with user input, extracts music data from the storage medium, and formats the music data in the host device 10 (for example, ATRAC3 Format). The ripping unit 166 stores the ripped content in the content storage unit 120 and stores the attribute information in the host storage unit 146.

  The function execution unit 168 controls display of various information on the display unit 169. Specifically, the function execution unit 168 displays various content search screens on the display unit 169 in response to a user's selection operation when searching for content. At this time, the function execution unit 168 can display various search screens on the display unit 169 according to the search display tables 13 and 15 generated by the database update unit 160, for example. This is convenient because the user can easily and quickly search and select content that matches his / her preference while browsing the search screen. The display unit 169 includes, for example, the output device 110 described above.

  The functional configuration of each unit of the host device 10 according to the present embodiment has been described above. Each unit of the device 20 may be configured as hardware having the above functions, or may be configured by installing a program for causing the computer to realize the above functions in the host device 10. Good.

<Specific example of search display database>
Next, referring to FIGS. 11A to 11K, search display databases 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d corresponding to special search functions A, B, C, D, E belonging to the functional specification 12 according to the present embodiment. A specific example of 15e will be described.

  As described above, a plurality of types of search display databases 15 are prepared for each content search function in the device 20. The search display database 15 has a tree structure in which attribute information of each content is hierarchized so as to correspond one-to-one to a plurality of search screens sequentially displayed on the display unit 256 when searching for content in the device 20. Includes search display table. In addition to the search display table, the search display database 15 may include other databases for generating a tree structure search display table. The data structure of each search / display database 15 will be described in detail below.

  In the following description, “artist” is a singer, performer, songwriter, composer, arranger, or producer of music content (musical piece), and “album” is a collection of a plurality of music contents. The “title” is the name of the music content, the “track” is a common name of the music content included in one album, and the “track number” is the track name in the one album. It is a number representing the arrangement order, and “genre” is the music field to which the music content belongs.

(A. Artist link search display database)
FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram showing an artist link search display database 15a according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11A, the artist link search / display database 15a includes an artist relation database 15a-1 and a plurality of album search / display tables 15a-2 provided for each artist.

  The artist relation database 15a-1 is a database that stores artist link information that associates artists whose music contents (songs) have similar characteristics. Based on this artist relation database 15a-1, another artist related to the artist of the music content being played back can be detected, and the album search display table 15a-2 corresponding to this artist can be displayed on the search screen. .

  The album search display table 15a-2, the album search display table 13a, includes “album name” and “title” as content attribute information. The album search / display table 15a-2 has a two-layer structure including an “album layer” at the top layer and a “title layer” at the bottom layer. Further, the album search display table 15a-2 is provided with an unclassified box 19 in which the above-mentioned unclassified information is registered.

  In the album hierarchy, album names are sorted in reading order. In the illustrated example, the alphabets of the character strings constituting the album name are sorted in ascending order, such as album name “Many Prince” → “Singing” → “Sugar Low”. When the first characters are the same (the first character is “S” for both “Singing” and “Sugar Low”), the next character is determined (“i” <[u ”). In the title hierarchy, for each album, the titles of songs belonging to the album are sorted in track number order.

  In the title hierarchy, the titles of music pieces belonging to each album are sorted (initially sorted) in the order of track numbers. For example, albums with the album name “Many Prince” are sorted in the order of track numbers set in the album, such as the title “Kiroku” → “jumping”.

  The album search display table 15a-2 as described above is used when searching for music contents (music) using the album name as a search key for other artists extracted by artist links. At this time, since the album names are displayed in reading order, the user can easily search for a desired album, which is convenient. In addition, since the songs in each album are displayed in the order of the tracks in the album, it is convenient for the user who searched for the album.

(B. Reading Kana Search Display Database)
11B to 11E are explanatory diagrams showing a reading-kana search display database 15b according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 11B to 11E, the reading kana search / display database 15b includes a content reading kana database 15b-1, an album reading kana database 15b-2, an artist reading kana database 15b-3, and an initial all-music search display. A table 15b-4, an initial artist search display table 15b-5, and an initial album search display table 15b-6 are included.

  The content reading kana database 15b-1 shown in FIG. 11B is a database that defines reading kana or initials of each music content. The album reading pseudonym database 15b-2 is a database that defines the reading pseudonym or initial of each album. The artist reading kana database 15b-3 is a database that defines the reading kana or initials of each artist. The following search display tables 15b-4, 5, and 6 are generated on the basis of these reading kana databases 15b-1, 2, and 3.

  As shown in FIG. 11C, the initial all-music search / display table 15b-4 includes “initial” and “title” as content attribute information. “Initial” means an initial of each name. This initial all-music search display table 15b-4 has a two-layer structure including an "initial hierarchy" at the highest hierarchy and a "title hierarchy" at the lowest hierarchy.

  In the initial hierarchy, initial initials are sorted in the initial order. In the illustrated example, initials “B” → “N” → “J” → “ki” → “sa” → “seo” are sorted in alphabetical order and in Japanese syllabary alphabetical order. ing. In the title hierarchy, titles having initials as initials may be sorted in the reading order (initial sort) for each initial unit.

  The initial all-music search display table 15b-4 as described above is used when searching for music content (music) using the initial of the title as a search key. At this time, since the titles of a plurality of music contents (music pieces) are displayed in reading order for each initial, the user can easily search for desired music contents (music pieces). Further, it is convenient because a desired music content (musical piece) can be directly searched without using an artist name or album name, and a quick search is possible when the title name is known.

