JP2008165334A - Information reproducing apparatus and information reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability for a user, regarding an information reproducing apparatus and an information reproducing method. <P>SOLUTION: A connection history setting means 1f analyzes a connection stage with information providing apparatuses 2a, 2b to 2n, and if the connection stage is in a predetermined stage, stores identification information on the information providing apparatuses 2a, 2b to 2n as connection partners together with order information in a connection history storage means 1a. When an information reproducing apparatus 1 is newly connected after being disconnected from a network 3, an information providing apparatus detection means 1c detects the information providing apparatuses 2a, 2b to 2n to be connected to the network 3. A permutation means 1d permutates the detected information providing apparatuses 2a, 2b to 2n in connection order based on history information. A display control means 1e indicates the last information providing apparatus placed in the predetermined connection stage based on the permutated order, and displays a list of connectable information providing apparatuses. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus and an information reproducing method, and more particularly to an information reproducing apparatus that connects to at least one information providing apparatus connected to a network and reproduces information provided from the information providing apparatus and an information reproducing method thereof.

  In recent years, with the development of computer technology and network technology, it has been widely practiced to connect various information processing devices to a server device provided on a network and acquire and use various content data held by the server device. Yes. Hereinafter, an apparatus that mainly reproduces acquired content data is referred to as an information reproducing apparatus. For home use, for example, a server device that stores content data such as audio data, video data, AV (Audio / Visual) data (synchronized audio data and video data), still image data, and the like. There is provided a home network system environment in which an information reproduction apparatus that reproduces content data is connected via a LAN (Local Area Network), receives supply of target content data from a server apparatus, and is reproduced by the information reproduction apparatus.

  In such a home network system, a plurality of server devices and information reproducing devices are arranged on the network, and an arbitrary server device and information reproducing device are connected to each other, so that a plurality of server devices possess A large amount of content data can be reproduced and enjoyed by the information reproducing apparatus. Since the information reproducing apparatus is connected to an arbitrary server apparatus according to the user's specification, when the information reproducing apparatus is first connected to the network, the server apparatus connected to the network is detected, displayed as a list on the display unit, and notified to the user.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for notifying a server device detected by a conventional information reproducing device. The information reproducing apparatus is an AV device that reproduces audio data.

  Here, in the network to which the information reproducing apparatus is connected, there are 10 server apparatuses of Server A, Server B, Server C, Server D, Server E, Server F, Server G, Server H, Server I, and Server J. Assume that they are connected.

  When the information reproducing apparatus is connected to the network, the information reproducing apparatus performs detection processing of the server apparatus existing on the network. Then, the detected server devices are displayed on the display unit in the order of detection. In general, in an audio playback device or the like that does not have an image display unit that plays back visual data, the size of the display unit that is provided for the purpose of supplementarily displaying operation information and the music information being played back is limited. The display area is limited. In this example, only five server devices (for five lines) can be displayed on one screen, and all ten server devices cannot be displayed on one screen. Therefore, in the server list display screen (1/2) 901 that is displayed first on the display unit, the first to fifth detected server devices are server A, server G, server D, server B, and Server H is displayed. When the operation button 902 for instructing the next display screen is operated, a server list display screen (2/2) 911 is displayed. Here, the server devices detected from the sixth to the tenth are displayed as server C, server E, server F, server J, and server I in the order of detection. When the operation button 912 for instructing the previous display screen is operated, a server list display screen (1/2) 901 is displayed. The user selects the server device while operating the operation buttons 902 and 912 to switch the display screen.

  By the way, the information reproducing apparatus is connected to the selected server apparatus and reproduces the content data while receiving the distribution. Therefore, when the information reproduction apparatus is disconnected from the network for some reason, the distribution of the content data is interrupted, and the content data cannot be reproduced on the information reproduction apparatus. And when it connects to a network again, the server apparatus connected to a network will be detected, and the process which displays the detected server apparatus on a server list display screen will be performed. Therefore, when it is desired to connect to a server device that has been connected before the network connection is cut off, the server device displayed on the server list display screen must be searched and selected again. For example, when it is desired to connect to the server F that has been connected last time, the server F is not displayed on the first server list display screen (1/2) 901, so the display screen must be sent to the next operation.

Therefore, a client with an automatic network connection function that automatically searches for a server that has been connected and connects to the discovered server when the network connection of the client is disconnected for some reason and is connected again has been proposed ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-252214 A (FIG. 1)

However, the conventional information reproducing apparatus has a problem that user operability is not good.
When connected to the network, the information playback device always detects the server devices on the network sequentially, displays the servers in the order of detection, and allows the user to select the server device. When it is desired to connect, there is a problem that a complicated operation is required. In particular, in the information reproducing apparatus as in the example of FIG. 15 where the display area is limited, if the desired server apparatus is not displayed on the server list display screen (1/2) 901 displayed first, the display screen is displayed. The forward operation button 902 must be operated. Further, when the user does not store the server device connected last time, it is necessary to select each server device in order to check the stored content data, and to search for a server device that stores desired content data. The operability was bad.

