JP2008245324A - Information processing device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate setting operation for reserving video recording of a plurality of broadcast programs. <P>SOLUTION: An information processing device first sets a video recording reservation with contents of "video-recording of broadcast contents on channel A in time zone from 8 o'clock to 11 o'clock" based on user operation. The information processing device then divides the video recording reservation into video recording reservations for each of programs based on program information like a channel-A program guide. Namely, the recording reservation is divided here into a reservation A that is a video recording reservation of a program A, a reservation B that is a video recording reservation of a program B, and a reservation C that is a video recording reservation of a program C. The present invention may be applicable to a video recording and playback apparatus configured as a personal computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method that can facilitate a recording reservation setting operation for a plurality of broadcast programs.

  In recent years, a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording and reproducing a broadcast program (video signal and audio signal constituting the broadcast program), for example, a hard disk video recorder or the like has been widely used. Furthermore, recording / reproducing apparatuses capable of performing various processes using program information of broadcast programs, for example, so-called EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information have also appeared (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

In addition, the user can perform a recording reservation setting operation such as “record a specific broadcast program broadcast from a specific broadcast station” on such a recording / playback apparatus.
JP-A-9-9193 JP 2001-313878 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-8122

  However, the following demands have been raised by many users in recent years. However, the conventional techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have a problem that it is difficult to meet the demands. .

  In other words, the demand that is difficult to meet with the conventional technique is a demand for performing a recording reservation setting operation as easily as possible when a recording / playback apparatus records a plurality of broadcast programs.

  In other words, when a plurality of broadcast programs are recorded on the recording / playback apparatus using the conventional techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, etc., the above-mentioned “specific broadcast” is performed for each of the plurality of broadcast programs. The user needs to repeatedly perform a recording reservation setting operation such as “record a specific (target) broadcast program broadcast from a station”. Repeating such setting operations is a burden for many users, and as a result, the above-described demand has been raised.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it easy to perform a recording reservation setting operation for a plurality of broadcast programs.

  An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that controls recording according to a set recording reservation, and is a first broadcast station that is included in the first recording reservation setting information and indicates a predetermined broadcast station. Corresponding to each of one or more broadcast programs that are specified by the information, the second information indicating the predetermined day of the week, and the third information indicating the predetermined time period and scheduled to be broadcast An acquisition means for acquiring information, and based on the program information acquired by the acquisition means, when it is determined that the recording start time of the first recording reservation is a time in the middle of a predetermined program, The setting information of the first recording reservation is changed so that recording starts from the broadcast start time of the predetermined program.

  When the recording end time of the second recording reservation before the first recording reservation is in the middle of the predetermined program and before the recording start time of the first recording reservation, By extending the recording end time of the recording reservation, the recording portion of the predetermined program of the first recording reservation is merged with the second recording reservation, and the setting information is changed.

  An information processing method according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for an information processing apparatus that controls recording according to a set recording reservation, and includes a predetermined broadcast station included in the first recording reservation setting information Each of one or more broadcast programs that are specified and scheduled to be broadcast by the first information indicating the second day, the second information indicating the predetermined day of the week, and the third information indicating the predetermined time period Based on the acquisition step of acquiring the corresponding program information and the program information acquired by the processing of the acquisition step, it is determined that the recording start time of the first recording reservation is a time in the middle of the predetermined program And a changing step of changing the setting information of the first recording reservation so that the recording is started from the broadcast start time of the predetermined program.

  In the information processing apparatus and method according to one aspect of the present invention, the following processing is executed by the information processing apparatus that controls recording according to the set recording reservation. The first information indicating the predetermined broadcasting station included in the first recording reservation setting information, the second information indicating the predetermined day of the week, and the third information indicating the predetermined time period are specified and broadcast. Corresponding program information is acquired for each of one or more broadcast programs scheduled to be recorded, and based on the acquired program information, the recording start time of the first recording reservation is in the middle of a predetermined program. When it is determined that the time is the time, the setting information of the first recording reservation is changed so that the recording is started from the broadcast start time of the predetermined program.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set a recording reservation of the recording / playback apparatus. In particular, when a plurality of broadcast programs are recorded by the recording / playback apparatus, the user can easily perform a recording reservation setting operation necessary for that purpose.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a content recording / playback apparatus 1 which is an information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the content recording / playback apparatus 1, the main control unit 11, the content recording unit 13 </ b> A, and the content recording unit 13 </ b> B are connected to each other via a network 12.

  The form of the network 12 is not particularly limited, and can be configured by, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark). The network 12 can be omitted. That is, each of the main control unit 11, the content recording unit 13A, and the content recording unit 13B may perform direct communication without using the network 12.

  Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B, they are collectively referred to as the content recording unit 13.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 1, the content recording / playback apparatus 1 is equipped with two content recording units 13, but the number of the content recording units 13 is not limited to the example of FIG. Good. Similarly, the number of main control units 11 may be an arbitrary number.

  Detailed hardware configuration examples of the main control unit 11 and the content recording unit 13 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. Therefore, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, detailed hardware configuration examples of the main control unit 11 and the content recording unit 13 will be described individually in that order.

  First, a hardware configuration example of the main control unit 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the main control unit 11 of FIG. 2, the CPU 21 executes various processes according to a program stored in the ROM 22 or a program loaded from the storage unit 28 to the RAM 23. The RAM 23 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 21 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 21, ROM 22, and RAM 23 are connected to each other via a bus 24. An input / output interface 25 is also connected to the bus 24.

  The input / output interface 25 includes an input unit 26 including a keyboard, a mouse, a remote controller (including a light receiving unit), an output unit 27 including a speaker and a display, a storage unit 28 including a hard disk, and the network 12 ( A communication unit 29 that controls communication processing with other blocks (in the example of FIG. 1, the content recording unit 13A or the content recording unit 13B) is connected via FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the communication unit 29 can be connected to a network having a form different from the network 12 (for example, a network 304 in FIG. 29 described later).

  A drive 30 is connected to the input / output interface 25 as necessary, and a removable recording medium 31 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read from them is loaded. These are installed in the storage unit 28 as necessary.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the main control unit 11 is not limited to the example of FIG. 2 and may be any hardware configuration as long as it has at least the functional configuration of FIG. 4 to be described later.

  Next, a hardware configuration example of the content recording unit 13 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the content recording unit 13 of FIG. 3, the CPU 41 executes various processes according to programs stored in the ROM 42. Alternatively, the CPU 41 receives the program transmitted from the main control unit 11 in FIG. 1 via the network 12 via the network communication control unit 48 and the bus 47 and loads it into the RAM 43. The CPU 41 may execute various processes according to the program. The RAM 43 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 41 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 41, ROM 42, and RAM 43 are connected to each other via a bus 44. A content acquisition unit 45 and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 46 are also connected to the bus 44.

The content acquisition unit 45 is configured to be able to simultaneously receive (acquire) each broadcast program (content) broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations in the same time period. Specifically, for example, in the example of FIG. 3, the content acquisition unit 45 is configured to be able to simultaneously receive three broadcast programs broadcast from each of the three broadcast stations. That is, the content acquisition unit 45 includes three tuners 51-1 through 51-3, three A / D conversion (Analog to Digital conversion) units 52-1 through A / D conversion units 52-3, and 3 Two encoders 53-1 to 53-3 are provided.

  Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish each of the three tuners 51-1 to 51-3, they are collectively referred to as a tuner 51. Similarly, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish each of the three A / D converters 52-1 to 52-3, they are collectively referred to as an A / D converter 52. Further, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish each of the three encoders 53-1 to 53-3, they are collectively referred to as an encoder 53.

  The tuner 51 demodulates a terrestrial or satellite television broadcast wave received by an antenna (not shown) and supplies a video signal and an audio signal obtained as a result to the A / D converter 52.

  That is, the broadcast radio wave of the channel designated by the CPU 41 (more precisely, for example, the channel designated by the reservation input unit 62 in FIG. 4 described later), more precisely, broadcast from the broadcast station to which the channel is assigned. When the radio wave constituting the broadcast program is received by the antenna, the tuner 51 demodulates it and supplies the analog video signal and audio signal obtained as a result to the A / D converter 52.

  As described above, a broadcast program is broadcast from a broadcast station. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, the description will be made in terms of broadcasting a broadcast program from a channel (to which the broadcast station is assigned). To go. For example, the following description will be made using expressions such as “broadcast program broadcast from channel A”.

  The A / D converter 52 performs A / D conversion on the analog video signal and audio signal supplied from the tuner 51, and supplies the resulting digital video signal and audio signal to the encoder 53. Hereinafter, a digital signal output from the A / D conversion unit 52, that is, a digital video signal and an audio signal constituting a predetermined broadcast program are collectively referred to as content data.

  The encoder 53 encodes (compresses and encodes) the content data supplied from the A / D conversion unit 52 using, for example, an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method, and supplies the encoded data to the recording control unit 54. Hereinafter, the encoded content data output from the encoder 53 is referred to as compressed content data.

  The recording control unit 54 stores the compressed content data supplied from each of the encoders 53-1 to 53-3 in the HDD 46 in a file format.

  That is, the HDD 46 stores a file including compressed content data. Hereinafter, an operation such as “the compressed content data is stored in the HDD 46” is expressed as “a broadcast program (corresponding to the compressed content data) is recorded”. In other words, when it is not necessary to distinguish between a broadcast program and content data and compressed content data constituting the broadcast program, they are hereinafter simply referred to as a broadcast program.

  Further, the recording unit of the HDD 46 is not necessarily one broadcast program, but precisely, the broadcast content of a predetermined channel specified by one recording reservation to be described later. The broadcast content may include one or more broadcast programs (further, as will be described later, not all of the broadcast programs are necessarily included, and only a part of the broadcast programs may be included). Therefore, one file recorded on the HDD 46 may include one broadcast program broadcast from a predetermined channel, or may include two or more broadcast programs broadcast from the channel.

  Hereinafter, such a file is referred to as a video capsule. That is, the video capsule includes at least a part (compressed content data) of each of one or more broadcast programs.

  Further, the HDD 46 also stores program information (metadata) of recorded broadcast programs.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the program information stored in the HDD 46 is supplied from another server (not shown) connected to the network 12. In other words, in the present embodiment, the CPU 41 appropriately acquires program information of each broadcast program via the network 12 and the network communication control unit 48 and stores it in the HDD 46.

  However, the program information acquisition method is not limited to the example of the present embodiment, and may be any method. For example, the content acquisition unit 45 may extract program information from a vertical blanking period of a received terrestrial television broadcast signal or may extract program information from a received satellite wave television broadcast signal. Good.

  Incidentally, the CPU 41 is also connected to a bus 47, and a network communication control unit 48 is also connected to the bus 47. The network communication control unit 48 controls communication processing with other blocks (such as the main control unit 11 in the example of FIG. 1) via the network 12.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the content recording unit 13 is not limited to the example of FIG. 3, and may be any hardware configuration as long as it has at least the functional configuration of FIG.

  By the way, in the following, the content recording unit 13A and the content recording 13B may be described separately again. Therefore, in such a case, each of the CPU 41 to the network communication control unit 48 mounted on the content recording unit 13A is referred to as each of the CPU 41A to the network communication control unit 48A. Similarly, each of the CPU 41 to the network communication control unit 48 mounted on the content recording unit 13B is referred to as each of the CPU 41B to the network communication control unit 48B.

  In the example described above, the number of tuners installed in the content recording / playback apparatus 1 is six. That is, three tuners 51-1A to 51-3A are mounted on the content recording unit 13A, and three tuners 51-1B to 51-3B are mounted on the content recording unit 13B (as illustrated in FIG. Have been). However, the number of tuners mounted on the content recording / playback apparatus 1 is not limited to the above-described example, and may be an arbitrary number. Further, the tuner mounting location is not particularly limited, and for example, an arbitrary number of tuners may be mounted on the main control unit 11.

  The hardware configuration example of the content recording / playback apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied has been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  Next, a functional configuration example of the content recording / playback apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. That is, FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration example of the content recording / playback apparatus 1.

  Here, since the hardware configuration of the main control unit 11 is as shown in FIG. 2 described above, the information presentation integrated control unit 61, the reservation input unit 62, and the past program guide management unit 63 are respectively For example, it is configured as application software executed by the CPU 21 of FIG. 2 described above. Of course, by making the hardware configuration of the main control unit 11 different from that shown in FIG. 2 described above, each of the information presentation integrated control unit 61, the reservation input unit 62, and the past program guide management unit 63 can be It can be configured as a single unit, or can be configured as a combination of software and hardware.

  Similarly, since the hardware configurations of the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B are as shown in FIG. 3 described above, the recording management unit 71A, the content / metadata providing unit 72A, and the recording Each of the management unit 71B and the content / metadata providing unit 72B is configured as, for example, application software executed by the CPU 41 in FIG. Of course, the recording management unit 71A, the content / metadata providing unit 72A, and the recording management unit 71B are configured by making the hardware configurations of the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B different from those shown in FIG. Each of the content / metadata providing unit 72B can be configured as, for example, a single hardware or a combination of software and hardware.

  In the main control unit 11 of FIG. 4, the information presentation integrated control unit 61 appropriately performs various processes on various information supplied from the reservation input unit 62 or the past program guide management unit 63, and then from the output unit 27. Execute the control to output.

  Specifically, for example, image data corresponding to any of the images shown in FIGS. 8 to 15, 26, and 27 described later (details of these images will be described later) are reserved. The information may be supplied from the input unit 62 or the past program guide management unit 63 to the information presentation integrated control unit 61. In such a case, the information presentation integrated control unit 61 appropriately performs necessary image processing on the supplied image data, further converts the image data into an analog image signal, and supplies the analog image signal to the output unit 27. Then, the output unit 27 selects one of the images corresponding to the image signal supplied from the information presentation integrated control unit 61, that is, for example, the images shown in FIGS. 8 to 15, FIG. 26, and FIG. Is displayed.

  Furthermore, for example, a predetermined video capsule may be supplied from the content recording unit 13A or the content recording unit 13B to the information presentation integrated control unit 61 via the past program guide management unit 63. In such a case, the information presentation integrated control unit 61 decodes the compressed content data included in the supplied video capsule by the MPEG method or the like, and supplies the resulting video signal and audio signal to the output unit 27. Then, the output unit 27 displays a video (moving image) corresponding to the supplied video signal (moving image signal) and outputs a sound corresponding to the supplied audio signal. That is, the output unit 27 reproduces the broadcast program included in the video capsule in the form of compressed content data.

