JP2008123621A - Portable electronic apparatus, content reproducing apparatus and content reproducing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content reproducing system easily reproducing content files stored in one or plural portable electronic apparatuses. <P>SOLUTION: The content reproducing system is composed of: one or plural portable electronic apparatuses; and the content reproducing apparatus. The portable electronic apparatus mainly for personal use prepares a play list file in which the music file and its file name are associated with each other. The content reproducing apparatus consolidates the file to control reproduction of a lot of content files. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device capable of storing a plurality of content files, a content playback apparatus that unites and manages a plurality of content files, and a content playback system including these apparatuses as components.

In recent years, there are many mobile phones having functions for storing and reproducing music, and content businesses in mobile phones are also active. A user accesses a music site on the Internet with a mobile phone, downloads a music file, or rips it individually, and stores it in an external storage medium (hard disk, memory, etc.) of the mobile phone.
The user can enjoy favorite music collected by the user from the speaker or headphones of the mobile phone by activating and playing back the music file stored by the music player function of the mobile phone. While music collected from mobile phones is often provided for individual enjoyment, there is a desire among users to view and enjoy the collected music with a large number of people.

Up to now, as shown in FIG. 7, a playback system in which a mobile phone 21 and an audio device 30 are connected has been used. When the music file is reproduced by the mobile phone 21, an analog music signal is input to the external audio device via the line cable. This signal is amplified by an external audio device and output through a speaker.
If a plurality of music files are stored in one mobile phone, a plurality of media are not required, and there is no need to worry about the bulk of the media. Also, even when viewing different music pieces or genres, it is possible to perform efficient reproduction without requiring media replacement work.

  However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 7, since the mobile phone 21 and the audio device 30 must be physically connected, a line cable or the like is required. If the cable is not at hand, or if the cable has a defect such as disconnection, the music itself cannot be heard.

In recent years, a simple music playback system using a wireless communication technology has been considered in order to improve the complexity of viewing. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a music playback system using a wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). According to this, peripheral parts such as a cable are not necessary when viewing a music file stored in a mobile phone, and no complicated work is required.
JP 2003-132661 A

  However, in the case of a music playback system as shown in Patent Document 1, the mobile phone 21 and the audio device 30 are connected one-to-one. If multiple people own mobile phones that store music files, and you want to play these music files efficiently, after all, change the cables and connect them individually to the audio device. This is no different from the conventional playback method.

  An object of the present invention is to facilitate reproduction of a content file stored in one or a plurality of portable electronic devices.

The invention described in claim 1
Storage means for storing content files;
Reproduction means for reproducing the content file stored by the storage means;
One or a plurality of portable electronic devices having communication means for performing wireless communication;
Communication means for performing wireless communication with the one or more portable electronic devices;
Content information storage means for receiving and storing content information wirelessly transmitted from the one or more portable electronic devices by the communication means;
Reproduction instruction means for instructing reproduction means of the one or more portable electronic devices to reproduce a predetermined content file from the content information stored by the content information storage means;
A content reproduction apparatus comprising: a sound emitting unit that receives and emits the content file instructed to be reproduced by the reproduction instruction unit;
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
The portable electronic device is:
Further comprising: a list control unit that generates a playlist file indicating a list of the stored content files, and causes the communication unit to transmit the playlist file to the content reproduction device;
The content playback device
The content information is a playlist,
The reproduction instruction unit further includes a management list generation unit that receives the generated playlist file by the communication unit and generates a management list file for each portable electronic device based on the received playlist file. Is characterized in that a portable electronic device that stores a content file to be reproduced is determined based on the management list file, and the portable electronic device is instructed to reproduce the content file to be reproduced by the communication means. .

The invention described in claim 3
Storage means for storing content files;
Reproduction means for reproducing the content file stored by the storage means;
A communication means for performing wireless communication;
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3,
It further comprises list control means for generating a playlist file indicating a list of the stored content files and transmitting the playlist file by the communication means.