  On the other hand, when connected to a network, an information reproducing apparatus that always searches for and connects a server apparatus that matches the previous server apparatus stored in the apparatus itself to the other server apparatus is complicated. There is a problem that it is necessary. For example, even when the time has elapsed since the network was connected and it is desired to reproduce content data held by another server device, the server device is always connected to the server device connected last time. In such a case, it is necessary to temporarily stop the operation and select a server device again.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and provides an information reproducing apparatus and an information reproducing method capable of improving user operability when the information reproducing apparatus is reconnected to a network. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information provided from an information providing apparatus connected to at least one information providing apparatus connected to a network, comprising: a connection history storage unit; An information reproducing apparatus is provided that includes a connection history setting unit, an information providing device detecting unit, a rearranging unit, and a display control unit. The connection history storage means stores the connection history in which the identification information of the information providing apparatus that has reached the predetermined connection stage is set together with the order information according to the order in which the predetermined connection stage has been reached. The connection history setting means analyzes the connection stage with the information providing apparatus connected via the network, and sets the identification information of the connection partner information providing apparatus at the predetermined connection stage in the connection history together with the sequence information. The information providing device detection unit collects identification information of the information providing device when newly connected to the network, and detects the information providing device connected to the network according to whether the identification information has been collected. The rearranging means rearranges the information providing apparatus detected by the information providing apparatus detecting means according to the order information set in the connection history. The display control means explicitly displays the list of information providing apparatuses detected by the information providing apparatus detecting means, and explicitly displays the information providing apparatus that has recently reached the predetermined connection stage by the sorting by the sorting means.

  According to such an information reproducing apparatus, when connected to an arbitrary information providing apparatus, the connection history setting unit analyzes the connection stage with the information providing apparatus. If the analyzed connection stage is a predetermined connection stage, the identification information of the information providing apparatus of the connection partner is set in the connection history together with the order information and stored in the connection history storage means. As a result, history information relating to the information providing device at the predetermined connection stage is accumulated in the connection history storage means. When the information reproducing apparatus newly connects to the network after the disconnection of the network connection, the information providing apparatus detecting means collects the identification information of the information providing apparatus and detects the information providing apparatus connected to the network. Then, the rearranging unit rearranges the detected information providing apparatus based on the history information. The display control means displays a list of detected information providing devices. At this time, based on the rearrangement by the rearranging means, the information providing apparatus that has recently reached the predetermined connection stage is clearly indicated so that the user can identify the information providing apparatus.

As a result, the user can easily identify the information providing apparatus that has reached the predetermined connection stage last time.
In order to solve the above problem, in the information reproducing method of the information reproducing apparatus for connecting to at least one information providing apparatus connected to the network and reproducing the information provided from the information providing apparatus, the connection history setting means includes: Analyzing the connection stage with the information providing apparatus connected via the network, and identifying the identification information of the information providing apparatus of the connection partner when the connection stage becomes the predetermined connection stage in the order of the predetermined connection stage When the information providing device detecting means is newly connected to the network, the identification information of the information providing device is collected and the identification information The step of detecting the information providing device connected to the network according to whether or not the information has been collected, and the rearranging means are detected by the information providing device detecting means Rearranging the information providing device in accordance with the order information set in the connection history, and the display control unit brings the list of information providing devices detected by the information providing device detection unit to the latest by rearranging at least by the rearranging unit An information reproducing method is provided that executes the step of explicitly displaying the information providing apparatus at a predetermined connection stage.

  In such an information reproducing method, the information reproducing apparatus sets the identification information of the information providing apparatus that has reached a predetermined connection stage in the connection history together with the order information, and stores it in the connection history storage means. When a new connection is made to the network, an information providing apparatus connected to the network is detected. Then, in order to notify the user of the detected information providing device, the information providing device is rearranged based on the connection history, and at least the information providing device that has recently reached the predetermined connection stage is clearly indicated. Display a list of

  According to the present invention, when a predetermined connection stage is established between the information providing apparatus and the information providing apparatus, the identification information of the information providing apparatus and the order information are stored as a connection history. The connection stage includes, for example, a connection stage in which the information providing apparatus is selected, or a connection stage in which content data is reproduced. When a new connection is made after leaving the network, an information providing device connected to the network is detected. Then, the detected information providing devices are rearranged based on the connection history, and the information providing device list is clearly displayed so that at least the information providing device that has recently reached the predetermined connection stage can be easily identified. . As a result, even if the size of the display area is limited, the information providing device that has been in the predetermined connection stage is displayed preferentially, and the user can easily identify the information providing device. It becomes possible. Further, since the information providing apparatus connected last time can be easily understood, the next operation can be easily performed, and the convenience of the user can be improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the concept of the invention applied to the embodiment will be described, and then the specific contents of the embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the invention applied to the embodiment.

  The information reproduction system according to the present invention is the content data provided from the information providing devices 2a, 2b,..., 2n and the information providing devices 2a, 2b,. Is connected to the information reproducing apparatus 1 that reproduces. The information reproducing device 1 is connected to one of the information providing devices 2a, 2b,..., 2n via the network 3 and reproduces the content data while sequentially receiving it.

  The information reproduction apparatus 1 includes a connection history storage unit 1a for storing a connection history, a storage unit for a detection apparatus information storage unit 1b for storing detected apparatus information, and an information providing apparatus for detecting an information providing apparatus connected to the network 3. Detection means 1c, rearrangement means 1d for rearranging the information providing apparatus list, display control means 1e for displaying the information providing apparatus list, connection history setting means 1f for setting the connection history, and communication for controlling communication via the network 3 It has control means 1g.

  The connection history storage unit 1a connects information about the information providing apparatus that has reached a predetermined connection stage with the own apparatus, identification information of the information providing apparatus, and order information according to the order of the information providing apparatus that has reached the predetermined connection stage. Store as history. The connection stage includes, for example, a stage in which an information providing device is selected and a predetermined connection stage is established, a stage in which content data is provided and played back, and any connection stage depending on the process being executed. It can be grasped. The order information is information that clarifies the context when information providing devices that have established a predetermined connection stage are arranged in time series. For example, time information at which the connection stage is established, ordinal number given each time the information providing apparatus at the predetermined connection stage is changed. Specific examples will be described later.