  The information presentation integrated control unit 61 also receives various commands from the input unit 26 (for example, a command to change the volume of the output audio from the output unit 27, a command to play, pause, stop, fast-forward a broadcast program, etc.). The process corresponding to the command is executed.

  The reservation input unit 62 sets a recording reservation based on the information input from the input unit 26, that is, the content instructed by the user, and the recording management unit 71A of the content recording unit 13A or the recording management unit of the content recording unit 13B. 71B is notified.

  Here, it should be noted that the information input from the input unit 26 is “day of the week, channel, start time, and end time”, and the reservation input unit 62 performs conventional recording based on these pieces of information. This is to set a recording reservation different from the reservation.

  That is, the contents of the conventional recording reservation are generally contents such as “record a specific broadcast program desired by the user”. On the other hand, the content of the recording reservation set by the reservation input unit 62 is “time zone desired by the user (weekly, the time zone from the start time specified by the user to the end time on the day specified by the user) ), The broadcast content broadcast from a predetermined channel desired by the user is recorded.

  Hereinafter, the recording reservation set by the reservation input unit 62, that is, the recording reservation set by information such as “day of the week, channel, start time, and end time” is distinguished from the conventional recording reservation. For this reason, it is called non-stop recording reservation.

  In the following, the contents of the set recording reservation (including not only non-stop recording reservation but also recording reservation divided from non-stop recording reservation as will be described later) in the processing of the reservation input unit 62 are contents. The process of notifying the recording management unit 71A of the recording unit 13A or the recording management unit 71B of the content recording unit 13B is referred to as inputting a recording reservation. More precisely, in addition to the above-described notification process executed by the reservation input unit 62, the recording reservation is input by the notification of the recording management unit 71A and the recording management unit 71B. It also includes a process for holding the contents of the recorded recording reservation.

  That is, the reservation input unit 62 sets a non-stop recording reservation based on the operation content of the user input unit 26, that is, information such as “day of the week, channel, start time, and end time” set by the user. throw into.

  Further, it should be noted that the user performs such a non-stop recording reservation setting operation on a GUI image for setting a non-stop recording reservation (hereinafter referred to as a non-stop recording reserved image), that is, described later. 8 to 14 can be easily performed while looking at the non-stop recording reserved image.

  Details of the non-stop recording reservation setting and input processing and details of the non-stop recording reservation image will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  Further, the reservation input unit 62 can divide the input non-stop recording reservation into recording reservations for each broadcast program based on the program information of each broadcast program.

  More specifically, for example, it is assumed that a non-stop recording reservation is input with a content such as “Record the broadcast content broadcast from the A channel during a time period from 8 am to 1 pm on Tuesday”. . Also, for example, from the A channel, the first broadcast program is broadcast from 8 am to 11 am on the next Tuesday, and then the second broadcast is broadcast from 11 am to 1 pm. Assume that a broadcast program is scheduled to be broadcast. That is, it is assumed that the program information of each of the first broadcast program and the second broadcast program includes information that can specify their scheduled contents.

  In this case, the reservation input unit 62 stores the program information of the first broadcast program and the second broadcast program stored in the HDD 46A or the HDD 46B at a predetermined timing before 8 am on the next Tuesday, It is automatically acquired via the content / metadata providing unit 72A or the content / metadata providing unit 72B. Based on the program information, the reservation input unit 62 automatically divides the non-stop recording reservation to be divided into the recording reservation for the first broadcast program and the recording reservation for the second broadcast program. And put it in.

  Here, “automatic” means that the reservation input unit 62 or the like executes a predetermined process at its own judgment without any input from the outside such as the input unit 26, that is, without any user operation. To do.

  In addition, details of the process of split and input of the non-stop recording reservation, for example, the processing timing, and the processing when the start time and end time of the non-stop recording reservation to be divided are in the middle of the broadcast program, This will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The past program table management unit 63 uses the content / metadata providing unit 72A or the content / metadata providing unit for program information (metadata) of a broadcast program (hereinafter referred to as a recorded program) currently recorded in the HDD 46A or HDD 46B. Via 72B.

  Then, the past program table management unit 63 responds to each recorded program (to be precise, a column indicating the recorded program, hereinafter referred to as a program column) based on the acquired various program information. A table arranged in the order of broadcast times for each channel to be generated is generated in the form of image data and supplied to the information presentation integrated control unit 61. Such a table is referred to as a past program guide. A specific example of the past program guide will be described later with reference to FIG.

  When the image data of the past program guide is supplied to the information presentation integrated control unit 61, as described above, the information presentation integrated control unit 61 displays an image corresponding to the image data, that is, as shown in FIG. The past program table is displayed on the output unit 27.

  Here, the points to be noted are as follows.

  That is, the conventional past program table is a table on which all broadcast programs (program columns) broadcast in the past are displayed regardless of whether or not they are actually recorded. Therefore, in the conventional past program table, since all broadcast programs including broadcast programs that are not recorded are displayed equally, it is impossible to reproduce all the displayed broadcast programs. That is, it is difficult for the user to determine which broadcast program is recorded or which broadcast program is not recorded when the conventional past program table is used.

  On the other hand, although details will be described later, the past program table generated by the past program table management unit 63 (hereinafter referred to as the past program table of the present invention when it is necessary to distinguish from the conventional past program table). Is that only recorded programs recorded in the HDD 46A or HDD 46B are displayed, and broadcast programs that are not recorded are not displayed. Therefore, in the past program guide of the present invention, all displayed broadcast programs can be reproduced. Furthermore, when an area where no broadcast program is displayed (area where the program column does not exist) continues for a long time, the user can easily find a desired recorded program simply by scrolling the area (performing the corresponding operation). It is a point that can be.

  Thus, the user can easily find a desired broadcast program by looking at the past program guide of the present invention displayed on the output unit 27. Furthermore, the user can easily perform an operation of selecting and playing the broadcast program.

  Note that specific examples of user operations and further details of the past program table of the present invention will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Furthermore, since the past program guide management unit 63 creates the past program guide of the present invention based on the program information of the recorded program, the arrangement position of the program column included in the past program guide of the present invention is determined according to a predetermined rule. Other program guides can be easily generated simply by changing them. That is, the past program guide management unit 63 can easily create various program guides by changing the layout of the program column of the recorded program by using the program information of the recorded program.

  For example, the past program guide management unit 63 can classify each recorded program according to a preset keyword based on the program information of each recorded program. For example, the past program guide management unit 63 can classify into “news”, “weather”, “music”, “physical education”, “information”, etc. as shown in FIG. Then, the past program table management unit 63 generates, for each keyword, a table in which each recorded program (program column) classified into the corresponding keyword is arranged in order of broadcast time in the form of image data, and information presentation integrated control It can also be supplied to the unit 61. Such a table is hereinafter referred to as a keyword-specific program table in order to distinguish it from the past program table. A specific example of the keyword-specific program guide will be described later with reference to FIG.

  When the image data of the keyword-specific program guide is supplied to the information presentation integrated control unit 61, as described above, the information presentation integrated control unit 61 displays an image corresponding to the image data, that is, FIG. 27 described later. Such a keyword-specific program guide is displayed on the output unit 27.

  At this time, the user can perform the same operation as the above-described operation using the past program guide using the keyword-specific program guide. That is, the user can easily perform an operation of finding a desired broadcast program by looking at the keyword-specific program guide displayed on the output unit 27, and selecting and reproducing the broadcast program.

  Note that specific examples of user operations and further details of the keyword-specific program guide will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  As a result of the user operation as described above, for example, a playback instruction for a predetermined recorded program is supplied from the input unit 26 to the past program guide management unit 63. Therefore, the past program guide managing unit 63 sends the recorded program (including the video capsule) designated by the playback command to the HDD 46A or the content via the content / metadata providing unit 72A or the content / metadata providing unit 72B. The information is acquired from the HDD 46B and supplied to the information presentation integrated control unit 61.

  Then, as described above, the information presentation integrated control unit 61 decodes the recorded program (compressed content data) included in the video capsule by the MPEG method or the like, and supplies the resulting video signal and audio signal to the output unit 27. To do. The output unit 27 displays a video (moving image) corresponding to the supplied video signal and outputs audio corresponding to the supplied audio signal. That is, the output unit 27 reproduces the recorded program selected by the user.

  Heretofore, the functional configuration example of the main control unit 11 has been described. Next, functional configuration examples of the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B will be described. The functional configuration examples of the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B are basically the same as shown in FIG. That is, regarding the description of the functional configuration example, the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B do not need to be individually distinguished, and will be described collectively as the functional configuration example of the content recording unit 13. In this case, “A” or “B” attached as a reference numeral of each block in FIG.

  As described above, the recording management unit 71 inputs a recording reservation (part of the processing). That is, the recording management unit 71 holds the contents of the recording reservation notified from the reservation input unit 62. As described above, the recording reservation notified (input) from the reservation input unit 62 includes a recording reservation in which the recording reservation is divided in addition to the non-stop recording reservation.

  Further, the recording management unit 71 controls the recording to the HDD 46 in accordance with the contents of the recording reservation that is input (held). That is, the recording management unit 71 sets the time zone specified by the input recording reservation (the start time and the end time included in the content of the recording reservation, and the time zone specified from the day of the week if necessary. ) Is executed to cause the content acquisition unit 45 to acquire the broadcast content broadcast from the channel designated by the recording reservation, and to store the resulting video capsule in the HDD 46.

  As a result, the broadcast content broadcast from the channel designated by the recording reservation in the time zone designated by the recording reservation (as described above, there may be one broadcast program or a plurality of broadcast programs). A video capsule including the video recording is recorded (recorded) on the HDD 46.

  The content / metadata providing unit 72 acquires the program information (metadata) of the broadcast program instructed from the reservation input unit 62 or the past program guide management unit 63 from the HDD 46 and supplies it to the reservation input unit 62 as described above. To do.

  In addition, as described above, the content / metadata providing unit 72 acquires the video capsule including the recorded program (compressed content data) instructed from the past program guide management unit 63 from the HDD 46, and stores it in the past program guide management unit 63. Supply.

  The functional configuration example of the content recording / playback apparatus 1 has been described above.

  The content recording / playback apparatus 1 having such a functional configuration records a content such as “records broadcast content broadcast from a channel designated by the user at a predetermined time zone on a day of the week designated by the user every week”. A reservation can be set and submitted.

  Further, the user can easily perform the setting operation of the non-stop recording reservation having such contents while viewing the non-stop recording reservation image as shown in FIGS. 8 to 14 described later.

  Furthermore, the content recording / playback apparatus 1 can also divide the inserted non-stop recording reservation into recording reservations for each broadcast program based on the program information of each broadcast program.

  The block for performing the non-stop recording reservation division process performed before the recording is the reservation input unit 62 in the above-described example, but is not limited to the above-described example, and is, for example, the inside of the content recording units 13A and 13B. It may be a block (not shown) or the like provided in That is, the reservation input unit 62 inputs a non-stop recording reservation, and each of the content recording units 13A and 13B receives necessary information from each of the content / metadata providing units 72A and 72B, and makes a non-stop recording reservation. It is possible to divide and make reservations for each program.

  Further, the split recording reservation process performed before recording is not an essential process for the content recording / playback apparatus 1. In other words, the content recording / playback apparatus 1 records once according to the content of the non-stop recording reservation, instead of dividing the non-stop recording reservation, and then from the recorded content (compressed content data) based on each program information. A process of dividing each broadcast program (compressed content data) (hereinafter referred to as a post-recording division process) may be performed. That is, such post-recording division processing and non-stop recording reservation division processing can be said to be equivalent when viewed from the processing result (the contents of each video capsule recorded in the HDD 46).

The post-recording division process will be described in detail below. That is, the content recording / playback apparatus 1 acquires, for example, a predetermined video capsule and program information of a broadcast program that should be included in the HDD 46A or HDD 46B. Then, for example, the content recording / reproducing apparatus 1 decodes the compressed content data included in the acquired video capsule, and converts the resulting content data into content data for each broadcast program based on the acquired program information. To divide. Furthermore, the content recording / playback apparatus 1 re-encodes each of the divided content data for each broadcast program, and includes the compressed content data for each broadcast program obtained as a result in a new video capsule, so that the HDD 46A or HDD
46B is recorded.

  That is, when N (N is an arbitrary integer) broadcast programs are included in the original video capsule, the content recording / playback apparatus 1 executes the post-recording division process described above, so that the original video capsule is , It is divided into N new video capsules each including N broadcast programs one by one, and is recorded on the HDD 46A or HDD 46B.

  Note that the block for executing the post-recording division process described above may be the main control unit 11 or the content recording unit 13. In the latter case, more precisely, the recording management unit 71 or a block (not shown) is used.

  In other words, the content recording / playback apparatus 1 eventually causes the predetermined tuner to receive the broadcast content specified by the content of the non-stop recording reservation, and each of the one or more broadcast programs is received from the received broadcast content. It suffices to have a function of performing recording control in which one or more video capsules are recorded on a predetermined recording medium such as the HDD 46 in FIG. Furthermore, finally, each broadcast program included in the broadcast content specified by the content of the non-stop recording reservation may be divided and included in different video capsules. It may be before or after recording. That is, the process of dividing each broadcast program before recording the broadcast content is the above-described non-stop recording reservation dividing process. On the other hand, the process of dividing each broadcast program after recording the broadcast content is the post-recording division process described above.

  Regardless of whether the non-stop recording reservation dividing process or the post-recording dividing process is executed, the user can simply perform a simple operation such as the non-stop recording reservation setting operation described above, and each of the plurality of broadcast programs can be changed. They are divided and stored in different video capsules. That is, the user does not need the conventional complicated operation of repeatedly setting the recording reservation of a plurality of broadcast programs, and simply performs the setting operation of the non-stop recording reservation. A program recording reservation setting operation can be performed (an operation equivalent to that is performed).

  Further, the content recording / playback apparatus 1 having the functional configuration as shown in FIG. 4 can present a recorded program recorded in the HDD 46A or HDD 46B in the form of a past program guide or a keyword-specific program guide. As a result, the user can easily view a desired broadcast program from among the recorded programs recorded on the HDD 46A or the HDD 46B.

  The configuration example of the content recording / playback apparatus 1 has been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, content (broadcast program) recording and playback control processing (hereinafter referred to as recording / playback control processing) among the processing executed by the main control unit 11 of the content recording / playback apparatus 1. Will be described.

  As will be described later, the main control unit 11 can naturally execute recording control based on a direct recording command from the input unit 26 in addition to recording control based on the recording reservation. However, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, only the process corresponding to the recording control based on the recording reservation is shown.