  As shown in FIG. 11D, the initial artist search display table 15b-5 includes “initial”, “artist name”, “album name”, and “title” as content attribute information. This initial artist search display table 15b-5 includes an "initial hierarchy" at the highest hierarchy, an "artist hierarchy" at the second hierarchy, an "album hierarchy" at the third hierarchy, and "an album hierarchy" at the lowest hierarchy. It has a four-layer structure consisting of “title hierarchy”.

  In the initial hierarchy, initial initials are sorted in the initial order. In the artist hierarchy, artist names are sorted in the reading order (initial sort) for each initial unit. In the album hierarchy, album names belonging to the artist are sorted in the reading order (initial sort) for each artist. In the title hierarchy, the titles of the music pieces belonging to each album are sorted in order of track number in each album unit.

In the initial artist search display table 15b-5 as described above, the artist name is searched using the initial of the artist name as a search key, the album name is searched using the artist name as a search key, and the album name is searched. Used when searching for music content (music) as a key. At this time, if an initial is input, it is convenient that only the artist names having the initials are displayed in a list, and then the artist name and album name are displayed in reading order. It is easy to search for artists and albums.
As shown in FIG. 11E, the initial album search / display table 15b-6 includes “initial”, “album name”, and “title” as attribute information of the content. The initial album search / display table 15b-6 has a three-layer structure including an “initial layer” of the highest layer, an “album layer” of the middle layer, and a “title layer” of the lowest layer.

  In the initial hierarchy, initial initial letters are sorted in the initial order and arranged in alphabetical order. In the album hierarchy, album names are sorted in the reading order (initial sort) for each initial unit. Furthermore, in the title hierarchy, the titles of the songs belonging to each album are sorted in track number order for each album.

  The initial album search display table 15b-6 as described above is used when searching for an album name using the artist name initial as a search key, and further searching for music content (music) using the album name as a search key. The At this time, if an initial is input, it is convenient that only the album names having the initial as an initial are displayed in a list, and thereafter, the album names are displayed in reading order, so that the user can select a desired album. Easy to search and convenient.

  The search display tables 15b-4, 5 and 6 as described above are provided with an unclassified box 19 in which the unclassified information is registered. In the search display tables 15b-4, 5, and 6, the highest hierarchy is the “initial hierarchy”, but it can also be the “reading kana hierarchy”. In this case, each name is a reading kana. Sorted.

(C. Database for searching and displaying the latest transfer songs)
FIG. 11F is an explanatory diagram showing the latest transfer song search display database 15c according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11F, the latest transfer song search / display database 15c includes a latest transfer song search / display table 15c-1.

  The latest transfer song search display table 15c-1 includes “transfer time”, “album name”, and “title” of content from the host apparatus 10 to the device 20 as content attribute information. The latest transfer song search / display table 15c-1 has a three-layer structure including a “transfer time layer” of the highest layer, an “album layer” of the middle layer, and a “title layer” of the lowest layer. . The latest transfer song search display table 15c-1 is provided with an unclassified box 19 in which the unclassified information is registered.

  In the transfer time hierarchy, for example, the last three transfer times are sorted in order of oldest transfer time. In the example shown in the drawing, the transfer times are sorted in the order of oldest transfer time, such as “transfer music before last transfer” → “last transfer music” → “latest transfer music”. In the album hierarchy, the album names transferred at the transfer time are sorted in the order of addition (recording order) to the device 20 for each transfer time unit. In the title hierarchy, the titles of music pieces belonging to the album are sorted in the order of addition in units of albums.

  The latest transfer song search display table 15c-1 as described above is used when searching for an album name using the transfer time as a search key and further searching for music content (music) using the album name as a search key. At this time, the album name and title are classified according to the transfer time, and the album name and title are displayed in the order of addition to the device 20, so that the user can select desired content (for example, recently transferred) according to the transfer time. Content) and the like can be easily searched.

  The latest transfer song search / display table 15c-1 according to the present embodiment is an example of a search / display table corresponding to the content transfer time from the host apparatus 10 to the device 20, but in addition to this example, For example, as a search display table corresponding to the distribution time from the content distribution server 30 to the host device 10, a distribution time search display table can be created in the same manner as the latest transfer song search display table 15c-1.

(D. Database for bookmark search display)
FIG. 11G is an explanatory diagram showing a bookmark search display database 15d according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11G, the bookmark search display database 15d includes a bookmark search display table 15d-1.

  In this bookmark search display table 15d-1, music contents registered as favorite music by the user are sorted in the order of registration, for example. This bookmark search display table 15d-1 makes it possible to easily search for a favorite song registered in advance by the user.

(E. Database for search history display)
11H to 11K are explanatory diagrams showing the reproduction history search display database 15e according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 11H to 11K, the reproduction history search display database 15e includes a reproduction log database 15e-1, a reproduction history database 15e-2, a reproduction date search display table 15e-3, and a rating search display. Table 15e-4 and automatic playlist search display table 15e-5.

  The reproduction log database 15 e-1 is a database that stores a log (the event log) related to content reproduction processing in the device 20. The reproduction history database 15e-2 is a database that stores reproduction history information (for example, content operation evaluation value (rating), number of reproductions, reproduction date / time, etc.) generated based on an event log or the like. Based on the information in the reproduction history database 15e-2, the following search display tables 15e-3, 4, and 5 are generated.

  As shown in FIG. 11I, the playback date search display table 15e-3 includes a group name “playback date”, a group name “playback date”, and content as content attribute information. The name “title” is included. The reproduction date search display table 15e-3 includes a “reproduction date hierarchy” in the highest hierarchy, a “reproduction date hierarchy” in the middle hierarchy, and a “title hierarchy” in the lowest hierarchy. It has a three-layer structure. The reproduction date search display table 15e-3 is provided with an unclassified box 19 in which the unclassified information is registered.