The invention described in claim 5
Communication means for performing wireless communication with one or a plurality of portable electronic devices;
Content information storage means for receiving and storing content information wirelessly transmitted from the one or more portable electronic devices by the communication means;
Reproduction instruction means for instructing reproduction means of the one or more portable electronic devices to reproduce a predetermined content file from the content information stored by the content information storage means,
Sound emitting means for receiving and emitting the content file instructed to be reproduced by the reproduction instruction means by the communication means;
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5,
The content information is a playlist,
A management list generating means for receiving the generated playlist file by the communication means and generating a management list file for each portable electronic device based on the received playlist file;
The reproduction instruction unit determines a portable electronic device that stores a content file to be reproduced based on the management list file, and instructs the portable electronic device to reproduce the content file to be reproduced by the communication unit. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention,
The portable electronic device can store content files such as music files, audio files, text files, and image files and transmit them to the content playback device. In addition, the content reproduction apparatus can reproduce a plurality of received content files. Accordingly, the user can easily select a plurality of content files having different locations from the content playback apparatus, and a plurality of people can enjoy the playback of the selected content file.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of an optimum embodiment for each of a portable electronic device, a content playback apparatus, and a content playback system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are used for the elements corresponding to the components described in FIG.
In the present embodiment, the content data is described as music data, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other content (sound, image, text, etc.) data may be used.
Here, the content file is a file including content data and data related to the content data (related information data such as artist name and genre name).

First, FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a content reproduction system 100 according to the present invention.
The mobile phones 21 to 23 include at least a storage unit, a reproduction unit, a communication unit, and a list control unit, and are arranged around the audio device 30 including the communication unit. These means will be described later. In the present embodiment, the mobile phones 21 to 23 are portable electronic devices according to the present invention, and are collectively referred to as the portable electronic device 20. The audio device 30 is a content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention.

The communication between the portable electronic device 20 and the audio device 30 is performed by wireless communication. As a wireless communication method, Bluetooth (registered trademark), wireless LAN, infrared communication (IrDA; Infrared Data Association) Etc. are applicable. If the distance between the mobile phones 21 to 23 and the audio device 30 is Bluetooth, communication is possible regardless of the presence or absence of an obstacle even if there is a distance of about 10 m.
In the present embodiment described below, an example in which Bluetooth is employed from the viewpoint of convenience and cost will be described.

  Next, the portable electronic device 20 and the audio device 30 that are components of the content reproduction system 100 described above will be sequentially described. Although the mobile phone 21 will be mainly described here, the mobile phones 22 and 23 have the same basic configuration functions.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the mobile phone 21.
The mobile phone 21 includes a control unit 1, an operation unit 2, a display unit 3, an input / output terminal 4, a communication unit 5, a storage unit 6, a reception unit 7, a demodulation unit 8, a decoding unit 9, a voice control unit 10, and a speaker 11. The microphone 12 is configured.
In this embodiment, the control unit 1 creates a playlist file, a list control unit that creates a playlist file, a playback unit that plays music, and a communication unit 5 communicates a transmission unit that transmits and receives music files and playlist files. However, it functions as storage means for storing music files and playlist files.
Here, the music file includes music data to be a sound source and data related to the music data (related information such as artist name, album name, genre name, track name, etc.). A playlist file is a file created in association with a music file (see FIG. 5).

The control unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, expands a predetermined program stored in the storage unit 6 to the RAM, and performs a processing operation in cooperation with the program. Control all over.
In the case of the mobile phone 21 to which a music function is added, the control unit 1 executes a predetermined program provided in the storage unit 6 and sends an analog signal to the input / output terminal 4 to which an accessory such as an earphone is connected. The music is provided to the user by transmitting.

  The operation unit 2 includes various operation buttons for instructing ON / OFF of power, selection of functions, input of characters and numbers, transmission / reception of telephones, display switching, and the like. When these various operation buttons are pressed, the operation unit 2 generates an input signal corresponding to the instruction content and outputs the input signal to the control unit 1. When the user activates the music player provided in the mobile phone 21, a predetermined activation instruction is given here.