The detection device information storage unit 1b is a storage unit that stores device information related to the information providing devices 2a, 2b, ..., 2n acquired by the information providing device detection unit 1c.
In the information providing device detecting means 1c, the information reproducing device 1 is connected to the network 3 and searches for the information providing devices 2a, 2b,. For example, after connecting to the network 3, a message requesting identification information by multicast is issued to all information providing apparatuses connected to the network 3. Then, it is considered that an information providing apparatus that has received a response including identification information is detected before a predetermined time elapses. The device information of the information providing device including the identification information acquired at this time is stored in the detection device information storage unit 1b.

  The rearranging unit 1d rearranges the information providing devices 2a, 2b,..., 2n detected by the information providing device detecting unit 1c according to the connection order of the connection history. The identification information of the information providing device set in the connection history stored in the connection history storage unit 1a is compared with the identification information of the device information stored in the detected detection device information storage unit 1b, Sort by connection history. For example, the information providing apparatus according to the time relationship set in the connection history with the information providing apparatus that has become the newest and predetermined connection stage as the highest level, and the one with the oldest established connection stage as the lowest level is set in the connection history. Arrange in order. At this time, among the detected information providing devices, those that are not registered in the connection history (those that have not been connected so far) are arranged in a lower order than those that have been connected. Further, if necessary, rearrangement may be performed in addition to information providing devices that are present in the connection history but not detected this time.

  The display control unit 1e displays a list of information reproducing apparatuses 2a, 2b,..., 2n from which content data can be acquired on a display unit (not shown) based on the sorting order by the user sorting unit 1d. At this time, display is performed so that at least the information providing apparatus that has recently reached the predetermined connection stage is clearly indicated. For example, the name of the information providing apparatus that has recently reached the predetermined connection stage is displayed at the top of the display unit, and the other information providing apparatuses are arranged in the rearranged order.

  The connection history setting means 1f analyzes the connection stage of the information providing apparatuses 2a, 2b,..., 2n connected by the information reproducing apparatus 1 via the network 3, and becomes a predetermined connection stage in which the connection stage is determined. In this case, the order information is added to the identification information of the partner information providing apparatus and set in the connection history. For example, when leaving the connection history of the information providing apparatus that has been selected for connection, each time the connection process with the information providing apparatus is performed, the identification information of the partner information providing apparatus and the time information are set in the connection history. . Thereby, the context of the connection can be understood with reference to the time information. When setting the ordinal number based on the connection order, “1” is set in the order information corresponding to the newly connected information providing apparatus, and 1 is sequentially added to the ordinal number of the information providing apparatus stored in the connection history. . Accordingly, if the information providing devices are arranged in order of ordinal numbers, they can be arranged in the order of connection.

The communication control unit 1g controls communication between the information providing apparatuses 2a, 2b,..., 2n connected to the network 3 and the information reproducing apparatus 1.
The information providing devices 2a, 2b,..., 2n store various content data, and upon receiving a request from the information reproducing device 1, supply the requested content data. Further, in addition to the content data, according to a request from the information reproducing apparatus 1, it provides its own identification information, content data related information related to the content data held, and the like.

  In the information reproducing system having such a configuration, during normal operation, the information reproducing apparatus 1 is connected to any one of the information providing apparatuses 2a, 2b,... Is playing in. At this time, if it is detected that the connection relationship with the partner information providing apparatus is in a predetermined connection stage, the connection history setting means 1f orders the identification information of the partner information providing apparatus in order. Add information and register in connection history. For example, when the information providing device 2b, the information providing device 2a, and the information providing device 2n are connected in this order, when the connection order is given in order from the later one in time, the information providing device 2a has “2 “3” is set in the information providing apparatus 2b, and “1” is set in the information providing apparatus 2n. The connection history is stored in the connection history storage unit 1a.

  When the information reproducing apparatus 1 is disconnected from the network 3 and connected again, the information reproducing apparatus 1 detects the information providing apparatus connected to the network 3 by the information providing apparatus detecting means 1c. Here, it is assumed that the information providing apparatus 2a, the information providing apparatus 2b, and the information providing apparatus 2n are detected in this order, and the apparatus information is acquired. The rearranging unit 1d rearranges the information providing apparatus from which the apparatus information is acquired based on the connection history. Accordingly, the information providing devices arranged in the order of obtaining the device information, the information providing device 2a, the information providing device 2b, and the information providing device 2n, are arranged in the order of the information providing device 2n, the information providing device 2a, and the information providing device 2b. Be replaced. The display control unit 1e displays a list of connectable information providing devices on the display unit based on the sorting by the sorting unit 1d. For example, the information providing device 2n is displayed on the top line, and the information providing device 2a and the information providing device 2b are displayed in the following order. As a result, at least the most recently connected information providing apparatus can be identified.

  According to the above information reproduction system, when the information providing apparatus connected last time is displayed at the top, and the information providing apparatus connected before that is displayed next to each other, when newly connected to the network 3, It becomes possible to easily find an information providing apparatus to be connected. This is because, in general, there are many cases where an information providing apparatus that has been connected so far is reconnected. In addition, even if the user wants to connect to the information providing apparatus connected last time but does not remember which apparatus, the selection is facilitated if the highest level is the information providing apparatus connected last time. As a result, the user's trouble of searching for the information providing apparatus is reduced, and convenience is improved.

  In addition, since it is left to the user to determine whether or not to connect to the information providing apparatus connected last time, other information providing apparatuses that can be connected are also displayed in the order of connection. Easy to choose.

  Hereinafter, a case where the embodiment is applied to a LAN system (home network system) formed in a home will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, audio data is applied as an example of content data transmitted and received through the LAN system.

[Home network configuration]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the home network system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The home network system according to the embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which server devices 21 to 23 and audio playback devices 11 to 13 are connected through a LAN 30.