  In the playback date hierarchy, playback dates are sorted in order of playback date. In the playback date hierarchy, the playback dates are sorted in the order of playback date. In the illustrated example, the playback dates “2005/03/29”, “2005/03/30”, and “2005/03/31” are sorted in the oldest order within the playback date “2005/03”. Has been. Further, in the title hierarchy, the titles of the contents (music pieces) reproduced on the reproduction date are sorted in order of the reproduction time in the order of reproduction date.

  The playback date search display table 15e-3 as described above searches the playback date using the playback date as a search key, and further searches the music content (song) using the playback date as the search key. Used when. At this time, since the tracks are displayed in the order of the reproduction history, the user can easily search for, for example, music that was often viewed during a predetermined period in the past. Further, the “reproduction date search display table 15e-3” can be used not only for such search display purposes but also as a playlist in which contents are gathered for each reproduction period.

  As shown in FIG. 11J, the rating search display table 15e-4 includes “evaluation value level” and “title” as content attribute information. The evaluation value level is, for example, an evaluation value P of “1 (P ≦ 1)”, “2 (1 <p ≦ 2)”, “3 (2 <p ≦ 3)”, “4 (3 <p ≦ 4) ”and“ 5 (4 <p ≦ 5) ”. As the evaluation value, either the calculation evaluation value or the input evaluation value may be used, or an average value of both may be used. The rating search display table 15e-4 has a two-layer structure including an "evaluation value level hierarchy" of the highest hierarchy and a "title hierarchy" of the lowest hierarchy. The rating search display table 15e-4 is provided with an unclassified box 19 in which the above-mentioned unclassified information is registered.

  In the evaluation value level hierarchy, evaluation value levels are sorted in descending order of evaluation values. Also, in the title hierarchy, the titles of the contents (songs) to which the evaluation value of the evaluation value level is added in the unit of each evaluation value level, in descending order of the number of times of reproduction (or in the order of the high evaluation value added to the content). ). Note that the number of times each content is played can be determined based on the analysis result of the event log (playback history).

  The rating search display table 15e-4 as described above is used when searching for music content (music) using the evaluation value level as a search key. At this time, since the titles of the contents are displayed in the order of the number of reproductions of the contents or the evaluation values added to the contents in the order of high (or low), the user is related to the genre and the artist. Therefore, it is convenient to search for contents that are frequently listened to and contents recommended by a distribution service provider (a high evaluation value is added in advance) easily and quickly.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 11K, the automatic playlist search display table 15e-5 includes “playlist name” and “title” as content attribute information. This automatic playlist is created automatically by the host device 10 based on the analysis result of the above-described reproduction history (event log). Here, an example of an automatic playlist whose playlist name is “Top 100 to listen to frequently” is given. This playlist is a list in which 100 contents having a high reproduction frequency are selected based on the analysis result of the reproduction history (event log) and sorted in the order of reproduction frequency (for example, in the order of the total number of reproductions). However, besides this, various types of playlists can be automatically created based on the reproduction frequency as described above.

  The automatic playlist search / display table 15e-5 has a two-layer structure including a "playlist hierarchy" at the highest hierarchy and a "title hierarchy" at the lowest hierarchy. In the title hierarchy, the titles of the contents (music pieces) included in the playlist are sorted in order of reproduction frequency.

  The automatic playlist search display table 15e-5 as described above is used when searching for music content (music) in a specific playlist. At this time, since the tracks are displayed in the order of reproduction frequency, for example, the user can easily search for music having a high viewing frequency, which is convenient.

  The example of the data structure of the plurality of search display databases 15 according to the present embodiment has been described above. In addition to the above example, various types of search display databases 15 can be created according to the type of search function. Further, the search display database 15 according to the present embodiment is created by the host device 10, but is not limited to this example. For example, a part of the search display database 15 having a simple data structure is created by the device 20. Alternatively, a part of the search display database 15 (for example, artist hierarchy, album hierarchy, track hierarchy, etc.) is created by the host device 10, and the remaining hierarchy (for example, initial hierarchy) is created by the device 20. It can also be created.

<Operation sequence>
Next, an operation sequence between the host apparatus 10 and the device 20 in the database management system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an operation sequence between the host apparatus 10 and the device 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As an initial state in FIG. 12, in the past, a plurality of contents and the search display database 15 corresponding to the contents are transferred and stored from the host apparatus 10 to the device 20, and the device 20 whose connection is cut off. 2, a part of the content is reproduced and an event log is accumulated, and a deletion schedule list is generated. Thereafter, the host device 10 assumes a state where new content has been downloaded from the content distribution server 30.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 12, when the host device 10 and the device 20 are connected (S10: connection step), the host device 10 detects that the device 20 is connected (S12: connection detection step). ).

  Then, the host device 10 accesses the connected device 20 and requests to transfer necessary information (S14: access step). As a result, the host apparatus 10 acquires information such as content IDs, event logs, and deletion schedule lists of a plurality of contents stored in the device 20 from the device 20 (S16: acquisition step).

  Next, the host device 10 recognizes the content stored in the device 20 based on the content ID acquired from the device 20, and also based on the content ID stored in the host storage unit 146. Is recognized (S18: recognition step). Further, the host device 10 compares the content stored in the host device 10 with the content stored in the device 20, and detects the difference between the two (S20: comparison step). In this case, since the host device 10 has acquired new content from the content distribution server 30 as described above, the host device 10 has content that the device 20 does not have, and there is a difference in content between the two. is there.