  In step S <b> 1 of FIG. 5, the main control unit 11 determines whether or not a non-stop recording reservation is instructed.

  When an instruction to input a non-stop recording reservation is input from the input unit 26, the main control unit 11 determines in step S1 that an instruction to input a non-stop recording reservation has been instructed. In step S2, the main control unit 11 starts a process for setting and inputting a non-stop recording reservation (hereinafter referred to as non-stop recording reservation input process). Details of the “non-stop recording reservation input process” will be described later with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S <b> 7, the main control unit 11 determines whether an instruction to end the process is given. If it is determined in step S7 that the process has been instructed, the “recording / playback control process” ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the process has not been instructed yet, the process returns to step S1 and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  By the way, when other information different from the instruction to input the non-stop recording reservation is input from the input unit 26, or when no information is input from the input unit 26, the main control unit 11 It is determined that a non-stop recording reservation is not instructed, and in step S3, it is determined whether or not a scheduled division reservation time has come.

  The scheduled division reservation input time is the time indicating the execution timing of the process of dividing and inputting the next non-stop recording reservation (hereinafter referred to as the split reservation input process), and the start time of the next non-stop recording reservation It indicates a predetermined time before. For example, in the present embodiment, the scheduled division input time is set to one hour before the start time of the next non-stop recording reservation. Specifically, for example, assuming that the current time is 6:00 am, in the example of FIG. 18 described later, the recording reservation for the time zone from 8:00 am to 11:00 am of the A channel (in FIG. The leftmost recording reservation of the recording reservations indicated by the part is the next non-stop recording reservation. Accordingly, the scheduled start time of the divided reservation is 7:00 am, which is one hour before the start time of 8:00 am.

  Accordingly, the main control unit 11 constantly monitors the current time, and when the current time becomes the scheduled division input time, it determines that the divided reservation input scheduled time has been reached in step S3. In step S4, the main control unit 11 starts "division reservation input processing". Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S7, and the subsequent processes are executed.

  The details of the “split reservation input process” will be described later with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  On the other hand, if the current time is before the scheduled division input time, the main control unit 11 determines in step S3 that it is not the divided reservation input scheduled time, and in step S5, the past It is determined whether or not the program guide has been instructed.

  When an instruction to present the past program table (or keyword-specific program table) is input from the input unit 26, the main control unit 11 determines in step S5 that the past program table is instructed to be presented. In step S6, the main control unit 11 presents the past program guide or the keyword-specific program guide to the user, and designates it by a reproduction instruction (command from the input unit 26 corresponding thereto) from the user who viewed the presented content. A process for controlling the reproduction of the recorded program (hereinafter referred to as a past program table presentation / reproduction control process) is started. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S7, and the subsequent processes are executed.

  Details of the “past program guide presentation / reproduction control process” will be described later with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  By the way, when it determines with the presentation of the past program schedule not having been instruct | indicated in step S5, a process is advanced to step S7 and the process after it is performed. That is, when the recording reservation reservation is not instructed, the current time is before the scheduled division reservation input time, and the presentation of the past program table is not instructed, the loop processing of steps S1 to S7 is performed. It will be executed repeatedly.

  In this way, the main control unit 11 executes the “recording / reproduction control process”, thereby performing the “non-stop recording reservation input process”, the “split reservation input process”, and the “past program table presentation / reproduction control process”. The start timing of each is controlled.

  In other words, each of “non-stop recording reservation input processing”, “divided reservation input processing”, and “past program table presentation / playback control processing” is managed by “recording playback control processing” for the start timing. However, other than that, it is not managed in particular. That is, the “non-stop recording reservation input process”, “divided reservation input process”, and “past program table presentation / playback control process” are independent processes.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, detailed examples of each of these “non-stop recording reservation input processing”, “divided reservation input processing”, and “past program table presentation / playback control processing” will be individually described in that order. I will explain.

  First, a detailed example of “non-stop recording reservation input processing” will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7.

  In step S21 in FIG. 6, the reservation input unit 62 in FIG. 4 determines whether pairing is set.

  Pairing refers to connecting a predetermined tuner and a predetermined channel. That is, pairing refers to limiting (setting) a channel assigned to a predetermined tuner (a channel that accepts a recording reservation). In addition, when pairing is set for a predetermined tuner and, as a result, the tuner does not accept recording reservations for other channels, the pairing is referred to as strong pairing. On the other hand, if the tuner can accept recording reservations for other channels even after pairing is set for a predetermined tuner, the pairing is referred to as weak pairing. In addition, a channel that is mainly assigned to each tuner when weak pairing is performed is hereinafter referred to as a priority channel.

  For example, as described above, in the present embodiment, the content recording / playback apparatus 1 is equipped with six tuners. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the content recording unit 13A includes three tuners 51-1A to 51-3A, and the content recording unit 13B includes three tuners 51-1B to 51A. -3B is mounted.

  Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, in the process of step S21, the respective responsible channels (weak pairing) of the tuners 51-1A to 51-3A and the tuners 51-1B to 51-3B are eventually performed. In this case, it is determined whether or not the priority channel is set.

  If the reservation input unit 62 determines in step S21 that the pairing setting is not performed, the reservation input unit 62 performs the initial setting of the pairing in step S22. For example, in the present embodiment, in the processing of step S22, the respective responsible channels of the tuners 51-1A to 51-3A and the tuners 51-1B to 51-3B (priority is given when weak pairing is performed). Channel) will be initialized. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S23.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that pairing has already been set, the process proceeds to step S23 without executing the process in step S22.

  In step S23, the reservation input unit 62 generates an image for GUI for setting a non-stop recording reservation (hereinafter referred to as a non-stop recording reserved image) in the form of image data, and supplies it to the information presentation integrated control unit 61. To do. Then, in step S24, the information presentation integrated control unit 61 causes the output unit 27 to display a non-stop recording reserved image.

  Specifically, for example, in the process of step S24, a non-stop recording reserved image as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. That is, FIG. 8 shows an example of a non-stop recording reserved image used when strong pairing is performed.

  In the non-stop recording reserved image of FIG. 8, the top pull-down menu 61 is a menu for selecting a setting target from the plurality of content recording units 13. In other words, in the present embodiment, the pull-down menu 61 is a menu for selecting one of the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B in FIG. For example, in the example of FIG. 8, the content recording unit 13A is selected as a setting target.

  Although the display in the pull-down menu 61 is “content recording unit 13A” in the example of FIG. 8, it is actually the name of the setting target (for example, a record 1234). This makes it possible to make the user clearly aware of the current setting target (user selection target).

  At the time of activation, that is, in the first step S24 immediately after the “non-stop recording reservation input process” in FIG. 6 is started, a predetermined one of the content recording units 13 is displayed. .

  Below the pull-down menu 61, three pull-down menus 62-1 to 62-3 are provided as menus for selecting the assigned channel. For each of the pull-down menu 62-1 to pull-down menu 62-3, the tuner 51-1 in FIG. 3 mounted on the current setting target (the content recording unit 13 currently displayed in the pull-down menu 61). Each of the tuners 51-3 is associated. Accordingly, each of the pull-down menu 62-1 to pull-down menu 62-3 is a menu for selecting a channel assigned to each of the tuners 51-1 to 51-3.

  In the example of FIG. 8, from the display contents of the pull-down menu 62-1 to pull-down menu 62-3, the channels assigned to the tuners 51-1 to 51-3 are the A channel, B channel, and C channel. It can be seen that each of is set.

  At the time of activation, that is, in the first step S24 immediately after the “non-stop recording reservation input process” in FIG. 6 is started, each of the pull-down menu 62-1 to pull-down menu 62-3 includes , The contents of pairing (channel name of the assigned channel) set at that time are displayed.

  Below the pull-down menu 62-1, the recording status of the non-stop recording reservation for the channel displayed in the pull-down menu 62-1, that is, the channel assigned to the tuner 51-1 (A channel in the example of FIG. 8) is displayed. A table (hereinafter, such a table is referred to as a time table) is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, this time table includes, for example, items in the horizontal direction (hereinafter referred to as the horizontal axis) on the day of the week (Month = M, Tuesday = T, Wednesday = W, Thursday = T, Friday = F, Sat = S, Day = S) is assigned, and the item in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as the vertical axis) is time (4 am (= 4) in the example of FIG. 8 out of 24 hours to the next am 4 o'clock (= 4)) is assigned.

  Of all the areas constituting the time table, an area 64 painted in color (gray in the example of FIG. 8) indicates a non-stop recording reservation. In other words, in order to indicate the time slot (including day of week) that has already been inserted for the A channel, the area 64 corresponding to that time slot is displayed in a display form different from other areas (each cell specified by day and time). Is displayed. That is, for example, in the example of FIG. 8, the other areas are displayed in white, while the area 64 is displayed in gray.

  As a result, the user sees this gray area 64, and now, “Broadcast contents (broadcast program) broadcast from the A channel during the time period from 6 pm to 12:00 am each weekly, from Monday to Saturday. It is possible to easily recognize that a non-stop recording reservation with the content of “Recording”) has been entered.

  Similarly, below the pull-down menu 62-2, a non-stop recording reservation for the channel displayed in the pull-down menu 62-2, that is, the channel in charge of the tuner 51-2 (B channel in the example of FIG. 8). A time table showing the loading status is displayed.

  Of all the areas constituting this time table, areas 65 and 66 painted in color (gray in the example of FIG. 8) also indicate the non-stop recording reservations that have been input. As a result, the user sees the gray area 65, and now, “Broadcast contents (broadcast program) broadcast from the B channel during the time period from 6 am to 7 am each weekly from Monday to Friday. It is possible to easily recognize that a non-stop recording reservation with a content such as “Record video” has already been entered. Further, the user now sees the gray area 66 and now reads “recording broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the B channel during the time period from 12:00 pm to 4 pm every Monday”. It is possible to easily recognize that the non-stop recording reservation has been entered.

  Similarly, below the pull-down menu 62-3, there is a non-stop recording reservation for the channel displayed in the pull-down menu 62-3, that is, the channel in charge of the tuner 51-3 (channel C in the example of FIG. 8). A time table showing the loading status is displayed.

  Of all the areas constituting this time table, areas 67 to 69 painted in color (gray in the example of FIG. 8) also indicate the non-stop recording reservation that has been input. As a result, the user sees the gray area 67 to area 69, and now, “Broadcast contents broadcast from the C channel during the time period from 8:00 am to 10:00 am each weekly from Monday to Friday. Reserving non-stop recordings such as “Recording (broadcast program)”, “Recording broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcasted from channel C every Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm” Reservation recording of content, and content recording such as “Record broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from C channel during the period from 6 pm to 12:00 am each Monday through Saturday” It is easy to recognize that each recording reservation has been entered.

  In the area 70 below these three timetables, a new non-stop recording reservation (hereinafter referred to as new reservation) setting operation (setting of channel, day of the week, time zone, etc.) has been performed or has been entered. An input box and a pull-down menu for performing operations for updating the contents of the non-stop recording reservation (channel, day of the week, time zone, etc.) are arranged.

  Below this area 70, four soft buttons 71 to 74 are provided.

  Hereinafter, each of the soft buttons 71 to 74 will be referred to as a new button 71, an apply button 72, an erase button 73, and a help button 74, respectively, using characters described therein. Hereinafter, the names of the other soft buttons are the same.

  Further, in the drawings after FIG. 8, the soft buttons indicated by dotted lines (in the example of FIG. 8, the apply button 72 and the delete button 73) indicate that the pressing operation is not possible at the present time.

  Other details of the area 70 and the new button 71 to help button 74 will be described later.

  Returning to FIG. 6, when the non-stop recording reservation image as described above is displayed in the process of step S <b> 24, in step S <b> 25, the reservation input unit 62 instructs the new reservation (channel, day of the week, and time zone). It is determined whether or not (setting) has been made. A specific example of a new reservation instruction method (operation method) will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  If it is determined in step S25 that a new reservation instruction has not been given, the process proceeds to step S29 in FIG. The processing after step S29 will be described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S25 that a new reservation instruction has been given, the reservation input unit 62 determines in step S26 whether there is a problem with the instruction content.

  That is, the reservation input unit 62 checks the consistency of the instruction contents (channel, day of the week, and time zone setting information) and insufficient input, and if any of these check results is abnormal, In S26, it is determined that there is a problem with the instruction content. In step S28, the reservation input unit 62 outputs a predetermined error from the output unit 27 via the information presentation integrated control unit 61. Thereafter, the process returns to step S23, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  Also, the reservation input unit 62 checks whether the new reservation does not overlap with other already-recorded recording reservations. As a result, at least one part of the new reservation and at least one of the other recorded recording reservations are checked. If the part overlaps, in step S26, it is determined that there is a problem in the instruction content, and a predetermined error is output in step S28. Thereafter, the process returns to step S23, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, if all the above-described check results are normal, the reservation input unit 62 determines in step S26 that there is no problem with the instruction content, and in step S27 inputs the instructed new reservation. . That is, the reservation input unit 62 inputs a non-stop recording reservation for the broadcast content of the set channel in the set time zone of the set day of the week.

  Thereafter, the process returns to step S23, and the subsequent processes are repeated. That is, in this case, a gray area indicating a new reservation is added to the corresponding time table, and a non-stop recording reserved image including the time table is generated (updated) and displayed from the output unit 27.

  Here, a specific example of a new reservation instruction method (operation method) will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13, and the processing of FIG. 6 corresponding to the operation, that is, steps S25 (YES) and S26 ( No.), a specific example of a series of processes executed in the order of S27, S23, and S24 will be described.

  Note that the operation on the non-stop recording reserved image in FIG. 8 will be described assuming that the mouse in the input unit 26 in FIG. 4 is used for the sake of simplicity. Of course, even if other input devices such as a remote controller in the input unit 26 are used, the user can instruct a new reservation with the same operation (or similar operation) as described below. Is possible.

  For example, suppose that the user places a mouse pointer (not shown) of the mouse on the new button 71 and performs a click operation while the non-stop recording reservation image of FIG. 8 is displayed on the output unit 27. To do. That is, assume that the new button 71 is pressed. In this case, in the area 70, the name of the currently selected channel is displayed in the box on the right side of the “channel” display, while the other boxes and pull-down menus are blank.

  Note that the channel selection method is not particularly limited, but here, for example, the following method is adopted. That is, when the user moves the mouse pointer, the time table corresponding to the desired channel, that is, the time table below the pull-down menu in which the desired channel of the pull-down menu 62-1 to pull-down menu 62-3 is displayed. This is a method of placing the mouse at an arbitrary position and performing a click operation.