  The server devices 21 to 23 are, for example, information processing devices such as personal computers, audio content recorders, and the like, and have a function of connecting to the LAN 30 and a large-capacity storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). . The audio data stored in the HDD can be provided to the audio playback apparatuses 11 to 13 through the LAN 30. Each of the audio playback devices 11 to 13 has a function of connecting to the LAN 30 and receives and plays back audio data transmitted from the server devices 21 to 23 through the LAN 30. For convenience, it is assumed that server names 21 to 23 are given server names of server A (21), server B (22), and server C (23).

  In this home network system, in practice, for example, the server devices 21 to 23 and the audio playback devices 11 to 13 are connected to broadband routers (not shown) to form a LAN system. In this case, the broadband router has a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function and a NAT (Network Address Translation) function for the devices on the LAN 30, whereby each device on the LAN 30 is connected to an external network (WAN: Wide Area Network). It is also possible to share the side line.

  In the home network system as described above, the server devices 21 to 23 have a function as an information providing device that provides audio data, and the audio playback devices 11 to 13 provide audio data from the server devices 21 to 23. It has a function as a client device (information reproducing device) that receives and reproduces the received information. Then, the user can enjoy different audio contents provided by any of the server apparatuses 21 to 23 through each of the audio playback apparatuses 11 to 13. That is, the audio playback devices 11 to 13 can select any one of the server devices 21 to 23 as the audio data distribution source according to the audio data (audio content) to be played back. .

  Furthermore, the audio playback apparatuses 11 to 13 according to the present embodiment comply with the guidelines recommended by the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) as an example in order to easily connect electronic devices and exchange content data. Device. In the DLNA guidelines, as a procedure for detecting and controlling electronic devices and managing content data, it is required to support UPnP (Universal Plug & Play) announced by Microsoft Corporation as a standard.

  UPnP is an IP (Internet Protocol) that can be used on a typical IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802 network in network communication using 10 / 100BASE-T Ethernet (registered trademark). This is a protocol group and data format specifications composed of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) over IP, UDP (User Datagram Protocol), etc., and expands the functions in Internet standard communication (TCP / IP communication).

  By adopting UPnP in so-called CE (Consumer Electronics) devices such as audio playback devices, CE devices such as audio playback devices can easily mutually authenticate with other CE devices and personal computers, and through the network. Therefore, it is possible to easily and appropriately perform provision of a service and execution of the provided service without causing the user to perform troublesome work.

[Overview of UPnP]
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a UPnP protocol stack (protocol group structure).

  As shown in FIG. 3, in UPnP, actual transmission / reception of data is performed by the Internet standard communication protocol. Also, in order to realize the unique functions of UPnP as described below, SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol), GENA (General Event Notification Architecture), SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), etc. The following protocol groups are used.

  Furthermore, in UPnP, vendor definition (UPnP Vendor Defined), UPnP Forum Working Committee Defined, and device specification (structure) definition (UPnP Device Architecture Defined) are made as shown in FIG. It has become.

  UPnP provides six functions of addressing, discovery, description, control, eventing, and presentation. Hereinafter, six functions provided by UPnP will be described.

  In a UPnP device (an electronic device equipped with UPnP) such as an audio playback device, in order to use audio data using the UPnP function, the UPnP AV architecture is followed. UPnP devices in the UPnP AV architecture are classified into three types as follows.

  That is, in the UPnP AV architecture, a UPnP device includes a media server (Media Server) that provides content, a control point (Control Point) that functions as a control terminal device, and a media renderer (Media Renderer) that functions as a playback device. It is classified into three. Here, the media server corresponds to what is generally called a server apparatus in the network system, and the media renderer corresponds to what is generally called a client apparatus in the network system.

  The control point (control device) can control each UPnP device connected to the network. The function as a control point can be installed in both the media server and the media renderer. The control point can be installed in all the electronic devices that make up the network, or any electronic device that makes up the network. It is also possible to mount control points on the. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a function as a control point is mounted on each of the audio playback devices 11 to 13.

  Further, UPnP addressing is a function for each UPnP device to acquire an address for identifying its own device on the IEEE 802 network, and DHCP or Auto-IP is used.

  Discovery is performed after addressing, so that the control point can discover the target device (media server or media renderer) that it wants to control. The protocol used here is the SSDP described above. When each electronic device constituting the network system is connected to the IEEE 802 network, the electronic device broadcasts a message on the IEEE 802 network notifying a device and a service included in the network system. The control point can know what device is connected to the IEEE 802 network by receiving the broadcast message.

  In the SSDP packet output from the electronic device to be controlled discovered by the control point by the discovery, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the device description (Device Description) is described. The control point can obtain more detailed device information of the electronic device from the device description by accessing the URL.

  The device information includes icon information, model name, producer name, product name, service description (Service Description) in which detailed information on the service of the device is described. The control point can know the access method to the target device from the device description and the service description. The device description and the service description are expressed in XML (eXtensible Markup Language).

  The function of the control is roughly classified into two functions: action (execution) and query (query). The action is performed by a method defined in the action information of the service description, and the control point can operate the target device by performing the action (Invoke). The query is used to extract the value of the device information (State Variable) of the service description. In the control, the above-described transport protocol called SOAP is used, and XML is used as the expression.

  Eventing is used to notify the control point from the target device when the value of the device information is changed. In this eventing, the above-described transport protocol called GENA is used, and XML is used as its expression. The presentation is used to provide a user with a control means using a user interface.