  Furthermore, the host apparatus 10 updates the content held by the device 20 by adding and deleting content to the device 20 (S22: content update step). Specifically, for example, the host device 10 deletes the content corresponding to the content ID included in the deletion schedule list acquired from the device 20 from the content storage unit 220 of the device 20. Further, the host device 10 adds the content newly distributed from the content distribution server 30 to the content storage unit 220 of the device 20 in response to a user input or automatically. Further, the content attribute information stored in the terminal database 17 of the device 20 is updated in accordance with the addition and deletion of the content. As a result of such an update process, the content stored in the device 20 has changed. Therefore, the device 20 needs to update the search display database 15 in response to the change in the content.

  Thereafter, the host apparatus 10 maintains each search function of the device 20, and thereby updates a database corresponding to each search function in the terminal storage unit 240 of the device 20 (S30: maintenance step). Details of this maintenance will be described later (see FIG. 13).

  After that, when receiving a content search instruction from the user, the device 20 displays a search screen using the updated search display database 15 (S32: display control step). Specifically, the device 20 reads the search display database 15 corresponding to the search function selected by the user input from the terminal storage unit 240, and sequentially displays the search screen using the read search display database 15. . The user can select music content, album, artist, or the like desired to be reproduced while browsing the search screen.

  Next, the device 20 selects one or more contents to be reproduced based on the selection input by the user (S34: content selection step), and reproduces the selected content (S36: reproduction step).

  The operation sequence between the host apparatus 10 and the device 20 according to the present embodiment has been described above. As described above, the search display database 15 of each search function to which the device 20 corresponds is created by the host device 10 and stored in the terminal storage unit 240 of the device 20. When searching for content, the device 20 simply reads out the search display database 15 of the search function selected by the user from the plurality of search display databases 15 in the terminal storage unit 240 and displays it as it is. Accordingly, since the device 20 does not need to create the search display database 15, the processing load on the device 20 during the search can be reduced. Therefore, even if the device 20 has a low processing capability, the display speed during search can be improved and the battery consumption can be suppressed.

  Next, a database update method for the device 20 by the host apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the database update method according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the host device 10 requests the device 20 to issue a command (S100), the device 20 issues an update request command and notifies the host device 10 (S102). The update request command includes a corresponding function list of the device 20, and the corresponding function list is information in which the function ID of each function corresponding to the device 20 is associated with the version information. Includes function IDs of functions that are not supported.

  In response to the command request (S100), the host device 10 is a device in which the connected device 20 is compatible with the database format according to the present embodiment, depending on whether or not an update request command is received from the device 20. It is possible to determine whether the device is compatible with other database formats. In the illustrated example, since the device 20 issues an update request command, it can be said that the device corresponds to the database format according to the present embodiment.

  The host device 10 can acquire the function ID of the function supported by the device 20 and the version information of the function by receiving the update request command from the device 20 (S104: device information acquisition step). In the illustrated example, the device 20 corresponds to functions A, B, C, and D, and the versions of these functions A, B, C, and D are “1.0”, “1.1”, “ 1.0 "and" 2.0 ". The device 20 is not compatible with the function E. The device 20 does not support the function E, for example, when the function E itself is not installed in the device 20 or when the function setting unit 236 of the device 20 sets the function E to non-support based on the user input. There are cases.

  Next, the host device 10 reads the corresponding function list of the host device 10 from its own function information storage unit 154, thereby acquiring the function ID of the function supported by the host device 10 and the version information of the function (S106). : Host information acquisition step). In the illustrated example, the host device 10 supports functions A, B, D, and E, and the versions of these functions A, B, D, and E are “1.0”, “1.0”, “1.4” and “1.2”. The host device 10 does not support function C.

  Furthermore, the host device 10 updates the functions that can be supported by the host device 10 from the functions that the device 20 supports, based on the supported function list of the device 20 and the supported function list of the host device 10. The target function is extracted (S108: update function extraction step). At this time, the host device 10 determines not only whether or not the host device 10 corresponds to the function supported by the device 20, but also the major version and minor version information of each function supported by the device 20 and the host device 10. As a result, the update target function is extracted.

  In the illustrated example, the function C is supported by the device 20, but is not supported by the host device 10, and thus is excluded from the update target functions. The function E is supported by the host device 10 but is not supported by the device 20 and is therefore excluded from the update target function. Further, the function D is excluded from the update target function because the major version of the host device 10 is lower than the major version of the device 20 (1.4 <2.0). On the other hand, the functions A and B are extracted as update target functions because both the device 20 and the host apparatus 10 are compatible and the major versions of the device 20 and the host apparatus 10 are the same.

  Next, the host device 10 updates the database of the device 20 for the extracted update target function (S110: database update step). Specifically, the host device 10 updates the search function databases 15a and 15b of the functions A and B of the device 20 for the functions A and B that are the update target functions. In this case, the host device 10 may access the terminal storage unit 240 of the device 20 and directly overwrite the search function databases 15a and 15b, or read the search function databases 15a and 15b from the device 20. May be acquired and updated to new search function databases 15 a and 15 b in the host device 10, and then written back to the terminal storage unit 240 of the device 20.

  On the other hand, for the functions C, D, and E that are incompatible functions, the host device 10 performs the above-described provisional processing on the search function databases 15c, 15d, and 15e of the functions C, D, and E of the device 20. . Note that if the device 20 does not have the search function database 15e of the function E that is not supported, the host device 10 may not perform provisional processing for the function E.