  The display unit 3 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an EL (Electro Luminescence), or the like, and displays various information such as an operation screen according to display control of the control unit 1. The various information includes a playlist file created by the control unit 1.

  The input / output terminal 4 is an interface for connecting peripheral devices and accessories such as a digital camera, a keyboard, and earphones to the mobile phone 21.

  The communication unit 5 includes a wireless communication interface such as Bluetooth or infrared communication, and transmits and receives various data such as telephone number data and mail address data. In addition, the communication unit 5 performs transmission / reception of data such as music files and playlist files, and mutual authentication for individually identifying the plurality of mobile phones 21 to 23. The identification data identified by the mutual authentication is output to the storage unit 6.

The storage unit 6 includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory or the like, and stores telephone number data, mail address data, and the like in association with name data.
The storage unit 6 stores music files and playlist files. The playlist file is created by executing a predetermined program provided in the storage unit 6 under the overall control of the control unit 1.

  The receiving unit 7 is configured by an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit or the like, and converts a carrier frequency band signal received from the base station B through the antenna A into a frequency that can be processed by the demodulating unit 8 described later.

  The demodulating unit 8 multiplies the signal input from the receiving unit 7 by a PN (Pseudo-Noise) code (spreading code) unique to the mobile phone 21 to return the spread received signal to the original frequency bandwidth. (Despreading) is performed.

  The decoding unit 9 is configured by a codec (CODEC) or the like, and performs processing (decoding) for converting the digital signal input from the demodulation unit 8 into an analog signal such as an audio signal.

  The audio control unit 10 amplifies the audio signal input from the decoding unit 9 by an amplifier, outputs the amplified signal to the outside through the speaker 11, and outputs the audio signal input from the microphone 12 to the decoding unit 9.

Next, the configuration of the audio device 30 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the audio device 30 includes a system microcomputer 31, a display unit 32, an operation unit 33, a CD / MD device 34, a USB microcomputer 35, a wireless communication unit 36, a storage unit 37, an external audio circuit 38, an audio selector. 39, an AMP circuit 40, and a speaker 41.
In the present embodiment, the management list generating means for creating a management list file by the system microcomputer 31, the reproduction instruction means for instructing the portable electronic device to play music, and the wireless communication unit 36 are used for music files and play The communication unit that receives the list file, the storage unit 37, the content information storage unit that stores the music file, the playlist file, and the management list file, and the speaker 41 function as a sound emitting unit.

  The system microcomputer 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU reads various control programs stored in the ROM in response to a key operation from the operation unit 33 by the user. Thereafter, the CPU outputs signals s1 to s7 to each unit according to the read control program, and centrally controls the operation of each unit.

  The display unit 32 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays an operation status on the display screen in accordance with an instruction of a display signal s7 input from the system microcomputer 31. For example, information such as the track number and progress time of the currently played music, the total recording time of the disc, the operation mode, and the like are displayed. The display unit 32 displays a list of playlists based on the playlist file.

  The operation unit 33 includes various function keys such as an EJECT key, a source (CD / MD / USB / Bluetooth) designation key, a reproduction key, a numeric keypad, a SKIP UP / DOWN key, and a stop key.

  Based on the control signal s3 input from the system microcomputer 31, the CD / MD device 34 performs various operations related to reproduction of music signals and other recorded information recorded on the loaded CD or MD. The signal processed here is output to the audio selector 39 via the signal line L1.

  The USB microcomputer 35 transmits and receives data and commands between the audio device 30 and the mobile phone 21 when connected to the mobile phone 21 via USB.

The wireless communication unit 36 is wirelessly connected to the mobile phone 21 and transmits a music playback request or transmission request command input from the system microcomputer 31 to the mobile phone 21.
The wireless communication unit 36 performs mutual authentication with the mobile phone 21 in addition to the above-described configuration and processing.