  By using the UPnP function as described above, each UPnP device not only requires a complicated operation from the user, but also enters a network and becomes ready for communication, as well as detection and connection of other UPnP devices. Also be able to do it automatically.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tree structure for managing content stored in the media server.
A media server which is a UPnP device incorporates a function (Service) called CDS (Contents Directory Service). With this function, the media server stores how content is stored in the media server with respect to the control point. Notify In CDS, there are two abstracted objects (Objects) called Containers and Items, which are so-called in WINDOWS (registered trademark) which is an OS (Operating System) provided by Microsoft Corporation. It corresponds to a folder (Folder) and a file (File). As shown in FIG. 4, the container and the item are always made into a tree structure. In the present embodiment, the distributed audio content (audio data) means the item in FIG.

  The control point can obtain the URL (link where information is written) of each content by acquiring the tree structure shown in FIG. 4 from the media server. When the information about the desired audio content (item) can be acquired, operations on the audio track (audio data) such as playback and stop of the audio content are performed using the AV transport function of the media server. To be able to do.

  As described above, each of the server apparatuses 21 to 23 and the audio playback apparatuses 11 to 13 according to the present embodiment becomes capable of TCP / IP communication using the UPnP addressing function, and the UPnP discovery function. Perform mutual device authentication using. As a result, each device can grasp the configuration of the network and communicate with the target electronic device.

[Configuration example of audio playback device]
Next, the configuration of the audio playback device that constitutes the home network system of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the audio playback device. Although the configuration of the audio playback device 11 will be described here as an example, the audio playback devices 12 and 13 can also be realized by the same hardware configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the audio playback device 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, a flash memory 104, an input interface (I / F) 105, An input unit 105a, a graphic processing unit 106, a display unit 106a, a communication interface (I / F) 107, an audio decoder 108, an equalizer 109, a D / A conversion unit 110, an audio amplifier 111, and a speaker 112 are provided. Among these, each block except the speaker 112 is connected via the internal bus 120.

  The CPU 101 controls the entire audio playback device 11. The ROM 102 stores programs executed by the CPU 101 and data necessary for processing. The RAM 103 is mainly used as a work area in various processes. Note that the CPU 101, the ROM 102, and the RAM 103 may be realized as a microcomputer. The flash memory 104 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, for example, in which various data that should be retained even when the power of the audio playback device 11 is turned off is recorded.

  The input I / F 105 transmits a signal from the input unit 105 a to the CPU 101 via the internal bus 120. The input unit 105a is provided with various input switches such as operation keys. The graphic processing unit 106 displays an image on the screen of the display unit 106 a in accordance with a command from the CPU 101. The display unit 106a is composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  The communication I / F 107 is connected to the LAN 30 via a LAN cable (not shown) and transmits / receives data to / from other devices. Further, the communication I / F 107 can extract audio encoded data from a packet received through the LAN 30 and directly pass it to the audio decoder 108.

  The audio decoder 108 decodes the audio encoded data received from the communication I / F 107. The audio decoder 108 can decode audio data of a compression encoding method such as MP3 (Moving Picture Experts Group / Audio Layer-3). Also, it has a function of receiving LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation) type audio data and outputting it to the equalizer 109 as it is.

  The equalizer 109 performs sound quality adjustment on the audio data supplied from the audio decoder 108 and outputs it to the D / A converter 110. The sound quality adjustment parameters are instructed from the CPU 101 to the equalizer 109 in response to an instruction input from the user received through the input unit 105a.

  The D / A converter 110 converts the digital audio data supplied from the equalizer 109 into an analog audio signal. The audio amplifier 111 amplifies the analog audio signal supplied from the D / A conversion unit 110 to a predetermined level and supplies it to the speaker 112. As a result, sound corresponding to the analog audio signal supplied to the speaker 112 is reproduced and output.

Note that the functions of the audio decoder 108 and the equalizer 109 may be realized by software executed in the CPU 101.
With such a hardware configuration, the processing functions of the present embodiment can be realized. FIG. 5 shows the hardware configuration of the audio playback device. However, the audio playback device from the audio decoder 108 to the speaker 112 is not provided, and a storage device for storing content data is provided. Except for this, the hardware configurations of the server apparatuses 21 to 23 are the same.

[Home network operation]
In the above-described home network system, when the user wants to play back the audio content stored in any of the server devices 21 to 23 that are media servers, the audio playback device 11 (1) server The steps of device selection and (2) audio content operation are required.

Therefore, the audio playback device 11 performs the following processing using the UPnP function.
(1) In order to select a server device, information on the server device connected to the network (LAN 30) is collected using SSDP, and the server list is displayed on the display unit 106a. Thereby, the user can select a desired server device.

  (2) For operation such as audio content playback, the CDS incorporated in the selected server device is used to acquire information such as the type, attached information, and storage location of the audio content stored in the server device, and the display unit 106a To display. A service using a control function is performed in accordance with the audio content selection or playback operation performed by the user.

  By the way, among a plurality of server devices, a server device to which a user is frequently connected is often determined because favorite audio contents are accumulated. In addition, a server device that has been connected before has a higher possibility of being selected than a server device that has never been connected. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the server device connected by the user's selection is left in the connection history together with the connection order, and (1) in the server list for selecting the server device or content data operation If the audio playback device 11 leaves the network for some reason after that, and then connects to the network again, the server list of the server devices that can be connected before connecting to the network is displayed. The devices are displayed at the top, arranged in order from the latest connected time.

The specific processing procedure will be described separately for connection history setting processing and server list display processing.
[Connection history setting process]
The connection history setting process is started when a predetermined connection stage is established with the server device during operation. Hereinafter, a case where the connection history is set when connected to the server apparatus will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a server is connected in the embodiment of the present invention. A connection request to the server apparatus N is set by the user, and processing is started.
[Step S11] Connect to the server apparatus N for which a connection request has been made.