  Thereafter, the host device 10 records a log indicating the database update result in S110 in the update log file 252 of the device 20 (S112: log recording step). In the illustrated case, for the functions A and B whose databases have been updated, the host device 10 writes “1.0”, which is version information on the host device 10 side, and the function update date and time in the corresponding columns of the update log file 252. . On the other hand, since the other functions C, D, and E have not been updated, the host device 10 does not write the function update date and version information in the corresponding column of the update log file 252.

  Next, the database update method according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a database update process flow for each function in the database update method according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 14, first, the host apparatus 10 performs a predetermined normal process on the device 20 (S200). This normal process is a process that does not depend on the specification of each function. For example, a process for notifying the device 20 of addition / deletion of content, a process for determining on / off of each function in the device 20, For example, the terminal database 17 is updated. Note that step S200 may be omitted.

  Next, the host device 10 determines whether or not the function required by the device 20 can be supported (normal maintenance is possible) (S202). As a result, if it is possible to respond, the function is set as an update target function, and the process proceeds to step S206.

  Thereafter, in step S204, the host device 10 updates the search display database 15 of the update target function in the device 20 by a unique update method defined for each function (S204). For example, when updating the latest transfer song search display database 15c (see FIG. 11F), the attribute information of the content newly transferred from the host device 10 to the device 20 this time is written in the directory of “latest transfer song”. At the same time, the contents originally written in the "Last Transfer Song" directory are moved to the "Last Transfer Song" directory, and the contents originally written in the "Last Transfer Song" directory are changed to the "Last Transfer Song" directory. Move and delete the contents originally written in the directory of “Transfer Song Previously”.

  On the other hand, in step S206, the host device 10 provisionally processes the search-and-display database 15 of the target impossible function in the device 20 by a method common to each function (S206). For example, when the search display database 15 for the incapable function is the latest transfer song search display database 15c (see FIG. 11F), the unclassified box 19 provided in the latest transfer song search display table 15c-1 is displayed. The content identification information (for example, content ID, track number, etc.) newly transferred from the host apparatus 10 to the device 20 this time is recorded as unclassified information. As a result, when the device 20 is connected to another host device 10 that can support the latest transfer song search function, the other host device 10 detects that there is unclassified information and adds the new information. The attribute information of the content thus written can be written in the “latest transfer song” directory or the like, and the latest transfer song search / display database 15c can be appropriately updated.

  Next, a specific example of the database update method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating a specific example of the database update method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a function control flow based on the update log file 252 in the device 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 15, functions A to D include a host apparatus 10A that can support functions A and B (version 1.0) and a host apparatus 10B that can support functions A to D (version 2.0). Consider a case where the database of the device 20 that can support (version 1.2) is updated.

  First, it is assumed that the host apparatus 10A and the device 20 are connected (S300), and new content A is added to the device 20 from the host apparatus 10A (S302). Thereafter, when the host device 10A maintains the database of the device 20 at the date and time t1 (S304), the host device 10A can normally update the function A and B databases of the device 20 according to the addition of the content. . However, since the host device 10A cannot update the database of the functions C and D of the device 20, as a provisional process, the content ID of the added content A is added to the unclassified box 19 of the database of the functions C and D. Is registered as unclassified information.

  As a result of such maintenance by the host apparatus 10A, the update log file 252 of the device 20 records the date and time “t1” as the device update date and time as shown in the figure, and the function update date and time “ t1 ”and version information“ 1.0 ”on the host device 10A side are recorded, but the function update date and time information and version information are not recorded for the functions A and B.

  Thereafter, when executing the content search function, the device 20 controls the operations of the search functions A to D based on the update log file 252 (S306). Here, the function control based on the update log file 252 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 16, first, the device 20 reads the update log file 252 from the update log storage unit 250 in the device 20 (S400). Next, the device 20 compares the device update date / time t1 in the read update log file 252 with the function update date / time of each function (S402), and the function update coincides with the device update date / time t1, which is the last update date / time for the device 20. The functions A and B to which the date and time t1 are given are specified as the functions whose database has been updated (S404). On the other hand, functions that do not coincide with the device update date / time t1 and functions C and D to which no function update date / time is assigned are determined to be functions whose database has not been updated. After that, when searching for content, the device 20 executes the functions A and B for which the database has been updated as usual, while the functions C and D for which the database has been determined not to be updated, for example, a display screen Control is performed so as to execute without displaying the above or displaying a warning (S406).

  Returning to FIG. After S306, it is assumed that the host device 10B and the device 20 are connected (S308), and new content B is added to the device 20 from the host device 10B (S310). Thereafter, when the host device 10B maintains the database of the device 20 at the date and time t2 (S312), the host device 10B updates the database of all the functions A to D of the device 20 normally according to the deletion of the content. it can.

  At this time, the host device 10B checks whether or not unregistered information is registered in the unclassified box 19 of the database of functions A to D. In the illustrated example, unregistered information is registered in the unclassified box 19 of the database of functions C and D by the host device 10A. In this case, the host device 10B can detect that the information on the content A added by the host device 10A is not reflected in the databases of the functions C and D based on the unregistered information. For this reason, when updating the databases of the functions C and D, the host device 10B reflects not only the content B added by the host device 10B but also the information of the content A previously added by the host device 10A. , D database can be updated appropriately without loss of information.

  Further, at the time of updating by the host device 10B, even if the host device 10B does not store the content A added to the device 20 by the host device 10A, the unregistered information in the device 20 and the content included in the terminal database 17 Based on the attribute information of A, the database of each function can be updated for the content A.