  The storage unit 37 stores the authentication ID created by the mutual authentication described above. In addition, the storage unit 37 stores a playlist file input from the mobile phone 21. The wireless communication unit 36 outputs a music file playback instruction signal to the mobile phone 21 based on the playlist file.

  The external audio circuit 38 includes a D / A converter and an A / D converter (not shown). The D / A converter converts the external audio signal input via the signal line L2 or L3 into an analog signal, and outputs the analog signal to the audio selector 39 via the signal line L4.

  The audio selector 39 selects a signal to be output to the AMP circuit 40 via the signal line L5 from the input signals from the signal lines L1 and L4 according to the control signal s2. This process is performed during audio playback.

  The AMP circuit 40 amplifies the signal input via the signal line L5 based on the control signal s1 input from the system microcomputer 31 and outputs the amplified signal to the speaker 41 via the signal line L6. Output music.

  Next, data communication processing performed between the portable electronic device 20 and the audio device 30 in the content reproduction system 100 described above will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a series of data processing operations from when the portable electronic device 20 and the audio device 30 are connected by wireless communication until music is played back.
Here, it is assumed that the portable electronic device 20 is provided with a party mode in which music files of a plurality of mobile phones can be continuously played back on the audio device 30 as playback modes of music files.

First, when playing music, the user places the mobile phone 21 around the audio device 30. The mutual distance between the two is preferably within 10 m, which is the communicable distance of Bluetooth. In addition, as a form of arrangement, as long as it is possible to maintain the connection of the wireless communication means by Bluetooth or the like, it may be in a state where each mobile phone user is put in a pocket or bag.
In this state, the mobile phone 21 and the audio device 30 perform mutual authentication (step S1). Here, mutual authentication is a so-called pairing process, which is a process for recognizing whether two Bluetooth-equipped devices can share data with each other, and is a process for specifying a connection partner. The mutual authentication starts when the user performs a party mode designation operation from the mobile phone 21. The same applies to the mobile phones 22 and 23.

  When the mutual authentication is completed, the audio device 30 stores an authentication ID for identifying each of the mobile phones 21 to 23 in the storage unit 36a (step S2). Here, the authentication ID is a pass key (authentication key) that can be arbitrarily determined by the user at the time of mutual authentication, and is an ID for specifying a connection partner. In the present embodiment, the authentication IDs of the mobile phones 21 to 23 are assigned as “1” to “3” by the user.

The audio device 30 stores the authentication ID assigned by the user to all the mobile phones arranged in the vicinity. If there is a mobile phone that does not yet store the authentication ID, the audio device 30 stores the authentication IDs of all the mobile phones by repeating steps S1 and S2 (step S3; No). For example, when a new mobile phone (mobile phone 24) is arranged around the audio device 30 and is not mutually authenticated, the audio device 30 performs the mutual authentication process for the mobile phone 24 again, The authentication ID “4” is stored for the telephone 24.
If there is no mobile phone to be mutually authenticated around the audio device 30, the process proceeds to the next process (step S3; Yes). Even if a new mobile phone is arranged around the audio device 30 after step S3 and the mobile phone is set to the party mode, the audio device 30 performs the mutual authentication and authentication ID storage process (step S1). , S2).

  Next, the mobile phones 21 to 23 to which the authentication ID is assigned by mutual authentication with the audio device 30 transmit the playlist file created by each to the audio device 30 (step S4).

Here, T11 to T13 in FIG. 5 show file examples of playlist files created by the mobile phones 21 to 23. In the mobile phone 21, one playlist file is created in which the three file names “file 1”, “file 2”, and “file 3” can be selected. In the playlist file, the file format of the music file associated with the file name may be mp3 or wma. Similarly, for the mobile phones 22 and 23, playlist files having file names “files 4 to 6” and “files 7 and 8” are created.
This playlist file is created in association with the music file described above. The file format of the playlist file is a text file that includes only character data, HTML that retains text properties, or the like. With these file formats, file transfer can be smoothly processed from the viewpoint of compatibility and high-speed processing.