  [Step S12] The connection time is recorded in the server information of the connection history. Details of the server information will be described later. Here, the connection time is a process performed only when the audio playback apparatus has an internal clock, and the process when the audio playback apparatus does not have an internal clock will be described later. Note that the internal clock may be a counter that updates the count value at a predetermined interval in addition to a clock that measures the absolute time, as long as the relationship of connection later is known.

[Step S13] A Browse command is issued to enable an operation to the server apparatus N.
[Step S14] According to the input user's operation, the audio contents of the server apparatus N are acquired and reproduced, and various services provided by the server apparatus N are implemented by a browsing function.

[Step S15] The connection with the server apparatus N is disconnected in accordance with a user operation.
[Step S16] The server devices are rearranged in the order of connection. Since the connection of the server device N is the newest, the server device N is set to the highest level (latest), and the ranks of the other server devices arranged in the connection order by the previous processing are lowered by one.

  [Step S17] The rearranged server list is displayed on the display unit. Since the server apparatus N is set at the top of the server list by the rearrangement at step S16, the server list with the server apparatus N as the top is displayed.

  Through such processing, the connected server device and its connection time are set in the connection history. Note that the processing in steps S16 to S17 is not directly related to the server list display at the time of reconnection to the network, but it is convenient for the user by arranging the server list in the order of connection even when not reconnecting to the network. Can be improved. This is because a server device that has been selected once is likely to be selected again.

Here, the server information will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of server information according to the embodiment of this invention. The figure shows server information of one server device, and such server information is set for at least the number of detected server devices.

  In the server information, management information, information acquired by SSDP, and information acquired from Device Description are set. When the audio playback device 11 functioning as a control point is connected to a network, the server device is detected by SSDP M-Search. Server Addr (server device address information), uuid (Universally Unique IDentifier; unique identifier that uniquely identifies the server device), location (Device Description URL), max, obtained from the SSDP response packet obtained by SSDP M-Search age (the valid period of the Cache-Control server) is set in the server information. Although the address of the server device is variable, each server device can be identified by uuid. Subsequently, the device description URL is accessed by accessing the URL of the device description based on the location acquired by SSDP. Among the obtained Device Descriptions, a friendly name (server name character string), a service cds Addr (command destination address), a service cdsurl (command destination URL), and the like are set in the server information.

  The management information includes a connection status with the server device and a connection history. “status” indicates the state of detection confirmation of this server device, and indicates which state is “Receiving SSDP M-Search response”, “Reading Device Description”, “Reading Device Description”, or the like. current sv. Whether the server device is selected in flag, the server type is set in type, and the MAC address of the server device is set in mac address. Then, connected (whether it has been connected in the past) and connected time (time when the server device is connected) are set as the connection history.

  In the server list display process, the server information display order is determined with reference to the server information. Note that in the case where the display is performed in the order in which the audio contents are reproduced, the time when the audio contents are reproduced is stored in the server information. In addition, both the connection time and the time when the audio content is reproduced can be recorded and both can be referred to.

Next, a case where the connection order is recorded in the server information instead of the connection time will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of server information in which the connection order according to the embodiment of this invention is recorded. In the figure, only the server name and the connection order are extracted, and the other items are the same as those in FIG.

First, when server A is connected, connection order “1” is set for server A in server information 201. Thereby, it can be seen that the server A is the server device connected most recently.
Next, it is assumed that the connection with the server A is released and the server B is connected. In the server information 202, “1” is set for the server B, and 1 is added to the connection order of the server A for which the connection order has already been set, and becomes “2”. As a result, it is understood that the server B is connected most recently and the server A was before that.

  As described above, during operation, the audio playback device 11 records the server information of the connected server device together with the connection time. If necessary, the server information or part of the server information is stored in a nonvolatile memory or a backup memory that is backed up when the main body is turned off.

[Server list display processing]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of server list display processing according to the embodiment of this invention. The audio playback device 11 starts processing when connected to the network.

  [Step S21] An SSDP M-Search is issued. In SSDP M-Search, when connected to a network, a message requesting to notify the server device of a device or service provided to the server device is transmitted by multicast. Then, a predetermined response waiting time is set and a response is waited. The server device that has received this message returns an SSDP response packet including a uuid for identifying the device itself, a location indicating an area in which device information is defined, and the like.

[Step S22] It is determined whether an SSDP response packet is received. If received, the process proceeds to the next step. If not received, the process proceeds to step S24.
[Step S23] When an SSDP response packet is received, information acquired from the response packet is set in the server information. The server information corresponding to the server device is determined by comparing the uuid acquired from the server device with the uuid set in the server information. If there is server information with a matching uuid, the SSDP acquisition information of this server information is updated. If server information is not detected, it is newly generated. In addition, the device description is acquired based on the location included in the response packet.

  [Step S24] It is determined whether the response waiting time set in step S21 has elapsed. If not, the process returns to step S22 and waits for an SSDP response. If it has elapsed, the process proceeds to the next step.

  [Step S25] Based on the server information, the detected server devices are rearranged in the order of connection. With reference to the connection history for management of the server device, the server devices whose connection (connection history) has been connected in the past (= 1) are sorted in the order of connected time (connection time). Rearranges the connection time so that the connection time is higher. In addition, for those that are not connected (= 0), they are arranged in the order of detection and arranged below the lowest connected server apparatus. In addition, in the case where the connection history is not in the connection time but in the connection order, the connection history is rearranged so that the one with the smaller numerical value of the connection order becomes the highest. The unconnected server devices for which the connection order is not set are arranged in the detection order from the next server device in the last connection order.

[Step S26] The rearranged server list is displayed.
By executing the above processing procedure, the server list is displayed in the highest connection order of the server devices connected last time.

The above processing procedure will be described with a specific example. The steps shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 correspond to the step numbers in FIGS. 6 and 9, respectively.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of processing from when the audio playback device according to the embodiment of the present invention is first activated until the server list is displayed.