  Further, at the time of the maintenance, the host device 10B acquires the update log file 252 from the device 20, and based on the version information in the update log file 252, the version of the host device 10A that has updated the database of functions A and B in the past. Can be grasped. As a result, the host apparatus 10B can appropriately re-update the database of the functions A and B that have been updated in the past.

  As a result of the maintenance by the host device 10B as described above, the update log file 252 of the device 20 records the date and time “t2” as the device update date and time as shown in FIG. “T2” and version information “2.0” on the host device 10B side are recorded.

  Thereafter, when executing the content search function, the device 20 controls the operation of each search function A to D based on the update log file 252 as shown in FIG. 16 (S314). At this time, since the device update date / time t1 in the update log file 252 matches the function update date / time t2 assigned to each function A to D, the device 20 has already updated the database for all the functions A to D. And all functions A to D are executed as usual.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 17, in the database update method according to the present embodiment, a method for controlling database update for each function in consideration of the presence / absence of communication connection with an external device will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a database update control flow based on the presence / absence of communication connection with an external device in the database update method according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 17, first, the host device 10 determines whether or not it is necessary to connect to an external device via the network 5 by the communication unit 132 in order to update the search display database 15 of the update target function. Judgment is made (S500). Some of the various search display databases 15 cannot be suitably updated unless necessary information is acquired from an external device that provides information necessary for update processing via the network 5 and the communication unit 132. For example, in order to update the artist link search function database 15a, it is necessary to obtain artist link information related to the artist of the content newly added to the device 20 from an external device such as the content distribution server 30 via the network 5. There is.

  In step S500, it is determined whether the update target function is a function that needs to acquire update information from the external device via the network 5, such as the artist link search function. As a result, if it is not necessary to connect the external device via the network 5 in order to update the search display database 15 for the update target function, the process proceeds to step S504, and the search display database 15 for the update diverse function. Is updated (S504). On the other hand, if it is necessary to connect to an external apparatus via the network 5 in order to update the search display database 15 of the update target function, the process proceeds to step S502.

  In step S502, it is determined whether or not the host device 10 can communicate with an external device via the network 5 (step S502). As a result, if communication is possible, the process proceeds to step S504, and the search display database 15 of the update target function is updated (S504). On the other hand, if communication is impossible, the process proceeds to step S506, and the update of the search display database 15 for the update target function is stopped (S506). The processes of S500 to S506 as described above are repeatedly executed for all the update target functions (S508).

  As described above, for each update target function, it is checked whether or not the host device 10 can communicate with an external device via the network 5, and the host environment 10 and the operation state of the host device 10 are the cause. When the device 10 and the external device cannot communicate, the update of the update target function database in the device 20 is stopped. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a database that requires external connection for updating, such as the search display database 15a of the artist link search function, from being insufficiently updated, and the processing load required for updating the database of the device 20 and Processing time can be reduced.

  Heretofore, the database management system 100 according to the present embodiment, the host device 10 and the device 20 constituting the database management system 100 have been described in detail. According to the present embodiment, the host device 10 functions the database of the device 20 by exchanging the update request command and the update log file between the host device 10 and the device 20 using the database format decomposed for each function. It can be updated every time. Then, the host device 10 updates the database of only the functions that can be supported by the device 20 and writes the update result log to the device 20 for each function. For impossible functions, provisional processing is performed, and the update of the database is entrusted to another host device.

  Therefore, in the device 20 and the host device 10, it is possible to select corresponding / incompatible for each function. For this reason, for example, in the light-weight device 20 having a relatively small storage capacity of the storage medium, an unnecessary function is set to non-corresponding and separated, so that it is not necessary to store a database of the unnecessary function. Therefore, the storage capacity for the content can be ensured accordingly. In addition, since it is not necessary to update the database of unnecessary functions, the processing load and processing time when the host device 10 updates the database of the device 20 can be reduced. Further, in the host device 10 with limited processing capability, it is possible to improve the ease of mounting of the host device 10 by not supporting the heavyweight function, and the host device with low processing capability such as HDD components. Can be realized.

  In addition, new functions can be added to the new device 20 relatively easily. For example, in the conventional data format, even if the new function device 20 is connected to the host device 10 having the old function, not only the new function of the device 20 but also the database of the existing function cannot be updated. However, in the present embodiment, even if the host device 10 has an old function, the database of the existing function of the device 20 can be updated, and provisional processing can be performed on the database of the new function. Therefore, a new function can be added to each device without being constrained by the old function device 20 or the old function host device 10 already distributed in the market.

  Further, when searching for content, the device 20 itself does not need to create a database, and the stored database may be simply displayed as a search screen. For this reason, while being able to reduce the processing load of the device 20, battery consumption can be suppressed. Therefore, even in the device 20 having a low processing capability and limited in terms of battery, a high-level search can be realized.

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

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example of the content search function is given as the function of the device 20, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and any device can be used as long as the database is updated by the host device 10. Any function such as 20 playback functions, display functions, and communication functions may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the update request command from the device 20 to the host device 10 includes the function ID of the function supported by the device 20 and the version information of the function. It is not limited to. For example, the update request command includes date information and the like when each function is installed in the device 20, and the host device 10 determines whether or not to update the database of the function based on the date information and the like. It may be.