  Specifically, for example, although not shown, if the mouse pointer is placed in the time table below the pull-down menu 62-1, and a click operation is performed, it is considered that the A channel has been selected. In this case, the display of the area 70 is as shown in FIG.

  Note that the processing from when the new button 71 is pressed until the non-stop recording reserved image including the image of FIG. 9 is displayed, steps S35 (YES), S36, and FIG. This corresponds to a series of processes executed in the order of S23 and S24.

  In the state where the non-stop recording reserved image including the image of FIG. 9 is displayed, the user uses the pull-down menu on the right side of the “reserved time” display in the area 70, that is, with the mouse. By performing the corresponding operation, the “time zone (start time and end time)” of the new reservation can be set. In addition, the user can make a new reservation by using a box on the left side of each display of “month” to “day” below the pull-down menu, that is, by performing a corresponding operation with the mouse. You can set your “day of the week”. Further, the user uses the pull-down menu on the right side of the “recording mode” display below those boxes, that is, by performing a corresponding operation with the mouse, the “recording mode” of the new reservation is displayed. Can be set. Here, the recording mode refers to a mode for setting image quality and sound quality, for example, so-called standard mode and long-time mode.

  Further, as described above, the user sets (updates) “channel” in the new reservation by moving the mouse pointer into the time table corresponding to the desired channel and then performing a click operation. be able to.

  Specifically, for example, the user now records “broadcast contents (broadcast program) broadcast from the A channel during the time period from 6 am to 11 am on each Monday through Friday”. Suppose that it is desired to set (input) a new reservation. In this case, the user operates the mouse to input necessary information in each box and pull-down menu in the area 70. When the input of these pieces of information is completed, for example, the display of the area 70 is as shown in FIG.

  The contents of the new reservation are automatically displayed in the box on the right side of the display of “video capsule name” in the area 70 (produced by the reservation input unit 62). This display content becomes the name of the video capsule to be recorded according to the content of the new reservation. Of course, the user can change the input contents of this box, that is, the name of the video capsule.

  Thereafter, when the apply button 72 is pressed, the reservation input unit 62 determines in the process of step S25 in FIG. 6 that a new reservation has been instructed, and recognizes the display content of the area 70 as formal setting information.

  Thereafter, if the reservation input unit 62 determines that there is no problem in the content of the recognized setting information, that is, if it is determined in step S26 in FIG. 6 that there is no problem in the instruction content, the process in step S27. Then, the instructed new reservation is entered. Then, the reservation input unit 62 generates a non-stop recording reserved image (data) in which the gray indicating the new reservation is newly added in the process of step S23, that is, the non-stop recording reserved image is shown in FIG. Update to be

  When the non-stop recording reserved image as shown in FIG. 11 is supplied to the information presentation integrated control unit 61, it is displayed on the output unit 27 in the process of step S24 in FIG.

  According to the non-stop recording reservation image in FIG. 11, it can be seen that a new gray area 81 indicating the contents of the new reservation is added to the time table below the pull-down menu 62-1. Therefore, the user can easily visually recognize the contents of the new reservation by looking at the new gray area 81. That is, the user makes a reservation for non-stop recording of contents such as “record broadcast contents (broadcast programs) broadcast from the A channel during the time period from 6:00 am to 10:00 am each Monday through Friday”. It is possible to easily recognize that is input (set).

  As described above, with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11, as an example of a new reservation instruction method (operation method), “After pressing the new button 71, input individual items in the area 70 and press the apply button 72. ”Was explained.

  However, the new reservation instruction method is not limited to this example, and various instruction methods can be employed. Specifically, for example, as a rectangle is drawn in a graphic editor, “After dragging the mouse in the time table to generate (display) a frame (rectangular rubber band) 82 as shown in FIG. A method of “instructing a new reservation by performing a mouse drop operation” can also be employed. That is, FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another example of a new reservation instruction method.

  In this case, the day of the week including the drag start point 83 (Monday in the example of FIG. 12) and the time of the start point 83 (6 am in the example of FIG. 12) are each “new day” of the new reservation. (Which is a setting indicating what day of the week each week is recorded, hereinafter referred to as weekly setting as appropriate) and a setting of “start time”. Also, each day of the week (Friday in the example of FIG. 12) including the lower right point 84 being dragged and the time of the point 84 (12:00 in the example of FIG. 12) are set every week. And “End time” setting.

  Although not shown, when the dragged lower right point 84 hits a gray area indicating another non-stop recording reservation, the frame (rectangular rubber band) 82 is further enlarged. I can't.

  In addition, the content indicated by the frame (rectangular rubber band) 82 formed at the time of the drop operation is input as a new reservation.

  Specifically, for example, it is assumed that the drop operation is performed in the state shown in FIG. In this case, 6 am indicated by the drag start point 83 is set as the “start time”, and 12:00 am indicated by the lower right point 84 of the drag is set as the “end time”. As (weekly setting), from Monday including the drag start point 83 to Friday including the lower right point 84 of the drag are set. That is, as a new reservation, “broadcast contents (broadcast programs) broadcast from the A channel during the time period surrounded by the frame 82, that is, from 6 am to 12 am each weekly from Monday to Friday. A non-stop recording reservation such as “Record” will be entered. As a result, although not shown, a gray area indicating the non-stop recording reservation that has been input is displayed. That is, the area corresponding to the frame 82 is displayed in gray.

  By the way, although not shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, for example, any one of gray areas (for example, the areas 64 to 69 and the area 81 in the example of FIG. 11) indicating the non-stop recording reservation that has been input. When the mouse pointer is placed on the screen and a click operation is performed, the contents of the non-stop recording reservation indicated by the gray area where the mouse pointer is placed are displayed in the area 70 and the delete button 73 can be pressed. Become.

  In other words, if the user wants to update the contents of a non-stop recording reservation that has already been inserted or delete the non-stop recording reservation, the user places the mouse pointer over the gray area indicating the non-stop recording reservation and clicks Can be done. Then, when the user wants to update the content of the non-stop recording reservation, the user can update the display content of the area 70 and press the delete button 73 to delete the non-stop recording reservation.

  The processing corresponding to the update operation and the deletion operation of the contents of the non-stop recording reservation already input is shown in the flowchart portion of FIG. 7 in the “non-stop recording reservation input processing”. Accordingly, referring back to FIG. 7, the process shown in FIG. 7 in the “non-stop recording reservation input process” will be described.

  As described above, if it is determined in step S25 in FIG. 6 that a new reservation instruction has not been issued, the process proceeds to step S29 in FIG.

  In step S29, the reservation input unit 62 of FIG. 4 determines whether or not an instruction to change a recording reservation that has already been input has been issued.

  For example, as described above, the mouse pointer is arranged in any one of the gray areas (for example, the areas 64 to 69 and the area 81 in the example of FIG. If at least a part of the content (item) of the corresponding non-stop recording reservation is changed after the click operation is performed, it is determined in step S29 that an instruction to change the recording reservation that has already been input has been instructed, and the process Advances to step S30.

  Alternatively, when the operation described with reference to FIG. 12 is performed, that is, by dragging the mouse, the size of the rectangular rubber band (frame 82 in the example of FIG. 12) is changed to a size different from the gray area. Even when the drop operation is performed, it is determined in step S29 that an instruction to change the already-recorded recording reservation has been issued, and the process proceeds to step S30.

  In step S30, the reservation input unit 62 determines whether there is a problem with the instruction content.

  That is, the reservation input unit 62 performs a check similar to the process in step S26 of FIG. 6 described above, and if any one of the check results is abnormal, there is a problem in the instruction content in step S30. In step S32, a predetermined error is output from the output unit 27 via the information presentation integrated control unit 61. Thereafter, the process returns to step S23 in FIG. 6, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, if all the check results are normal, the reservation input unit 62 determines in step S30 that there is no problem with the instruction content, and updates the recording reservation input content in step S31. In other words, the reservation input unit 62 notifies the recording management unit 71A or the recording management unit 71B of the change instructed in the process of step S29. Then, the recording management unit 71A or the recording management unit 71B updates and holds the content of the non-stop recording reservation.

  Thereafter, the process returns to step S23 in FIG. 6, and the subsequent processes are repeated. That is, in this case, the size of the gray area is updated corresponding to the changed non-stop recording reservation, and the non-stop recording reservation image including the updated gray area is generated (updated). Is displayed.

  By the way, if it is determined in step S29 described above that there is no instruction to change the already-recorded recording reservation, the process proceeds to step S33.

  In step S33, the reservation input unit 62 determines whether or not an instruction to delete a recording reservation that has already been input has been issued.

  For example, as described above, the mouse pointer is arranged in any one of the gray areas (for example, the areas 64 to 69 and the area 81 in the example of FIG. If the delete button 73 is pressed after the click operation has been performed, it is determined in step S33 that an instruction to delete a recording reservation that has already been input has been issued, and the process proceeds to step S34.

  Alternatively, when the operation described with reference to FIG. 12 is performed, that is, the lower right point (point 84 in the example of FIG. 12) coincides with the start point (point 83 in the example of FIG. 12). As a result, even when a drop operation is performed after the rectangular rubber band (frame 82 in the example of FIG. 12) is deleted, the recording reservation that has already been input is performed in step S33. Is determined to have been instructed, and the process proceeds to step S34.

  In step S34, the reservation input unit 62 deletes the recording reservation input contents. In other words, the reservation input unit 62 notifies the recording management unit 71A or the recording management unit 71B of a symmetrical non-stop recording reservation deletion command. Then, the recording management unit 71A or the recording management unit 71B deletes the content of the commanded non-stop recording reservation.

  Thereafter, the process returns to step S23 in FIG. 6, and the subsequent processes are repeated. That is, in this case, the gray area corresponding to the deleted non-stop recording reservation is also deleted, and the non-stop recording reserved image reflecting the deletion result is generated (updated) and displayed from the output unit 27. .

  By the way, if it is determined in step S33 described above that it has not been instructed to delete the recording reservation that has already been input, the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S35, the reservation input unit 62 determines whether or not other setting changes have been instructed.

  For example, the user changes the content recording unit 13 to be set using the pull-down menu 61 of FIG. 11 or performs pairing using any of the pull-down menu 62-1 to pull-down menu 62-3. When the setting (that is, the assigned channel) is changed, it is determined in step S35 that another setting change has been instructed, and the process proceeds to step S36.

  In step S36, the reservation input unit 62 changes the setting based on the instruction content, returns the process to step S23, and repeats the subsequent processes. That is, the non-stop recording reserved image is regenerated (updated) according to the setting change and displayed from the output unit 27.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S35 that no other setting change has been instructed, the reservation input unit 62 determines in step S37 whether or not an end of processing has been instructed. If it is determined in step S37 that the process has not been instructed yet, the process returns to step S25 in FIG. 6 and the subsequent processes are repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S37 that the process has been instructed, the “non-stop recording reservation input process” ends.

  The “non-stop recording reservation input process” using the non-stop recording reservation images of FIGS. 8 to 12 has been described above with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  However, explanation of the help button 74 on the right side of the delete button 73 is omitted. The help button 74 is a soft button for displaying a help menu as the name suggests, but is not particularly used in the “non-stop recording reservation input processing” in this example.

  By the way, the non-stop recording reserved image used in the “non-stop recording reservation input process” is not limited to the examples of FIGS. 8 to 12 and various images can be used.

  Specifically, for example, the non-stop recording reservation input images in the examples of FIGS. 8 to 12 are premised on strong pairing as described above. That is, in the non-stop recording reservation input images of the examples of FIGS. 8 to 12, only one channel can be assigned to one tuner.

  Therefore, for example, weak pairing can be performed by using a non-stop recording reservation input image as shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 13 shows an example of a non-stop recording reservation input image that can be weakly paired.

  In the example of FIG. 13, the non-stop recording reservation input image includes areas 101 to 103.

  An area 101 is an area for displaying an outline of a flow recording reservation input status for each of the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B of FIG. That is, the area 101 is an area for displaying the names of the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B and an outline of the time table. In FIG. 13, T1 to T6 respectively correspond to the tuners 51-1A to 51-3A and the tuners 51-1B to 51-3B in FIG. That is, in the example of FIG. 13, the time tables of the tuners 51-1A to 51-3A and the tuners 51-1B to 51-3B are shown below the descriptions of T1 to T6.

  For example, when a mouse pointer is placed on the time table of a desired tuner in the area 101 and a click operation is performed, details of the time table on which the mouse pointer is placed are displayed in the area 102.

  In this area 102, a pull-down menu 121 on the right side of the “priority channel” display is a menu for selecting the priority channel of the tuner that is currently targeted. In the example of FIG. 13, it can be seen that the B channel is set as the priority channel of the target tuner. At the time of start-up, that is, in the process of the first step S24 immediately after the “non-stop recording reservation input process” of FIG. 6 is started, the pull-down menu 121 shows the pairing set at that time. Contents (channel name of the priority channel) are displayed.

  Below the pull-down menu 121, the details of the time table showing the status of a non-stop recording reservation for the target tuner are displayed.

  Note that the time table of FIG. 8 has been described as indicating the setting status of the non-stop recording reservation for the target channel, whereas the time table of FIG. 13 is the setting status of the non-stop recording reservation for the target tuner. It is explained to show. This is because, as described above, the non-stop recording reserved image in the example of FIG. 8 is an image on which strong pairing is assumed, whereas the non-stop recording reserved image of FIG. This is because the image is assumed. That is, in the example of FIG. 8, the tuner and the channel have a one-to-one correspondence, whereas in the example of FIG. 13, the tuner and the channel do not necessarily have a one-to-one correspondence.

  Specifically, out of all the areas constituting the time table of the area 102 in FIG. 13, the areas 111 to 113 of the first color (light gray in the example of FIG. 13) are already flown in the priority channel. Indicates a recording reservation.

  On the other hand, the area 114 of the second color (dark gray in the example of FIG. 13) indicates a non-stop recording reservation that has been input in a channel different from the priority channel.

  In order to make it possible to realize such weak pairing, that is, in order to make it possible to implement a multi-channel non-stop recording reservation with a single tuner, the non-stop recording reservation image of FIG. A region 103 including 122 is provided.