  When activated, the audio playback device 11 is connected to the network, issues SSDP M-Search, and waits for a response from the server device. In the example of the figure, the server A 21, the server B 22, and the server C 23 are also connected to the network, and each returns an SSDP response packet to the audio playback device 11. The audio playback device 11 acquires the SSDP response packet in the order of server B, server A, and server C.

  Next, the audio playback device 11 requests a device description of each server device based on the location included in the SSDP response packet. Each server device returns a Device Description response.

  The audio playback device 11 rearranges the server devices detected based on the server information after the SSDP response wait time elapses (step S25-1). However, since this is the first connection and there is no server information, they are arranged in the order of detection. Then, the server list is displayed in the order of the rearranged server devices (step S26-1).

The server list display screen 301 set in this way is displayed in the order of detection as 1. Server B, 2. Server A, 3. Displayed in the order of server C.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow of processing from when the audio playback device according to the embodiment of the present invention is activated until it is disconnected from the network.

  Based on the first server list display screen 301, the user selects the server C. The audio playback device 11 connects to the server C23 (step S11-1), makes a Browse request, and controls the server C23. A Browse response is returned from the server C23.

  When the use of the server C23 ends and an end instruction is given, the audio playback device 11 disconnects from the server C23 (step S15-1), and rearranges the server devices in the order of connection. Here, the server C23 is the highest rank, and the other server devices lower the rank one by one. Then, the newly rearranged server list is displayed (step S17-1). In the server list display screen 302 set in this way, the server C23 connected last is the highest, and the other server devices are sequentially lowered in order. Server C, 2. Server B, 3. They are displayed in the order of server A.

  Next, the user selects the server B based on the server list display screen 302. The audio playback device 11 connects to the server B22 (step S11-2), makes a Browse request, and controls the server B22. The server B22 returns a Browse response.

  When the use of the server B22 is finished and a termination instruction is given, the audio playback device 11 disconnects from the server B22 (step S15-2), and rearranges the server devices in the order of connection. Here, the server B22 is the highest rank, and the other server devices lower the rank one by one. Then, the newly rearranged server list is displayed (step S17-2). In the server list display screen 303 set in this way, the last connected server B22 is the highest rank. Server B, 2. Server C, 3. They are displayed in the order of server A.

From this state, the audio playback device 11 is disconnected from the network (step S18).
By the processing so far, the server information records that the previous connection is the server B22, the previous connection is the server C23, and is not connected to the server A21.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flow of processing from when the audio playback device according to the embodiment of the present invention displays a server list after reconnection of the network.
When the audio playback device 11 is reconnected to the network, it issues SSDP M-Search and waits for a response from the server device. The audio playback device 11 acquires the SSDP response packet in the order of server B, server A, and server C. Next, the audio playback device 11 requests a device description of each server device based on the location included in the SSDP response packet, and receives the response.

  The audio playback device 11 rearranges the server devices detected based on the server information after the SSDP response waiting time has elapsed (step S25-2). In the server information, it is set that the server A21 is not connected, the server B22 is connected last, and the server C23 is connected before the server B. Therefore, the server devices are rearranged based on the server information. Subsequently, the server list is displayed in the order of the rearranged server devices (step S26-2).

  The server list display screen 304 set in this way is displayed in the order of connection as follows: Server B, 2. Server C, 3. Server A is displayed. This server list display screen 304 is displayed in the order of detection 1.. Server B, 2. Server A, 3. The arrangement is different from that of the server C.

As a result, the server list display screen 304 after reconnection to the network is the same as the server list display screen 304 before the network is disconnected.
Here, the case where the conventional server list display screen shown in FIG. 15 is displayed by the audio reproducing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention is shown.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a server list display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.
Here, as in FIG. 15, in the previous network connection, 10 servers of server A, server B, server C, server D, server E, server F, server G, server H, server I, and server J were used. Assume that the servers J and F are connected in this order. It is assumed that the server A, the server G, the server D, the server B, the server H, the server C, the server E, the server F, the server J, and the server I are detected in this order after connecting to the network again and performing server device detection. In FIG. 15, the server list is displayed in this detection order.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, based on the connection history, the server list is rearranged so that the newest connection time is higher. Specifically, on the server list display screen (1/2) 310 which is the first screen, the server F connected most recently is displayed at the top, and the server J connected before that is displayed on the next line. Has been. Thereby, the server F and the server J whose detection order is behind are displayed not on the server list display screen (2/2) 311 that is difficult to operate but on the server list display screen (1/2) 310 that can be easily operated. It becomes like this.

As a result, when the user wants to connect to the server F connected last time, since the server F is at the highest level, the user can easily select.
In the above description, the server list of the server devices in which the network connection is detected is displayed according to the connection order. However, the server device connected last time may not be detected in the reconnection. In this case, the server device connected in the past can be added to the server list using the server information. Further, if the server device has a wake-up function, it is possible to issue a wake-up instruction to the server device connected last time, start the server device, and connect.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of another display screen of the server list according to the embodiment of this invention.
The server list display screen 312 is an example of a display screen when the server J is not detected in the same case as FIG.

  Although the server J has not been detected, the connection history remains in the server information, so that it is displayed in the next order of the server F based on the connection order of the connection history. In this example, it is clearly indicated that no detection has been made. As described above, by displaying the server devices that have been connected to the server list in the server list, the user can select the server device more easily.

Note that which of the undetected server apparatus and the detected server apparatus is displayed at the higher level is a design matter and is appropriately determined depending on the system to be applied.
In the example of the display screen described above, the server device with the slowest connection time is set as the highest row and the server devices are displayed in the order of the connection time. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Any display method may be used as long as the connection order is specified, and it may be distinguished by the font and display color of characters. Alternatively, symbols may be displayed before and after the name of the server device.