Returning to FIG. 4, the audio device 30 acquires the playlist file created by each of the mobile phones 21 to 23 and stores the playlist file (step S <b> 5).
Here, an example of a playlist file stored in the audio device 30 is shown at T14 in FIG. The audio device 30 combines the playlist files acquired from the mobile phones 21 to 23 for each authentication ID, and centrally manages and stores them. Playlists (hereinafter referred to as “management list files”) that are centrally managed and stored for each authentication ID are displayed in a list on the display unit 32 of the audio device 30. Thus, the audio device 30 can issue a reproduction instruction for a desired music file from a large number of file names.

The audio device 30 selects a reproduction target from the management list file, determines an authentication ID from the selected file name, and further determines a mobile phone corresponding to the authentication ID. The audio device 30 transmits the music file reproduction instruction information to any one of the mobile phones 21 to 23 (step S6).
In selecting a file name, the audio device 30 can select a plurality of file names in succession. The processing in this case will be described later, and hereinafter, the case where the audio device 30 selects “file 1.mp3” (see T14 in FIG. 5) and transmits the reproduction instruction information to the mobile phone 21 will be described.

When receiving the reproduction instruction information transmitted from the audio device 30, the mobile phone 21 reproduces the music file having the file name “file 1.mp3” and transmits it to the audio device 30 (step S7).
On the other hand, when the audio device 30 receives the music file reproduced and transmitted by the mobile phone 21, the audio device 30 performs a reproduction process of the received data of the music file (step S8). In this way, the music file playback process is streaming playback, and follows the control program stored in the system microcomputer 31.

  If the file name selected by the audio device 30 is other than “file 1.mp3”, for example, a plurality of file names such as “file 2.mp3” and “file 5.wma” are selected (step S9; No) After completing the reproduction of the music associated with “file 1.mp3”, the audio device 30 proceeds to step S6 again and sends the reproduction instruction information to the mobile phone 21 for the file name that has not been reproduced yet. Process to transmit to .about.23.

  The playback order of the music selected by the audio device 30 may be arbitrarily determined by the user (mode), or may be a random playback mode in which playback is performed randomly according to the control program of the system microcomputer 31. Such a reproduction order, reproduction method, and the like are in accordance with a control program stored in the system microcomputer 31.

When the audio device 30 completes the reproduction instruction to the portable electronic device 20 and the portable electronic device 20 completes the reproduction of all the music files (step S9; Yes), this process ends.
If the party mode described above has not been canceled even after all music files have been played back, the audio device 30 proceeds to step S6 and transmits the same playback instruction information to the mobile phones 21 to 23 again. It is good to do.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of playlist files are created by the plurality of portable electronic devices 20, respectively, and the audio device 30 manages these playlists for each portable electronic device 20. Listed as files.
The user can enjoy viewing all the music files brought by each user, and can enjoy viewing not only personally but also by a plurality of people.

Further, in the portable electronic device 20, the user can easily carry a plurality of music files anywhere, and can easily search for a favorite song from the playlist file. While the user can enjoy personal viewing, if the playlist file is transmitted to the audio device 30, the user can enjoy viewing with a plurality of people without the trouble of changing cables.
If the portable electronic device 20 is a particularly small and light mobile phone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), etc., the user can enjoy further added value to these portable information terminals having various conventional functions. it can.

  Further, in the audio device 30, the user can select a favorite song from a management list file in which a plurality of music files are displayed as a list. Even when the sound source is in a different place, the user can enjoy viewing without the trouble of changing the cable.

Note that the content of the above-described embodiment is a preferred example of the present invention, and is not limited thereto, and can be changed as appropriate.
For example, a playlist file using related information (artist name, genre name, etc.) corresponding to a music file as described below may be created.