  That is, this area 103 is an area corresponding to the area 70 in FIG. 8, and is used for inputting and displaying each content (item) of the target non-stop recording reservation. However, in the area 103, a pull-down menu 122 that can select an arbitrary channel including a priority channel is provided in order to realize weak pairing. For example, according to the display content of the pull-down menu 121 of FIG. 13, the B channel is selected as the priority channel, but according to the display content of the pull-down menu 122, a C channel different from the priority channel is set. Recognize. Thus, in the pull-down menu 122, a channel different from the priority channel can be selected.

  The image shown in FIG. 13 has been described above as an example of a non-stop recording reservation input image that can be weakly paired. In addition, as a non-stop recording reservation input image that can be weakly paired, for example, images as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 can be adopted. 14 and 15 show still another example of the non-stop recording reservation input image.

  In the non-stop recording reservation input image of FIG. 14, the soft buttons 151 to 156 include the tuners 51-1A to 51-3A of FIG. 3 installed in the content recording unit 13A of FIG. Each of the tuners 51-B to 51-3B of FIG. 3 mounted in the content recording unit 13B is assigned. Therefore, the user can select a tuner by operating the mouse and pressing a soft button corresponding to a desired tuner among the soft buttons 151 to 156.

  For example, assume that the soft button 151 is pressed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, the color of the soft button 151 changes, and a time table 157 related to the tuner 51-1A assigned to the soft button 151 is displayed on the right side of the soft button 151. The

  In the time table 157, areas 171 to 176 of the first color (light gray in the example of FIG. 14) indicate the non-stop recording reservations that have been input in the priority channel.

  On the other hand, the area 181 and the area 182 of the second color (dark gray in the example of FIG. 14) indicate the set non-stop recording reservations in a channel different from the priority channel.

  The frame 191 will be described later.

  The pull-down menu 158 on the right side of the “priority channel” display above the time table 157 is the priority of the target tuner (in this case, the tuner 51-1A), similarly to the pull-down menu 121 of FIG. This is a menu for selecting a channel.

  A new reservation button 159 to a reservation deletion button 161 are provided below the pull-down menu 158 and to the right of the time table 157.

  The new reservation button 159 is a button corresponding to the new button 71 in FIG. That is, the user presses this new reservation button 159 when instructing a new reservation.

  Then, the image (dialog) shown in FIG. 15 is displayed. However, actually, nothing is displayed in each box or pull-down menu in the image. Therefore, the user inputs various desired information in each box or pull-down menu as a new reservation instruction.

  The image in FIG. 15 corresponds to the area 103 in FIG. 13 described above, so detailed description thereof will be omitted, and only differences from the area 103 in FIG. 13 will be described below.

  That is, in the example of FIG. 13, the start time and the end time are set as the reservation times, but in the example of FIG. 15, the start time (recording start time in the figure) and the end time (recording end time in the figure) are set. Divided and set.

  The OK button in FIG. 15 corresponds to the apply button in FIG. That is, when this OK button is pressed, the contents displayed in the boxes and pull-down menus above it are confirmed, and a non-stop recording reservation is entered with the contents. For example, in the example of FIG. 15, a non-stop recording reservation such as “Record broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the A channel during a time period from 9 am to 10 am every Monday” is input. Will be.

  The cancel button in FIG. 15 is a button for erasing input contents (display contents) in each box and pull-down menu above the cancel button. The help button in FIG. 15 corresponds to the help button 117 in FIG.

  By the way, the user can issue a new reservation instruction by selecting one square in the time table 157 other than pressing the new reservation button 159 of FIG. That is, the user can instruct a new reservation even when the mouse pointer is placed on a desired cell and a click operation is performed.

  Specifically, for example, it is assumed that a square 191 is selected (clicked). Also in this case, the image (dialog) shown in FIG. 15 is displayed in the same manner as when the new reservation button 159 is pressed. However, when the new reservation button 159 is pressed, nothing is displayed in each box or pull-down menu as described above, whereas when a square 191 is selected (clicked), Various information corresponding to the cells 191 as shown in FIG. 15 are displayed in the boxes and pull-down menus.

  Further, the user can instruct a new reservation by performing a mouse drag-and-drop operation in the same manner as the operation described with reference to FIG. That is, for example, when the user places a mouse pointer on an empty square (a square other than the area indicating the non-stop recording reservation that has been input) and performs a drag operation using the upper left corner of the square as a starting point, a frame ( (Rectangle rubber band) is displayed and follows the movement of the mouse in units of one hour. Thereafter, when the user performs a drop operation, an image (dialog) shown in FIG. 15 is displayed. In this case, however, various information corresponding to the frame (rectangular rubber band) at the time of the drop operation is actually displayed in each box or pull-down menu of the image in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 14, the confirmation change button 160 is a button that is pressed when the user confirms or changes the contents of the non-stop recording reservation that has been input.

  That is, for example, the user selects one of the predetermined areas indicating the non-stop recording reservation, for example, one of the areas 171 to 176, the area 181 and the area 182 in the example of FIG. When the mouse pointer is placed on and a click operation is performed (an area is selected) and then the confirmation change button 160 is pressed, the image (dialog) of FIG. 15 is displayed. However, actually, at this time, the contents of the non-stop recording reservation corresponding to the selected area are displayed in each box and pull-down menu of the image of FIG.

  Therefore, the user can confirm the contents of the already-recorded non-stop recording reservation by looking at the boxes in the image of FIG. 15 and the display in the pull-down menu. Further, the user can change the contents of the already-recorded non-stop recording reservation by pressing the OK button after changing the display contents (input contents) in each box or pull-down menu of the image of FIG. Can do.

  When the user wants to check or change the contents of the already-recorded non-stop recording reservation, the user can, for example, move the mouse to a predetermined one of the areas indicating the non-stop non-stop recording reservation. Even if the pointer is placed and a so-called double-click operation is performed, the image (dialog) of FIG. 15 can be displayed just as when the confirmation change button 160 is pressed.

  The reservation deletion button 161 is a button corresponding to the deletion button 73 in FIG. 8 and is a button that is pressed when deleting a non-stop recording reservation that has been input.

  That is, for example, the user places a mouse pointer in a predetermined one of the areas indicating the inserted non-stop recording reservation, performs a click operation (selects the area), and then presses the reservation deletion button 161. Then, the content of the non-stop recording reservation corresponding to the selected area is deleted.

  Note that the user may perform the following operation when deleting the already-recorded non-stop recording reservation. That is, first, as described above, the user places a pointer over a predetermined one of the areas indicating the inserted non-stop recording reservation, and performs a click operation (selects an area). As a result, the image (dialog) of FIG. 15 is displayed as described above, and the contents of the non-stop recording reservation corresponding to the selected area are displayed in each box and pull-down menu of the image. Become. Therefore, the user can delete the non-stop recording reservation by deleting all the display contents (input contents) in each box and pull-down menu of the image of FIG. 15 and pressing the OK button.

  The reservation deletion button 161 and the area 162 below the time table 157 display the contents of the currently selected non-stop recording reservation. For example, in the example of FIG. 14, it can be seen that the contents of the non-stop recording reservation corresponding to the area 182 are displayed in this area 162.

  The OK button 163 through the help button 165 below the area 162 are buttons corresponding to the OK button through the help button below in FIG.

  The “non-stop recording reservation input process” using the non-stop recording reservation images of FIGS. 8 to 12 has been described above with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7. Then, with reference to FIGS. The other two examples of the non-stop recording reservation image that can be used in the “non-stop recording reservation input process” have been described.

  It should be noted that the non-stop recording reserved image is not limited to the example described above, and various images can be adopted. For example, it is assumed that a plurality of non-stop recording reservations for different channels are entered for a predetermined tuner. In this case, in the above-described example, the non-stop recording reservation channel is represented by the color (display) of the area indicating the non-reserving reservation among the areas constituting the time table corresponding to the tuner. However, the non-stop recording reservation channel is not particularly limited to the above-described example expression method. For example, a channel for reservation for sinking may be expressed by displaying characters indicating the channel on an area showing reservation for recording for non-sink, or if the display format (flashing etc.) of the corresponding area is different. It may be expressed by

  Next, the “division reservation input process” will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 16 and 17.

  In order to facilitate understanding of the “split reservation input process”, the following description will be given with reference to FIGS. 18 to 23 as appropriate. That is, FIG. 18 to FIG. 23 show specific examples of processing results of the “split reservation input processing”. Specifically, in each of FIGS. 18 to 23, a program table of A channel (a table in which a broadcast schedule of a broadcast program is described) in a time zone from 6:00 to 21:00 (9 pm) of a certain day. ) Is shown below, and a table (hereinafter referred to as A channel reservation contents) indicating the recording reservation input contents for the A channel at the time when the predetermined process of the “divided reservation input processing” is completed. Designated).

  For example, according to the reservation contents of channel A in FIG. 18, reservation for non-stop recording in the time zone from 8:00 to 11:00, non-stop recording reservation in the time zone from 11:30 to 15:00, and after 20:00 It can be seen that the non-stop recording reservations for the time zone are entered.

  Therefore, for example, the time one hour before the start time of the next non-stop recording reservation (hereinafter also referred to as non-stop recording start time) is determined as the scheduled split input time, and the current time Is 6 o'clock, as shown in FIG. 18, since the non-stop recording start time is 8 o'clock, the divided reservation input scheduled time is 7 o'clock.

  In this case, as described above, until the time reaches 7 o'clock, it is always determined in the processing of step S3 in FIG. 5 that the scheduled time for entering the divided reservation is not reached, and the “split reserved input processing” is not executed.

  Thereafter, when the time comes to 7 o'clock, it is determined in the process of step S3 that the scheduled division input time has come, and the process of step S4 starts the “split reservation input process”.

  That is, when the time comes to 7 o'clock, for example, the “divided reservation input process” in FIG. 16 is started, and in step S51, the reservation input unit 62 in FIG. 4 is scheduled to broadcast during the non-stop recording reservation time zone to be processed. It is determined whether program information of a broadcast program exists.

  For example, in the present case, according to the A channel reservation content of FIG. 18, the time zone of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed is from 8:00 to 11:00. Therefore, the reservation input unit 62 is broadcast from the A channel during this time period to each of the content / metadata providing unit 72A of the content recording unit 13A and the content / metadata providing unit 72B of the content recording unit 13B. Requests acquisition of program information of a broadcast program to be scheduled.

  Then, the content / metadata providing unit 72A determines whether or not the requested program information is recorded in the HDD 46A, and notifies the reservation input unit 62 of the determination result. Similarly, the content / metadata providing unit 72B determines whether or not the requested program information is recorded in the HDD 46B, and notifies the reservation input unit 62 of the determination result.

  Therefore, when both the content / metadata providing unit 72A and the content / metadata providing unit 72B notify the determination result that the requested program information does not exist, the reservation input unit 62 determines in step S51. It is determined that there is no program information of a broadcast program scheduled to be broadcast in the non-stop recording reservation time zone to be processed, and the process proceeds to step S61 in FIG.

  In step S61, the reservation input unit 62 inputs the non-stop recording reservation to be processed as a recording reservation as it is, and ends the “division reservation input process”. For example, in this case, as shown in FIG. 18, the recording reservation (non-stop recording) of the content such as “record the broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the A channel in the time zone from 8:00 to 11:00” is performed. Reservation) will be entered.

  In this case, since the start time of the next non-stop recording reservation is 11:30, the next divided reservation input scheduled time is 10:30. That is, when the time reaches 10:30, this time, the “split reservation input process” for the non-stop recording reservation in the time zone from 11:30 to 15:00 is executed again.

  On the other hand, in the present case, according to the A channel program table of FIG. 18, the broadcast programs scheduled to be broadcast in the time zone from 8:00 to 11:00 are the A program, the B program, and the C program. . Therefore, at least one program information of the A program, the B program, and the C program is sent from at least one of the content / metadata providing unit 72A and the content / metadata providing unit 72B to the reservation input unit 62. In step S51 of FIG. 16, it is determined that there is program information of a broadcast program scheduled to be broadcast in the non-stop recording reservation time zone to be processed, and the process proceeds to step S52. Proceed to

  In step S52, the reservation input unit 62 sets the first broadcast program among the broadcast programs scheduled to be broadcast during the non-stop recording reservation time zone to be processed as the target program, and program information (start time and end time) of the target program. Are included) from the content / metadata providing unit 72A or the content / metadata providing unit 72B.

  In step S53, the reservation input unit 62 determines the start time of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed based on the start time and end time (program information) of the program of interest acquired in the process of step S52. It is determined whether it is in the middle.

  For example, in the present case, according to the A channel program guide of FIG. 18, the program A is selected as the program of interest and the program information of the A program is acquired in the process of step S52. The program information of the A program includes information indicating that the start time of the A program is 7:30 and the end time is 9:00.

  Further, according to the reservation contents of the A channel in FIG. 18, the start time of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed, that is, the non-stop recording start time is 8:00. Therefore, in this case, the reservation input unit 62 determines in step S53 that the start time of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed is in the middle of the program of interest, and advances the processing to step S54.

  In step S54, the reservation input unit 62 determines whether a part of the program of interest is included in the previous recording reservation.

  For example, in this case, as shown in FIG. 18, since there is no previous recording reservation, in step S54, it is determined that a part of the program of interest is not included in the previous recording reservation, and the process proceeds to step S54. The process proceeds to S55.

  In step S55, the reservation input unit 62 is a recording reservation to which program information of the program of interest is added, and from the start time of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed to the end time of the program of interest (or the non-stop recording reservation of the process target). Recording reservation until the end time). That is, by the processing in step S55, one recording reservation is divided from the non-stop recording reservation to be processed.

  In step S57, the reservation input unit 62 inputs the recording reservation created in the process of step S55.

  For example, in this case, it is a recording reservation to which program information of the A program is added in the process of step S55, and from 8:00 (start time of non-stop recording reservation to be processed) to 9:00 (end time of A program) The recording reservations up to are created as A reservations as shown in FIG. And if A reservation is input by the process of step S57, a process will be advanced to step S58 of FIG.

  In step S58, the reservation input unit 62 determines whether or not the non-stop recording reservation to be processed has been divided.

  For example, in this case, it is determined in step S58 that the non-stop recording reservation to be processed has not been completed, and the process proceeds to step S59.

  In step S59, the reservation input unit 62 updates the start time of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed, that is, the non-stop recording start time to the end time of the program of interest. Determine whether or not.

  For example, in this case, as shown in FIG. 19, the non-stop recording start time is updated at 9:00, which is the end time of the A program, in the process of step S59.