  Furthermore, in the embodiments, the audio reproducing apparatus with a limited display area has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even in the case of an information reproducing apparatus that reproduces visual data having a display unit with a large display area, the server apparatus can be easily selected and the operability is improved by clearly indicating the information reproducing apparatus connected last time. be able to.

  The above processing functions can be realized by a computer. In that case, a program describing the processing contents of the functions that the information reproducing apparatus should have is provided. By executing the program on a computer, the above processing functions are realized on the computer. The program describing the processing contents can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. When distributing the program, for example, portable recording media such as a DVD and a CD-ROM in which the program is recorded are sold. It is also possible to store the program in a storage device of a server computer and transfer the program from the server computer to another computer via a network.

  The computer that executes the program stores, for example, the program recorded on the portable recording medium or the program transferred from the server computer in its own storage device. Then, the computer reads the program from its own storage device and executes processing according to the program. The computer can also read the program directly from the portable recording medium and execute processing according to the program. Further, each time the program is transferred from the server computer, the computer can sequentially execute processing according to the received program.

It is a conceptual diagram of the invention applied to embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the home network system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the protocol stack (structure of a protocol group) of UPnP. It is a figure which shows the example of the tree structure which manages the content stored in the media server. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of an audio reproduction apparatus. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence at the time of the server connection in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the server information of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the server information by which the connection order of embodiment of this invention is recorded. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the display process of the server list of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the flow of a process after displaying the server list | wrist after the audio reproduction apparatus of embodiment of this invention is started initially. It is the figure which showed the flow of the process after starting the audio reproduction apparatus of embodiment of this invention until it isolate | separates from a network. It is the figure which showed the flow of a process until the audio reproduction apparatus of embodiment of this invention displays a server list from reconnection of a network. It is the figure which showed an example of the server list display screen of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the other display screen of the server list of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the display screen for notifying the server apparatus which the conventional information reproducing apparatus detected.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information reproduction apparatus, 1a ... Connection history memory | storage means, 1b ... Detection apparatus information storage means 1c ... Information provision apparatus detection means, 1d ... Rearrangement means, 1e ... Display control Means 1f Connection history setting means 1g Communication control means 2a 2b 2n Information providing device 3 Network

Claims (9)

In an information reproducing apparatus that connects to at least one information providing apparatus connected to a network and reproduces information provided from the information providing apparatus,
A connection history storage means for storing a connection history in which identification information of the information providing device that has reached a predetermined connection stage is set together with order information according to the order of the predetermined connection stage;
A connection that analyzes a connection stage with the information providing apparatus connected via the network, and sets identification information of the information providing apparatus of the connection partner that has reached the predetermined connection stage in the connection history together with the order information History setting means,
Information providing apparatus detecting means for collecting identification information of the information providing apparatus when newly connected to the network and detecting the information providing apparatus connected to the network according to whether or not the identification information has been collected When,
Reordering means for reordering the information providing apparatus detected by the information providing apparatus detecting means according to the order information set in the connection history;
Display control means for clearly displaying a list of the information providing apparatuses detected by the information providing apparatus detecting means and displaying the information providing apparatus that has recently reached the predetermined connection stage by at least the rearranging by the rearranging means. When,
An information reproducing apparatus comprising:   The display control means displays the information providing apparatus in the rearranged order with the information providing apparatus most recently in the predetermined connection stage as the highest order according to the order rearranged by the rearranging means. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1.   2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection history setting unit is configured to make the predetermined connection stage when connected to the information providing apparatus according to a user instruction.   The display control means includes the information that has the connection history registered and is detected by the information providing apparatus detection means below the information providing apparatus that has been sorted by the sorting means, and does not have the connection history. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the providing apparatuses are displayed in the order of detection. The information reproducing apparatus has time measuring means for measuring time,
The connection history setting means acquires the connection time when the information providing device has reached the predetermined connection stage from the time measuring means and sets the connection history in the order information of the connection history,
The reordering means reorders the information providing device based on the connection time;
The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The connection history setting means sets an ordinal number that makes the information providing apparatus that has reached the predetermined connection stage the latest, and registers it in the order information each time the information providing apparatus enters the predetermined connection stage. , Set in the information providing device that has become the predetermined connection stage earlier in time, and update the ordinal number registered in the order information,
The reordering means reorders the information providing device based on the ordinal number;
The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The reordering means performs reordering in addition to the information providing apparatus that is registered in the connection history stored in the connection history storage means but not detected by the information providing apparatus detecting means. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1.   When the information providing device detecting means is connected to the network, the information providing device requests all the information providing devices connected to the network by multicast to request the identification information, and a response including the identification information until a predetermined time elapses. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information providing apparatus that can receive the information is recognized as being detected. In an information reproducing method of an information reproducing apparatus for connecting to at least one information providing apparatus connected to a network and reproducing information provided from the information providing apparatus,
The connection history setting means analyzes the connection stage with the information providing apparatus connected via the network, and identifies identification information of the information providing apparatus of the connection partner when the connection stage becomes a predetermined connection stage. Setting the connection history together with the order information according to the order of the predetermined connection stage, and storing it in the connection history storage means;
When the information providing device detection means is newly connected to the network, the information providing device that collects the identification information of the information providing device and connects to the network depending on whether or not the identification information has been collected. Detecting step;
Rearranging means for rearranging the information providing device detected by the information providing device detecting means according to the order information set in the connection history;
The display control means clearly displays the list of the information providing devices detected by the information providing device detecting means, at least indicating the information providing device that has recently reached the predetermined connection stage by the sorting by the sorting device. Steps to display;
A method for reproducing information, characterized by:

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