  In the above embodiment, the update log file 252 recorded in the device 20 includes the function ID of the updated function, the function update date and time, and the updated version. It is not limited to. For example, the host device 10 may record update result information indicating an update pattern (maintenance pattern) or the like for each function database in the update log file 252.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a database management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a method for displaying a search screen using a search display database in the device according to the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the sales order to the market of the host apparatus and device accompanying development of a new function. It is a table | surface which shows the relationship of the response | compatibility between apparatuses in the database format concerning the same embodiment as the past. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the database format concerning the embodiment. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a hardware configuration of a device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of a device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the host database concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for artist link search display concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for reading and searching for kana according to the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for reading and searching for kana according to the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for reading and searching for kana according to the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for reading and searching for kana according to the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for the latest transfer music search display concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for bookmark search display concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for a reproduction history search display concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for a reproduction history search display concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for a reproduction history search display concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the database for a reproduction history search display concerning the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an operation sequence between the host apparatus and the device according to the embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the database update method concerning the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the database update process flow for every function in the database update method concerning the embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the specific example of the database update method concerning the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the function control flow based on the update log file in the device concerning the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a database update control flow based on the presence / absence of communication connection with an external device in the database update method according to the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Network 7 Removable storage medium 10 Host apparatus 12 Functional specification 14 Basic specification 15 Database for search display 16 Normal functional specification 17 Terminal database 20 Device 30 Content distribution server 100 Database management system 120 Content storage part 122 Playback operation part 124 Playback part 126 Date and time Information generation unit 128 Playback history generation unit 130 Playback history storage unit 132 Communication unit 134 Connection detection unit 136 Device information acquisition unit 138 Playback history analysis unit 140 Analysis result storage unit 142 Evaluation value calculation unit 144 Evaluation value input unit 146 Host storage unit 148 Playlist generation unit 150 Content update unit 154 Function information storage unit 156 Host information acquisition unit 158 Update function extraction unit 160 Database update unit 162 Log recording unit 164 Distribution Service usage unit 166 Ripping unit 168 Function execution unit 169 Display unit 170 Host database 220 Content storage unit 222 Playback operation unit 224 Playback unit 226 Date and time information generation unit 228 Playback history generation unit 230 Playback history storage unit 232 Delete instruction reception unit 234 Deleted content Storage unit 236 Function setting unit 238 Function information storage unit 239 Update request unit 240 Terminal storage unit 242 Evaluation value input unit 244 Information reading unit 246 Communication unit 248 Information writing unit 250 Update log storage unit 252 Update log file 254 Function execution unit 256 Display section

Claims (32)