  Therefore, this time, the divided reservation input scheduled time is 8:00, and it is determined in step S60 that the divided reservation input scheduled time is not reached until the time reaches 8:00, and the process returns to step S60, and the divided reservation is scheduled. It is determined again whether or not the scheduled time has come. That is, the reservation input unit 62 constantly monitors the current time, and waits for the progress of the “split reservation input process” by repeating the determination process in step S60 until the current time reaches 8:00.

  Then, when the current time is 8:00, the reservation input unit 62 determines in step S60 that the divided reservation input scheduled time has come, returns the process to step S51 in FIG. 16, and executes the subsequent processing.

  For example, in this case, it is determined as YES in the process of step S51, and in the process of step S52, the B program is selected as the program of interest and the program information of the B program is acquired.

  According to the A channel program table of FIG. 19, since the start time of the B program is 9 o'clock and coincides with the non-stop recording start time, this time, in the process of step S53, the start of non-stop recording reservation to be processed is started. It is determined that the time (9:00) is not in the middle of the program of interest (B program), and the process proceeds to step S55.

  Then, in the process of step S55, this is a recording reservation to which program information of the B program is added, from 9:00 (start time of non-stop recording reservation to be processed) to 10:00 (B program end time). Is set as a B reservation as shown in FIG. Then, when the B reservation is entered in the process of step S57, the process proceeds to step S58 of FIG.

  Next, after it is determined NO in the process of step S58, the non-stop recording start time is updated to 10:00, which is the end time of the B program, in the process of step S59, as shown in FIG.

  Accordingly, this time, the scheduled time for entering the divided reservation is 9 o'clock. When the time is 9 o'clock, it is determined in step S60 that the scheduled time for entering the reserved reservation is reached, and the process returns to step S51 in FIG. The subsequent processing is executed.

  That is, for example, in this case, it is determined as YES in the process of step S51, and in the process of step S52, the C program is selected as the program of interest and the program information of the C program is acquired.

  According to the A channel program table of FIG. 20, since the start time of the C program is 10:00 and coincides with the non-stop recording start time, the process of step S53 again starts the non-stop recording reservation to be processed. It is determined that the time (10 o'clock) is not in the middle of the program of interest (C program), and the process proceeds to step S55.

  Then, this time, in the process of step S55, the recording reservation with the program information of the C program added, from 10 o'clock (start time of non-stop recording reservation to be processed) to 11 (non-stop recording reservation of processing target). A recording reservation up to (end time) is created as a C reservation as shown in FIG. When the C reservation is entered in the process of step S57, the process proceeds to step S58 of FIG.

  In this manner, when the non-stop recording reservation to be processed is divided into the A reservation, the B reservation, and the C reservation, it is determined in step S58 that the division of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed has been completed. This completes the “split reservation input process”.

  By the way, according to the reservation contents of the A channel in FIG. 21, the start time of the next non-stop recording reservation is 11:30, so the next divided reservation input scheduled time is 10:30. . Therefore, until the time reaches 10:30, it is always determined that it is not the divided reservation input scheduled time in the process of step S3 in FIG. 5, and the “divided reservation input process” is not executed.

  When the time reaches 10:30, it is determined in the process of step S3 that the scheduled division input time has come, and the "divided reservation input process" is started again in the process of step S4.

  That is, this time, as shown in FIG. 21, the non-stop recording reservation in the time zone from 11:30 to 15:00 is set as the processing target, and the “split reservation input processing” of FIG. 16 is executed.

  In this case, according to the reservation contents of the A channel in FIG. 21, the time zone for the non-stop recording reservation to be processed is from 11:30 to 15:00. Further, according to the A channel program guide, the broadcast programs scheduled to be broadcast during that time period are the C program and the D program.

Therefore, for example, the program information of the C program and the D program is now stored in the HDD 46A or H in FIG.
If it is stored in the DD 46B, this time, it is determined to be YES in the process of step S51, and in the process of step S52, the C program is set as the program of interest, and the program information of the C program is acquired.

  As shown in FIG. 21, this time, in the process of step S53, it is determined that the start time (11:30) of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed is in the middle of the program of interest (C program). Advances to step S54.

  For example, in this case, the previous recording reservation is the C reservation, and as shown in FIG. 21, the C reservation includes the C program. If it is determined that a part is included, the process proceeds to step S56.

  In step S56, the reservation input unit 62 extends the end time of the previous recording reservation to the end time of the program of interest.

  For example, in this case, in the process of step S56, as shown in FIG. 22, the end time of the C reservation that is the previous recording reservation is extended to 12:30 that is the end time of the C program that is the program of interest. The

  Thereafter, it is determined in step S58 of FIG. 17 that the division of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed has not been completed, and in step S59, the non-stop recording start time is set as shown in FIG. It is updated to 12:30, which is the end time of the C program.

  Therefore, this time, since the scheduled time for entering the divided reservation is 11:30, when the time is 11:30, it is determined in step S60 that the scheduled time for inputting the divided reservation is reached, and the process proceeds to step S51 in FIG. Returned and subsequent processing is executed.

  That is, for example, in this case, it is determined as YES in the process of step S51, and in the process of step S52, the D program is selected as the program of interest and the program information of the D program is acquired.

  According to the A channel program table of FIG. 22, since the start time of the D program is 12:30 and coincides with the non-stop recording start time, the non-stop recording reservation to be processed is now processed in step S53. Is determined not to be in the middle of the program of interest (D program), and the process proceeds to step S55.

  Then, this time, it is a recording reservation to which program information of the D program is added in the process of step S55, and from 12:30 (start time of non-stop recording reservation to be processed) to 15:00 (non-stop recording to be processed) The recording reservation up to the (reservation end time) is created as a D reservation as shown in FIG. Then, when the D reservation is entered in the process of step S57, the process proceeds to step S58 of FIG.

  In this way, a part of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed is merged with the C reservation of the previous recording reservation (the end time of the C reservation is extended), and the remaining part is divided as the D reservation. Then, in step S58, it is determined that the division of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed has been completed, and the “division reservation input process” is completed.

  Incidentally, in this case, according to the contents of the A channel reservation in FIG. 23, the start time of the next non-stop recording reservation is set to 20:00, so the next divided reservation input scheduled time is 19:00. Therefore, until the time reaches 19:00, it is always determined in the processing of step S3 in FIG. 5 that it is not the scheduled division input time, and the “divided reservation input processing” is not executed.

  Then, when the time reaches 19:00, it is determined in the process of step S3 that the divided reservation input scheduled time has come, and the "divided reservation input process" is started again in the process of step S4.

  That is, this time, the non-stop recording reservation in the time zone after 20:00 is set as the processing target, and the “divided reservation input processing” in FIG. 16 is executed. However, since the end time of the non-stop recording reservation to be processed is not illustrated, the description of the processing is omitted.

  The example of the “division reservation input process” has been described above with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 16 and 17. Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 18 to 23, a specific example of the “division reservation input process” (an example of a specific processing result) has been described.

  It should be noted that the block for performing the “split reservation input process” is the reservation input unit 62 in the above-described example, but is not limited to the above-described example, for example, in the content recording units 13A and 13B. It may be a block (not shown) or the like provided.

  Further, the “split reservation input process” is not particularly limited to the examples of FIGS. 16 and 17, and various processes can be employed.

  For example, according to the A channel reservation content of FIG. 23, in the A reservation, only a part of the A program is recorded (the first part is not recorded). This is because the example of the “split reservation input process” shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 described above aims to: In other words, the non-stop recording reservation is intended to give priority to the fact that it is a recording reservation input by the user's setting, in other words, the fact that it is a private recording reservation based on the user's intention. For this reason, in the example of the “split reservation input process” in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 described above, the A reservation in which the start time of the non-stop recording reservation has priority over the start time of the A program is created. .

From the above, as described above, in the example of the “split reservation input process” in FIGS. 16 and 17, the D reservation in which the end time of the non-stop recording reservation has priority over the end time of the D program is also created. Will be. In other words, a D reservation is also created in which only a part of the D program is recorded (the last part is not recorded).

  Therefore, when it is not necessary to achieve such an object, for example, it is possible to employ a “split reservation input process” that prioritizes the start time and end time of a broadcast program. When such “divided reservation input processing” is employed, although not shown, the A reservation has a content such as “record all of the A program”, that is, “time from 7:30 to 9:00”. The broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the A channel is recorded in the band ”. Similarly, the D reservation records content such as “record all D programs”, that is, “broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the A channel in the time zone from 12:30 to 15:30”. "Will be created.

  By the way, the above-described “split reservation input process” is executed individually for each tuner mounted in the content recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of FIG. That is, in the present embodiment, each of the tuners 51-1A to 51-3A of FIG. 3 mounted on the content recording unit 13A and the tuners 51-1B to 51- of FIG. 3 mounted on the content recording unit 13B. The “split reservation input process” for each of 3B is executed individually (independently).

  Accordingly, the recording management unit 71A of the content recording unit 13A in FIG. 4 follows the result of the “split reservation input process” executed for each of the tuners 51-1A to 51-3A, that is, for each of the input video recording reservations. According to the contents, the content acquisition unit 45A is controlled to perform recording processing on the HDD 46A. As a result, one video capsule including compressed content data corresponding to each recording reservation is generated and stored (recorded) in the HDD 46A.

  Similarly, the recording management unit 71B of the content recording unit 13B in FIG. 4 performs according to the result of the “divided reservation input process” executed for each of the tuners 51-1B to 51-3B, that is, each input recording reservation. By controlling the content acquisition unit 45B according to the contents of the above, the recording process to the HDD 46B is performed. Thus, one video capsule including compressed content data corresponding to each recording reservation is generated and stored (recorded) in the HDD 46B.

  For this reason, many video capsules are stored in the HDD 46A and the HDD 46B, and it is difficult for the user to find a desired video capsule unless the recording contents of the HDD 46A and the HDD 46B are properly managed. The problem that it ends up occurs.

  For example, even if the recording contents of the HDD 46A and the HDD 46B are managed using the conventional past program guide, the above-described problem occurs. That is, the conventional past program table is a table (table) created based on the program information of all broadcast programs broadcast in the past, as described above, and whether or not it is actually recorded. Regardless, it is a table in which all broadcast programs (program columns indicating them) are displayed. For this reason, in the conventional past program table, it is difficult to distinguish a recorded program from an unrecorded broadcast program, and it is very difficult for a user to find a desired recorded program.

  In addition, there is a problem in the conventional past program guide that all displayed broadcast programs cannot be reproduced.

  Therefore, as described above, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 disclose a technique for marking a recorded program in a program (program column) included in a past program table or changing a display form. Has been. As a result, a certain degree of distinction can be made between a recorded program and an unrecorded broadcast program.

  However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 are also premised on the use of a conventional past program table in which all broadcast programs (program columns indicating the programs) are displayed. Therefore, in the techniques disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, the broadcast program column with a mark or different display form is classified as a program column of a recorded program from all other broadcast program other columns. The user needs to perform an operation of selecting a desired program column from the program columns of the divided recorded programs. If such a complicated operation is required, it cannot be said that the former problem described above, that is, the problem that it is very difficult for the user to find a desired recorded program is sufficiently solved. .

  Needless to say, the techniques disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 also have the latter problem, that is, the problem that all broadcast programs displayed cannot be reproduced.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in order to solve these problems at the same time, the recorded contents (recorded programs) of the HDD 46A and the HDD 46B are the past program table (for example, see FIG. 26 described later) of the present invention as described above. And a keyword-specific program table (for example, see FIG. 27 described later).

  Although details will be described later, the past program guide and the keyword-specific program guide of the present invention are composed of program information of a recorded program included in an actually recorded video capsule. That is, since only the recorded program (the program column indicating it) is displayed, all the displayed broadcast programs can be reproduced.

  Therefore, the user can easily find a desired recorded program by looking at the past program guide and keyword-specific program guide of the present invention. Furthermore, the user can easily perform an instruction to reproduce the recorded program found in this way by using the past program guide or keyword-specific program guide of the present invention.

  Such processing by the past program guide management unit 63, that is, processing for presenting the past program guide and keyword-specific program guide of the present invention to the user, and user operation based on the past program guide and keyword-specific program guide of the present invention. As described above, the process executed when the process is performed is referred to as a “past program guide presentation / reproduction control process”.

  An example of the “past program guide presentation / reproduction control process” is shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. Therefore, an example of the “past program guide presentation / reproduction control process” will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  As described above, a single video capsule may include a plurality of recorded programs. However, in the explanation of the “past program table presentation / playback control process”, one video capsule is included for simplicity of explanation. Suppose that one recorded program is included. Therefore, hereinafter, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish a recorded program and a video capsule including the recorded program, they are collectively referred to as a recorded program.

  In step S81, the past program table management unit 63 in FIG. 4 acquires data of the recorded program from each of the HDD 46A and the HDD 46B via the content / metadata providing unit 72A or the content / metadata providing unit 72B.

  The recorded program data includes program information (metadata) of the recorded program and image data displayed as thumbnails in the program column of the recorded program, as will be described later. The image data may be the compressed content data itself, or other image data included in the video capsule together with the compressed content data, for example, still image data or moving image data with reduced image quality. There may be.

  However, in the latter case, the content acquisition unit 45A and the content acquisition unit 45B generate the still image data and the moving image data in which the image quality is reduced separately from the compressed content data, and the video together with the compressed content data. It is necessary to include the capsule and store it in the HDD 46A or HDD 46B.

  Alternatively, even in the former case, the past program guide management unit 63 does not use the compressed content data as thumbnail image data as it is, and the still image data, image quality, and the like are dropped from the compressed content data. Alternatively, new moving image data may be generated and used as thumbnail image data.

  In step S82, the past program guide management unit 63 initializes the display method to “past program guide”.

  That is, as described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the past program table, a keyword-specific program table can be displayed. Therefore, it is necessary to determine in the initial setting which of the past program guide and the keyword-specific program guide is displayed first. Therefore, the initial setting of the display method is “past program guide” in the example of FIG. 24, but it may be “keyword program guide”.

  In step S <b> 83, the past program guide management unit 63 creates a table (data) corresponding to the current display method and supplies it to the information presentation integrated control unit 61. For example, in this case, a past program guide (data) is created by the process of step S83 and supplied to the information presentation integrated control unit 61.

  Then, in step S84, the information presentation integrated control unit 61 displays a table corresponding to the supplied data from the output unit 27. For example, in the present case, a past program table as shown in FIG. 26 is displayed in the process of step S84.