FIG. 6 shows playlist files T21 to 23 created by the mobile phones 21 to 23, and a management list file T24 stored and managed by the audio device 30.
The mobile phones 21 to 23 are not only file names but also playlist files T21 to T21 in which metadata of artist names, album names, genre names, and track names are associated with music files as information related to music data. 23 is created. The audio device 30 acquires the playlist files T21 to 23 created by the mobile phones 21 to 23, and creates and stores a new unified management playlist file (management list file) T24.

  Note that the target of the playlist file generated by the mobile phones 21 to 23 is not limited to all the content files stored in the storage unit 6 of each mobile phone, but by each user of the mobile phone. It may be designated content. Further, it is also possible to target a folder dedicated to party mode participation that stores content files designated by the user.

  By displaying the management list file T24 as described above, the contents of the music file can be grasped from the metadata. Therefore, even when the user is not sure what kind of music is selected by the audio device 30, the audio device 30 displays the artist name and other information, so that the music being played back is displayed. To know about.

  Further, the portable electronic device 20 is not limited to the mobile phones 21 to 23. For example, the portable electronic device 20 may be an audio player having at least a wireless communication function, a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a playlist creation function. For example, a portable audio player having a memory and an HDD, etc. Is applicable.

  On the other hand, the content playback device has a variety of modes depending on the scene where the music is viewed, such as a stationary type, a vehicle-mounted type, a portable type, and at least a music playback function, a wireless communication function, and a management list file acquisition and storage function As long as it is provided, any aspect may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram of a content reproduction system. It is a block diagram of a mobile phone. It is a block diagram of an audio equipment. It is a flowchart explaining the process in a content reproduction system. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a play list and a management list file. It is a block diagram which shows another example of a play list and a management list file. It is a block diagram which shows the conventional content reproduction system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Content reproduction system 20 Portable electronic equipment 21-23 Mobile phone 30 Audio equipment

Claims (6)

Storage means for storing content files;
Reproduction means for reproducing the content file stored by the storage means;
One or a plurality of portable electronic devices having communication means for performing wireless communication;
Communication means for performing wireless communication with the one or more portable electronic devices;
Content information storage means for receiving and storing content information wirelessly transmitted from the one or more portable electronic devices by the communication means;
Reproduction instruction means for instructing reproduction means of the one or more portable electronic devices to reproduce a predetermined content file from the content information stored by the content information storage means;
A content reproduction apparatus comprising: a sound emitting unit that receives and emits the content file instructed to be reproduced by the reproduction instruction unit;
A content reproduction system comprising: The portable electronic device is:
Further comprising: a list control unit that generates a playlist file indicating a list of the stored content files, and causes the communication unit to transmit the playlist file to the content reproduction device;
The content playback device
The content information is a playlist,
The reproduction instruction unit further includes a management list generation unit that receives the generated playlist file by the communication unit and generates a management list file for each portable electronic device based on the received playlist file. Determines a portable electronic device that stores a content file to be played based on the management list file, and instructs the portable electronic device to play the content file to be played by the communication means. The content reproduction system according to claim 1. Storage means for storing content files;
Reproduction means for reproducing the content file stored by the storage means;
A communication means for performing wireless communication;
A portable electronic device comprising:   The portable electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising: a list control unit that generates a playlist file indicating a list of the stored content files and causes the communication unit to transmit the playlist file. Communication means for performing wireless communication with one or a plurality of portable electronic devices;
Content information storage means for receiving and storing content information wirelessly transmitted from the one or more portable electronic devices by the communication means;
Reproduction instruction means for instructing reproduction means of the one or more portable electronic devices to reproduce a predetermined content file from the content information stored by the content information storage means,
Sound emitting means for receiving and emitting the content file instructed to be reproduced by the reproduction instruction means by the communication means;
A content playback apparatus comprising: The content information is a playlist,
A management list generating means for receiving the generated playlist file by the communication means and generating a management list file for each portable electronic device based on the received playlist file;
The reproduction instruction unit determines a portable electronic device that stores a content file to be reproduced based on the management list file, and instructs the portable electronic device to reproduce the content file to be reproduced by the communication unit. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 5.

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