A host device that updates the database of a connected device:
A device information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the device and information indicating a version of the function from the device;
A host information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the host device and information indicating a version of the function from the function information storage unit of the host device;
Based on the information acquired by the device information acquisition unit and the information acquired by the host information acquisition unit, a function that can be supported by the host device among the functions supported by the device is set as an update target function. An update function extractor to extract;
A database update unit for updating a database corresponding to the update target function in the device;
A log recording unit for recording in the device a log indicating an update result by the database update unit;
A host device comprising: The function is a search function for searching a plurality of content data stored in the device,
The database is a search display database in which attribute information of the plurality of content data is classified according to the search function, and the device corresponds to one or more of the search functions corresponding to the device, respectively. It has a database for search display.
The database update unit of the host device updates the search display database in the device for each update target function in accordance with addition or deletion of content data to the device or update of content data attribute information. The host device according to claim 1, wherein:   The database update unit is newly added to the device from the host device to the database corresponding to the function that cannot be supported by the host device, among the functions supported by the device, which is not supported by the host device. The host apparatus according to claim 1, wherein identification information of content data is registered as unclassified information.   The database update unit, when the unclassified information is registered in advance in the database of the update target function in the device, updates the database of the update target function using the unclassified information. The host device according to claim 3. The device stores a plurality of databases corresponding to the functions,
The host apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the database update unit updates the plurality of databases corresponding to the update target function in the device. The host device further includes a communication unit capable of communicating with an external device that provides information necessary for update processing by the database update unit,
The host device according to claim 1, wherein the database update unit does not update a database corresponding to the function to be updated when the communication unit cannot communicate with the external device. When one of the functions to be updated needs to update the database using information acquired from the external device via the communication unit,
The host device according to claim 6, wherein the database update unit does not update the database corresponding to the one function when the communication unit cannot communicate with the external device.   The update function extraction unit includes major version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the device information acquisition unit, and major version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the host information acquisition unit; The host device according to claim 1, wherein a function that can be supported by the host device is extracted as the update target function based on the function.   The update function extraction unit includes minor version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the device information acquisition unit, and minor version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the host information acquisition unit; 9. The host device according to claim 8, wherein a function that can be supported by the host device is extracted as the update target function based on the function.   The log recording unit records a device update date and time that is the date and time when the update process is performed by the database update unit on the device, and a function update date and time that is a date and time when the database is updated for each update target function; 2. The host apparatus according to claim 1, wherein version information of the update target function on the host apparatus side is recorded in the device. A database management system for updating a database of a device by a host device connectable to the device:
The device is
A function information storage unit that stores identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the device and information indicating the version of the function;
A terminal storage unit for storing a database corresponding to each function corresponding to the device;
A function execution unit that executes the functions corresponding to the device using the database stored in the terminal storage unit;
With
The host device is
A device information acquisition unit that acquires, from the device, identification information of each function to which the device corresponds and information indicating a version of the function;
A host information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the host device and information indicating a version of the function from the function information storage unit of the host device;
Based on the information acquired by the device information acquisition unit and the information acquired by the host information acquisition unit, a function that can be supported by the host device among the functions supported by the device is set as an update target function. An update function extractor to extract;
A database update unit for updating a database corresponding to the update target function in the terminal storage unit of the device;
A log recording unit for recording in the device a log indicating an update result by the database update unit;
A database management system comprising:   12. The function execution unit of the device controls each function corresponding to the device based on a log indicating an update result recorded by the log recording unit of the host device. The database management system described in 1. The function is a search function for searching a plurality of content data stored in the device,
The database is a search display database in which attribute information of the plurality of content data is classified according to the search function, and the device corresponds to one or more of the search functions corresponding to the device, respectively. It has a database for search display.
The database update unit of the host device updates the search display database in the device for each update target function in accordance with addition or deletion of content data to the device or update of content data attribute information. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein:   The database update unit is newly added to the device from the host device to the database corresponding to the function that cannot be supported by the host device, among the functions supported by the device, which is not supported by the host device. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein identification information of content data is registered as unclassified information.   The database update unit, when the unclassified information is registered in advance in the database of the update target function in the device, updates the database of the update target function using the unclassified information. The database management system according to claim 14. The device stores a plurality of databases corresponding to the functions,
The database management system according to claim 11, wherein the database update unit updates the plurality of databases corresponding to the update target function in the device. The host device further includes a communication unit capable of communicating with an external device that provides information necessary for update processing by the database update unit,
The database management system according to claim 11, wherein the database update unit does not update a database corresponding to the update target function when the communication unit cannot communicate with the external device. When one of the functions to be updated needs to update the database using information acquired from the external device via the communication unit,
18. The database management system according to claim 17, wherein when the communication unit cannot communicate with the external device, the database update unit does not update the database corresponding to the one function.   The update function extraction unit includes major version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the device information acquisition unit, and major version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the host information acquisition unit; 12. The database management system according to claim 11, wherein a function that can be supported by the host device is extracted as the update target function based on the database.   The update function extraction unit includes minor version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the device information acquisition unit, and minor version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the host information acquisition unit; The database management system according to claim 19, wherein a function that can be supported by the host device is extracted as the update target function based on the database. The log recording unit records the device update date and time that is the date and time when the update process by the database update unit is performed on the device, and the function update date and time that is the date and time when the database is updated for each update target function; Record the version information of the update target function on the host device side in the device;
The function execution unit identifies, based on a comparison result between the device update date and time and the function update date and time, a function in which the database has been updated among the functions corresponding to the device. Item 12. The database management system according to Item 11. A database update method for updating a database included in a device by a host apparatus connectable to the device, comprising:
A device information acquisition step of acquiring identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the device and information indicating a version of the function from the device;
A host information acquisition step of acquiring identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the host device and information indicating the version of the function from the function information storage unit of the host device;
Based on the information acquired in the device information acquisition step and the information acquired in the host information acquisition step, a function that can be supported by the host device among the functions supported by the device is set as an update target function. An update function extraction step to extract;
A database update step of updating a database corresponding to the update target function in the device;
A log recording step of recording a log indicating an update result in the database update step in the device;
The database update method characterized by including. Computer
A host device that updates the database of a connected device:
A device information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the device and information indicating a version of the function from the device;
A host information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of one or more functions corresponding to the host device and information indicating a version of the function from the function information storage unit of the host device;
Based on the information acquired by the device information acquisition unit and the information acquired by the host information acquisition unit, a function that can be supported by the host device among the functions supported by the device is set as an update target function. An update function extractor to extract;
A database update unit for updating a database corresponding to the update target function in the device;
A log recording unit for recording in the device a log indicating an update result by the database update unit;
For functioning as a host device equipped with The function is a search function for searching a plurality of content data stored in the device,
The database is a search display database in which attribute information of the plurality of content data is classified according to the search function, and the device corresponds to one or more of the search functions corresponding to the device, respectively. It has a database for search display.
The database update unit of the host device updates the search display database in the device for each update target function in accordance with addition or deletion of content data to the device or update of content data attribute information. The program according to claim 23, characterized in that:   The database update unit is newly added to the device from the host device to the database corresponding to the function that cannot be supported by the host device, among the functions supported by the device, which is not supported by the host device. 24. The program according to claim 23, wherein identification information of content data is registered as unclassified information.   The database update unit, when the unclassified information is registered in advance in the database of the update target function in the device, updates the database of the update target function using the unclassified information. The program according to claim 25. The device stores a plurality of databases corresponding to the functions,
The program according to claim 23, wherein the database updating unit updates the plurality of databases corresponding to the update target function in the device. The host device further includes a communication unit capable of communicating with an external device that provides information necessary for update processing by the database update unit,
24. The program according to claim 23, wherein the database update unit does not update a database corresponding to the update target function when the communication unit cannot communicate with the external device. When one of the functions to be updated needs to update the database using information acquired from the external device via the communication unit,
29. The program according to claim 28, wherein the database update unit does not update the database corresponding to the one function when the communication unit cannot communicate with the external device.   The update function extraction unit includes major version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the device information acquisition unit, and major version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the host information acquisition unit; The program according to claim 23, wherein a function that can be supported by the host device is extracted as the update target function based on the program.   The update function extraction unit includes minor version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the device information acquisition unit, and minor version information included in the information indicating the version acquired by the host information acquisition unit; The program according to claim 30, wherein a function that can be supported by the host device is extracted as the update target function based on the program.   The log recording unit records the device update date and time that is the date and time when the update process by the database update unit is performed on the device, and the function update date and time that is the date and time when the database is updated for each update target function; The program according to claim 23, wherein version information of the update target function on the host device side is recorded in the device.

Images