  That is, FIG. 26 shows a display example of the past program guide of the present invention. Therefore, an example of the past program table of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

  A soft button 201 at the upper left in FIG. 26 is a button for switching the display method. Therefore, hereinafter, the soft button 201 is referred to as a switching button 201. The processing of the past program guide management unit 63 when the switch button 201 is pressed will be described later.

  In the area 202, a program column (display area) is displayed in a form similar to a television column of a newspaper of a paper medium. That is, in the area 202, for each channel, a program column indicating each recorded program is displayed in an area indicating the recorded time zone. That is, each program column is displayed long in the vertical direction with a length corresponding to the recording time.

  In the program column of one recorded program, usually a thumbnail image (moving image or still image) and a broadcast program title are displayed. Note that thumbnails are not displayed as needed in the program column of recorded programs with a short recording time. This is because the program column of a recorded program with a short recording time does not have a length (size) sufficient to display a thumbnail.

  Specifically, for example, in the example of FIG. 26, the A channel column displays a program column indicating a music A program recorded in the time zone from 20:10 to 20:50. It can be seen that the music A program broadcast from the A channel is recorded during this time period. On the other hand, since the program column is not displayed in the area indicating the time zone from 19:30 to 20:10, the broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the A channel during this time zone is not recorded. I understand.

  Similarly, in the column of the B channel, a program column indicating a music B program recorded in a time zone from 19:30 to 19:55, and an information A program recorded in a time zone after 20: 5 Is displayed, it can be seen that the music B program and the information A program broadcast from the B channel are recorded in each of these time zones. On the other hand, since the program column is not displayed in the area indicating the time zone from 19:55 to 20: 5, the broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the B channel during this time zone is not recorded. I understand.

  In the column of the C channel, a program column indicating a news A program recorded in a time zone from 20:00 to a predetermined time before 19:25 is displayed. It can be seen that the news A program broadcast from the C channel is recorded. On the other hand, since the program column is not displayed in the area indicating the time zone from 20:00 to 21:00, it is understood that the broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the C channel during this time zone is not recorded.

  In the column of the D channel, a program column showing a physical education A program recorded in the time zone from 20:00 to 20:55 is displayed. Therefore, the physical education A program broadcast from the D channel in this time zone. It can be seen that is recorded. On the other hand, since the program column is not displayed in the area indicating the time zone from 19:25 to 20:00, it is understood that the broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the D channel during this time zone is not recorded. .

  In the column of the E channel, a program column showing the weather A program recorded in the time zone from 19:40 to 19:55 is displayed. Therefore, the weather A broadcasted from the E channel in this time zone is displayed. You can see that the program is recorded. On the other hand, since the program column is not displayed in the area indicating the time zone from 19:55 to 20:55, the broadcast content (broadcast program) broadcast from the E channel during this time zone is not recorded. I understand.

  By the way, in the area 202, an image (hereinafter referred to as a background image) of a broadcast program or the like currently being broadcast or reproduced is displayed below the past program table including these program columns. However, for the user, the background image appears to be displayed only in the area 202 in which the program column is not displayed (area in the time zone where no recorded program exists) as shown in FIG. .

  In addition, the selected program column, for example, the B channel music B program in the example of FIG. 26, is grayed out in the example of FIG. 26, but is actually highlighted. Hereinafter, selection of a predetermined area such as the program column or the display switching button 201 is referred to as “focus is placed” for convenience. That is, the area where the focus is arranged is actually highlighted.

  On the other hand, a program column that has not been selected, that is, a program column in which the focus is not arranged, is displayed in white in the example of FIG. 26, but is actually a translucent display. As a result, the background image (broadcast program currently being broadcast or being reproduced) is displayed so that the unselected program column is transparent.

  In other words, a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the past program guide on the background image is displayed in the area 202. However, the composition ratio of the background image and the past program guide (transmission ratio of the past program guide) is not constant in the region 202. That is, for example, in an area where there is no program column, it is set to 100% (note that 100% indicates a completely transparent ratio, while 0% indicates a completely transparent ratio), and is selected. The area of the column is 0%, and the area of the program column that is not selected is an intermediate ratio (such as 50%).

  In the area 203, various pieces of detailed information related to the selected program column (the corresponding recorded program) are displayed. In the example of FIG. 26, only thumbnails are displayed, but actually, for example, the following information A) to K) is displayed.

A) Broadcasting station
B) Broadcast date, start time, end time, and recording time
C) Program name (title)
D) Detailed program information (contents, characters, actor names, etc.)
E) Recording mode (high quality, standard etc.)
F) File size
G) Status of automatic deletion (in the case of “OK” attribute, the estimated time until further deletion)
H) Expiration date (if set)
I) State of claw
J) Genre
K) Thumbnail

  Note that the information of G), H), and I) represents the attributes of the recorded program (video capsule). Since each of these attributes can be changed by a user operation described later, the description of each attribute is also given in the description of the user operation.

  Further, the information J) can be expressed without displaying (or displaying) the information in the area 203, for example, by displaying the program column in different colors.

  Next, a user operation using such a past program guide (and a keyword-specific program guide described later) of the present invention will be described.

  In the following description, it is assumed that a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) of the input unit 26 in FIG. However, as a matter of course, the user can perform the same series of operations described below using the mouse and keyboard in addition to the remote control.

  For example, the user moves the focus to a desired area by pressing the up / down / left / right buttons on the remote control, and presses the determination button on the remote control to perform processing corresponding to the area where the focus is placed in the past program table management. This can be executed by the unit 63.

  Specifically, for example, when the determination button on the remote control is pressed while the focus is placed on the switching button 201, the display method is switched from the current "past program guide" to "keyword program guide". A keyword-specific program guide as shown in FIG. 27 is displayed from the output unit 27. A process when the switch button 201 is pressed and a detailed description of the keyword-specific program guide will be described later.

  Further, for example, when the determination button on the remote controller is pressed in a state where the focus is arranged in a predetermined program column, that is, in a state where the predetermined program column is selected, a menu (image) is not shown. Is displayed.

  The display contents of this menu are as shown in the following 1) to 5), for example. Similarly, in the menu, the user can move the focus to a desired one of the areas indicated by 1) to 5) by pressing the up / down / left / right buttons on the remote controller and then press the determination button on the remote controller. Thus, it is possible to cause the past program guide management unit 63 to execute a corresponding process among the processes indicated by the following processes 1) to 5).

1) Playback
2) Continue playback
3) Erase
4) Copy
5) Properties

Process 1): The display of the past program table disappears, and the recorded program corresponding to the program column is reproduced from the beginning (displayed in the area 202).
Process 2): The display of the past program table disappears, and the recorded program corresponding to the program column is reproduced from the previous continuation (displayed in the area 202). However, it cannot be selected unless it has been played before.
Process 3): The recorded program corresponding to the program column is deleted from the HDD 46A or HDD 46B.
Process 4): The recorded program corresponding to the program column is copied from the HDD 46A or HDD 46B to the storage unit 28 of FIG.
5) Properties: Open the property window (menu)

  Although not shown, the property window is a menu that can change the attribute of the recorded program corresponding to the program column.

  Specifically, for example, the attributes that can be changed in the property window are as shown in the following a) to c).

a) Auto-erase attribute
b) Expiration date
c) Claw attributes

  The automatic erasure in a) is, for example, when a recordable capacity (remaining amount) of the HDD 46A or HDD 46B is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, a predetermined rule (such as a rule of erasing from the oldest start time). Accordingly, it indicates that the recording management unit 71A or the recording management unit 71B automatically deletes the target recorded program (video capsule) from the HDD 46A or the HDD 46B. Therefore, an attribute “permitted” that permits automatic erasure of the recorded program (video capsule) and an “impossible” that does not permit automatic erasure of the recorded program (video capsule) are provided as attributes of automatic erasure. . That is, a recorded program having the “impossible” attribute is excluded from the targets for automatic deletion. Therefore, the user can set either “permitted” or “not permitted” in the property window.

  The expiry date in b) is one of the rules for automatic erasure, and broadcast programs whose set expiration date has passed are subject to automatic erasure.

  The claw in c) is a concept corresponding to a “claw” such as a hardware videotape. That is, as a claw attribute, an attribute “claw is folded” and an attribute “claw is not folded” are provided. No recorded program (video capsule) having the attribute “claws are folded” can be deleted. Accordingly, for example, for a recorded program or the like that is desired to be a so-called permanent storage version, the user may set the attribute “claws are folded” in the property window. In addition, when it is necessary to delete a recorded program, the user may set the attribute “not clawed” in the property window.

  Although details are omitted, by giving various attributes to the recorded program (video capsule) in this way, for example, a multi-level level serving as an index when determining the erasing order is assigned to each recorded program. It becomes possible to set. For example, it is assumed that erasure becomes more difficult as the level becomes higher. For example, it is possible to set the top level (highest level) for a recorded program having the attribute “claws are folded”.

  The processing example executed by the past program guide management unit 63 of FIG. 4 in response to a user operation using the past program guide (and the keyword-specific program guide described later) of the present invention as described above is shown in FIG. This is shown as processing after S85. Therefore, the processing after step S85 in FIG. 24 will be described below.

  In step S85, the past program guide management unit 63 determines whether or not a predetermined button among the buttons constituting the input unit 26 (remote control) has been pressed.

  If it is determined in step S85 that none of the buttons configuring the input unit 26 has been pressed, the process returns to step S85, and a predetermined button among the buttons configuring the input unit 26 is pressed. It is determined again whether or not. In other words, the past program guide management unit 63 constantly monitors the input content from the input unit 26.

  When any one of the buttons constituting the input unit 26 is pressed, the past program guide management unit 63 presses a predetermined button among the buttons constituting the input unit 26 in step S85. It is determined that Then, after detecting which button has been pressed, the past program guide management unit 63 advances the process to step S86.

  In step S86, the past program guide management unit 63 determines whether the pressed button is an up / down / left / right button.

  If the pressed button is one of the up / down / left / right buttons, it is determined in step S86 that the pressed button is the up / down / left / right button, and the process proceeds to step S87.

  As described above, since the button for moving the focus is the up / down / left / right button, the processing for moving the focus is executed in the processing after step S87.

  That is, in step S87, the past program guide management unit 63 determines whether or not the focus after movement (by pressing the up / down / left / right buttons) is arranged outside the current display screen.

  If it is determined in step S87 that the focus after movement is placed outside the current display screen, the past program guide management unit 63 executes screen scroll processing in step S88.

  That is, when a program column that is not displayed on the screen of the output unit 27 in FIG. 4 or a program column that is only partially displayed on the screen is selected by pressing the up / down / left / right button, the selected program is selected. The display content (each program column) in the area 202 is scrolled until the top of the column is displayed. Precisely, the past program guide management unit 63 is displayed on the screen when the up, down, left, and right buttons are scrolled in the direction corresponding to the pressed button of the entire past program guide. Image data indicating the part is generated and sequentially supplied to the information presentation integrated control unit 61. The information presentation integrated control unit 61 causes the output unit 27 to sequentially display images corresponding to each of the sequentially supplied image data.

  In step S89, the past program guide management unit 63 moves the focus to the selected area. That is, the display screen (the display content of the area 202) is updated so that the selected area is highlighted.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S87 that the focus after the movement is not arranged outside the current display screen, the selected area exists in the display screen, so the process in step S88. Is not executed, and the focus is moved to the selected area in the process of step S89 (the display screen is updated as such).

  Thereafter, the process returns to step S85, and the subsequent processes are repeated. That is, the past program guide management unit 63 monitors whether the button on the remote controller (input unit 26) is pressed next.

  For example, this time, assume that the enter button is pressed.

  In this case, the past program guide management unit 63 determines YES in the process of step S85, determines NO in the process of step S86, determines that it is a decision button in the process of step S90, and performs the process. Proceed to step S91.

  In step S <b> 91, the past program guide management unit 63 determines whether the display switching button 201 is focused.

  If it is determined in step S91 that the focus is placed on the display switching button 201, the process proceeds to step S92. However, the processing after step S92 will be described later.

  Here, the focus arrangement position is any one of the display switching button 201 and each program column displayed in the area 202.

  In this case, if the focus is placed in the predetermined program column displayed in the area 202, it is determined in step S91 that the focus is not placed on the display switching button 201, and the processing is performed in the step of FIG. Proceed to S93.

  In step S <b> 93, the past program guide management unit 63 displays a menu on the output unit 27 via the information presentation integrated control unit 61.

  The display contents of the menu are actually as shown in the above 1) to 5), but here, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, for example, only 1) playback and 5) properties are set. As described above, in the menu, either 1) playback or 5) property is selected by pressing the up / down / left / right buttons and the enter button of the remote control. That is, in reality, a process corresponding to the menu operation is also necessary for the “past program table presentation / reproduction control process”, but here, the description of the process is omitted for the sake of simplicity (FIGS. 24 and 24). (It is also omitted in the flowchart of FIG. 25).

  In this case, if 1) playback is selected, it is determined in step S94 that playback has been selected, and the process proceeds to step S95.

  In step S95, the past program guide management unit 63 plays back the recorded program specified in the program column where the focus is placed. Specifically, the past program guide management unit 63 selects the recorded program (video capsule) specified in the program column in which the focus is arranged, from the HDD 46A or HDD 46B in FIG. 4 to the content / metadata providing unit 72A or the content / metadata. Obtained via the providing unit 72B and supplied to the information presentation integrated control unit 61. The information presentation integrated control unit 61 supplies the video signal and the audio signal constituting the supplied recorded program (video capsule) to the output unit 27. The output unit 27 displays a video (moving image) corresponding to the supplied video signal and outputs audio corresponding to the supplied audio signal. That is, the output unit 27 reproduces the recorded program.

  When the reproduction of the recorded program ends, the “past program table presentation / reproduction control process” ends.

  On the other hand, if 5) property is selected, and the change of any of the above-mentioned a) automatic deletion attribute, b) expiration date, and c) claw status is instructed, the past program table is displayed. In step S94, the management unit 63 determines that the reproduction is not selected, and in step S96, changes the attribute of the recorded program specified in the program column in which the focus is arranged in accordance with the instruction.

  Thereafter, the process returns to step S85 in FIG. 24, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  The processing when the up / down / left / right button and the determination button are pressed has been described above.

  In addition, various buttons are provided on the remote controller, and processing when these buttons are pressed is as follows.

  That is, for example, when the end button of the remote control is pressed, it is determined as YES in step S85 in FIG. 24, is determined as NO in step 86, and is determined as NO in step S90. Furthermore, it is determined in step S97 in FIG. 25 that the button is an end button, and the “past program guide presentation / reproduction control process” is ended.

  On the other hand, for example, when a button other than the up / down / left / right button, the enter button, and the end button is pressed, it is determined as YES in step S85 in FIG. 24 and determined as NO in step 86. In step S90, NO is determined. In step S97 in FIG. 25, NO is determined, and the process proceeds to step S98.

  In step S98, the past program guide management unit 63 executes processing corresponding to the pressed button. When the process ends, the process returns to step S85 in FIG. 24, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  Incidentally, as described above, when the determination button on the remote control is pressed while the focus is placed on the display switching button 201 in FIG. 26, it is determined as YES in step S85 in FIG. Is determined as NO, YES is determined in step S90, and YES is determined further in step S91, and the process proceeds to step S92.

  In step S92, the past program guide management unit 63 changes the display method, returns the process to step S83, and repeats the subsequent processes. That is, a table corresponding to the changed display method is generated in the process of step S83, displayed in the process of step S84, and thereafter, the process corresponding to the user operation is executed in the process after step S85. Become.

  Specifically, for example, when the display switching button 201 is pressed in a state where the past program table of FIG. 26 is displayed, as described above, for example, a keyword-specific program table as shown in FIG. 27 is displayed. Is done.

  That is, FIG. 27 shows a display example of the keyword-specific program table. Thus, an example of the keyword-specific program table will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The soft button 211 at the upper left in FIG. 27 is a switching button corresponding to the switching button 201 in FIG. That is, when the display switching button 211 is pressed while the keyword-specific program table of FIG. 27 is displayed, for example, the past program table as shown in FIG. 26 described above is displayed. .

  An area 212 is an area corresponding to the area 202 in FIG. However, in the area 212, program columns (display areas) indicating the respective recorded programs are classified and displayed for each keyword. In other words, program columns that can be displayed in the region 202 are displayed in the region 212, but the layout of these program columns is displayed differently from the region 202.

  As described above, the reason why mutual display switching between the past program guide and the keyword-specific program guide can be performed only by a simple operation such as pressing the switching button is as described above. This is because the program column based on the program information of the recorded program is displayed.

  By the way, in this case, each program column (display area) is displayed in the same size (size) as shown in FIG. Also, in the program table by keyword, thumbnail images (moving images or still images) and the titles of recorded programs are normally displayed in the program column of one recorded program.

  In other words, in the past program table in FIG. 26, the vertical axis is the time axis, whereas in the keyword-specific program table in FIG. 27, the vertical axis is an axis indicating the number of recordings. As a result, in the keyword-specific program table, the size (size) occupied by one program column is a constant area regardless of the recording time of the broadcast program. For this reason, thumbnails and program titles are displayed in all program fields regardless of the length of the recording time.

  In the past program table of FIG. 26, the horizontal axis is an axis indicating each channel, whereas in the keyword-specific program table of FIG. 27, the horizontal axis is an axis indicating a keyword. That is, in the past program table of FIG. 26, the recorded program of the corresponding channel is displayed in each column, whereas in the keyword-based program table of FIG. 27, each column corresponds to each column. Recorded programs classified as keywords (which may be recorded programs of different channels) are displayed.

  As the keyword, for example, a word registered in advance in the content recording unit 1 itself of FIG. 1 can be used. In this case, if a predetermined word used as a keyword is included in the program information, the past program guide management unit 63 classifies the recorded program specified by the program information into the keyword (word). That is, a program column indicating the recorded program is displayed in the keyword column of each column of the keyword-specific program table.

  Therefore, when a plurality of keywords (words) are included in one program information, the recorded program specified by the program information is classified into each of the plurality of keywords. That is, a program column indicating the same recorded program may be displayed in a plurality of columns corresponding to each of a plurality of keywords in each column of the keyword-specific program table.

  In addition, a genre included in program information of a recorded program can be classified as a keyword. Further, information arbitrarily set by the user can be regarded as a keyword and classified.

  However, here, for simplicity of explanation, for example, “news”, “weather”, “music”, “physical education”, “information”, “drama”, and “variety” are adopted as keywords. .

  In this case, the table (data) generated by the process of step S83 in FIG. 24 is actually a table as shown in FIG. That is, the table shown in FIG. 28 shows the entire program table by keyword, and only the part surrounded by the thick line frame 288 in the same figure in the entire program table by keyword is shown in the area 212 in FIG. Will be displayed.

  Hereinafter, the keyword-specific program table shown in FIG. 28 will be described in more detail.

  In each column (each keyword) of the keyword-specific program table in FIG. 28, the more the program column is arranged in the lower part of the figure, the newer in time (broadcast start time is closer to the current time). As the program column is arranged in the upper part of the figure, it becomes older in time (the broadcast start time is farther than the current time).

  In this way, the keyword-specific program table is configured such that the program columns are stacked from bottom to top in the order of the broadcast start time regardless of the broadcast time zone. Therefore, in the keyword-specific program table, there is no gap between the program column and the program column unlike the past program table. In addition, since the number of program columns arranged in each column differs for each keyword, the keyword-specific program table has a form like a bar graph composed of bars (bars) having different heights for each keyword. It can also be said.

  The keyword-specific program table of FIG. 28 generated in this way is displayed on the output unit 27 in the process of step S84 of FIG.

  However, as described above, not all of the keyword-specific program table of FIG. 28 is displayed, and only a part thereof is displayed depending on the size and resolution of the output unit 27. For example, in the example of FIG. 27, only the part surrounded by the frame 222 of FIG. 28 is displayed.

  In other words, if the frame 222 is regarded as a so-called window, only the inside of the window 222 is displayed. Therefore, by moving the window 222 as shown in FIG. 28, the display content (display range) of the area 212 in FIG. 27 can be varied. The processing for moving the window 222 corresponds to the processing in steps S87 to S89 in FIG. Therefore, when the user wants to change the display contents (display range) of the area 212 in FIG. 27, that is, when the user wants to move the window 222 as shown in FIG. It is only necessary to perform a simple operation.

  Further, the user can perform the same operation as the remote control operation for the past program table described above on the keyword-specific program table. That is, the past program guide management unit 63 can execute the processing after step S85 in FIG. 24 in exactly the same manner even when the keyword-specific program guide is displayed.

  Note that the order of keywords on the horizontal axis of the keyword-specific program guide is not limited to the example described above, and may be any order. For example, the number of recorded programs (program columns) belonging to each genre (keyword) such as “news”, “music”, “weather”, “drama”, “information”, “variety”, and “physical education” They may be arranged in order from the left. In this case, the user can easily imagine the overall arrangement. That is, when the program column at the top of a specific genre is displayed, it can be easily seen that the number of recorded programs is smaller on the right side than that genre. Even if only a part of the program guide is displayed, the user can easily grasp the whole picture.

  The content recording / playback apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 has been described as an example to which the present invention is applied.

  By the way, the present invention is not limited to the example of FIG. 1 and can take various forms.

  Specifically, for example, the present invention can be applied to an information processing system as shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 29 shows a configuration example of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied.

  In the information processing system of FIG. 29, the main control device 301, the content recording device 303A, and the content recording device 303B are connected to each other via a network 302.

  The main control device 301, the content recording device 303A, and the content recording device 303B in FIG. 29 respectively correspond to the main control unit 11, the content recording unit 13A, and the content recording unit 13B in FIG. have. That is, each of the main control device 301, the content recording device 303A, and the content recording device 303B is similar to the functional configuration of FIG. 4 of the main control unit 11, the content recording unit 13A, and the content recording unit 13B. It has a functional configuration.

  Note that the hardware configurations of the main control device 301, the content recording device 303A, and the content recording device 303B in FIG. 29 are the main control unit 11, the content recording unit 13A, and the content recording unit 13B in FIG. The hardware configurations are not necessarily the same, but may be the same. That is, the main control device 301 may be configured as shown in FIG. 2, for example, and the content recording device 303A and the content recording device 303B may be configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

  Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the content recording unit 13A and the content recording unit 13B, the content recording unit 303A and the content recording device 303B are hereinafter referred to as the content recording unit 13 collectively. Are collectively referred to as a content recording device 303.

  In other words, when the main control unit 11 and the two content recording units 13 are housed in a single housing, the main control unit 11 and the two main content storage units 11 and 2 The content recording unit 13B constitutes the content recording / playback apparatus 1 of FIG.

  On the other hand, when each of the main control unit 11 and the two content recording units 13 is arranged in different places as independent devices such as the main control device 301 and the two content recording devices 303, The information processing system shown in FIG. 29 (part) is configured.

  In other words, if the system is defined to represent the processing apparatus and the entire apparatus composed of a plurality of apparatuses, both FIG. 1 and FIG. In the end, the only difference is whether or not it can be contained in the enclosure.

  Accordingly, in the example of FIG. 29, only two content recording devices 303 are provided, but the number of content recording devices 303 constituting this information processing system is an arbitrary number, just like the content recording unit 13 described above. It doesn't matter.

  The form of the network 302 is not particularly limited, but can take the same form as the network 12 of FIG.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 29, a network 304 different from the network 302 is connected to the main control device 301. Thereby, the main control device 301 can exchange various information with other devices connected to the network 304. For example, in the example of FIG. 29, the main control device 301 can exchange various types of information with the television receiver 305, the AV (Audio and Visual) device 306, and the external device 307 via the network 304. .

  Accordingly, although not shown in FIG. 1, the main control unit 11 (to be exact, the communication unit 29 in FIG. 2 as described above) can also be connected to a network similar to the network 304, and Various information can be exchanged with other devices connected to the network.

  By the way, when the above-described series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed in a dedicated hardware, or various programs can be installed by installing various programs. For example, a general-purpose personal computer that can execute the function is installed from a network or a recording medium.

  This recording medium is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from the main body of the apparatus, and includes a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk) on which the program is recorded, an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) ), DVD (including Digital Versatile Disk), magneto-optical disk (including MD (Mini-Disk)), or the removable recording medium 31 of FIG. The program is provided to the user in a preinstalled state, and is composed of the ROM 29 in FIG. 2 or the ROM 42 in FIG. 3, the hard disk included in the storage unit 28 in FIG. 2 or the HDD 46 in FIG.

  In addition, the broadcast program (video signal and audio signal constituting the broadcast program) is wirelessly (broadcast radio wave) in the above-described example, but may be transmitted by wire like cable television broadcast. That is, the broadcast program referred to in this specification is a wide concept including not only a broadcast program broadcast on terrestrial waves or satellite waves, but also contents distributed via a network or the like. In other words, in the present specification, as described above, a broadcast program and content are treated as synonyms. From this point of view, the program information is not limited to EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information, but may be information related to a broadcast program (= content) in this specification, such as general content metadata. .

  Further, in the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. It also includes processes that are executed individually.

It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the content recording / reproducing apparatus with which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of the hardware structural example of the main control part of the content recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of the hardware structural example of the content recording part of the content recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. It is a functional block diagram which shows the functional structure which the content recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1 has. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of “recording / playback control processing” executed by the content recording / playback apparatus in FIG. 1. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of “non-stop recording reservation input processing” executed by the content recording / playback apparatus in FIG. 1. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of “non-stop recording reservation input processing” executed by the content recording / playback apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example of the non-stop recording reservation image utilized by the "non-stop recording reservation input process" of FIG. 6 and FIG. It is a figure explaining the setting operation example of a non-stop recording reservation using the non-stop recording reservation image of FIG. It is a figure explaining the setting operation example of a non-stop recording reservation using the non-stop recording reservation image of FIG. It is a figure explaining the setting operation example of a non-stop recording reservation using the non-stop recording reservation image of FIG. It is a figure explaining the setting operation example of a non-stop recording reservation using the non-stop recording reservation image of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of a non-stop recording reservation image utilized by the "non-stop recording reservation input process" of FIG. 6 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the non-stop recording reservation image utilized by the "non-stop recording reservation input process" of FIG. 6 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the dialog (image) utilized with the non-stop recording reservation image of FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of “division reservation input processing” executed by the content recording / playback apparatus of FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of “division reservation input processing” executed by the content recording / playback apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the process result of the "division reservation input process" of FIG. 16 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the process result of the "division reservation input process" of FIG. 16 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the process result of the "division reservation input process" of FIG. 16 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the process result of the "division reservation input process" of FIG. 16 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the process result of the "division reservation input process" of FIG. 16 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the process result of the "division reservation input process" of FIG. 16 and FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of “past program guide presentation / reproduction control processing” executed by the content recording / reproducing apparatus in FIG. 1. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of “past program guide presentation / reproduction control processing” executed by the content recording / reproducing apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of an image showing a part of a past program table used in the “past program table presentation / reproduction control process” of FIGS. 25 and 26; FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image showing a part of a keyword-specific program table used in the “past program table presentation / reproduction control process” of FIGS. 25 and 26; It is a figure which shows the example of the whole program table classified by keyword utilized by the "past program table presentation / reproduction | regeneration control process" of FIG. 25 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information processing system (a form different from FIG. 1) to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Content recording / reproducing apparatus, 11 Main control part, 12 Network, 13A, 13B Content recording part 21, CPU, 41 CPU, 45, 45A, 45B Content acquisition part, 46, 46A, 46B HDD 51-1 thru | or 51-3 tuner 51 information presentation integrated control unit, 62 reservation input unit, 63 past program guide management unit, 71A, 71B recording management unit, 72A, 72B content / metadata providing unit, 301 main control unit, 302 network, 303A, 303B content recording device

Claims (3)

An information processing apparatus that controls recording according to a set recording reservation,
The first information indicating the predetermined broadcasting station included in the first recording reservation setting information, the second information indicating the predetermined day of the week, and the third information indicating the predetermined time period are specified and broadcast. An acquisition means for acquiring corresponding program information for each of the one or more broadcast programs scheduled to be
Based on the program information acquired by the acquisition means, when it is determined that the recording start time of the first recording reservation is a time in the middle of the predetermined program, from the broadcast start time of the predetermined program An information processing apparatus that changes setting information of the first recording reservation so that recording is started. When the recording end time of the second recording reservation before the first recording reservation is in the middle of the predetermined program and before the recording start time of the first recording reservation, 2. The setting information is changed by merging a recording portion of the predetermined program of the first recording reservation with the second recording reservation by extending a recording end time of the recording reservation of the first recording reservation. Information processing device. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus that controls recording according to a set recording reservation,
The first information indicating the predetermined broadcasting station included in the first recording reservation setting information, the second information indicating the predetermined day of the week, and the third information indicating the predetermined time period are specified and broadcast. An acquisition step of acquiring corresponding program information for each of the one or more broadcast programs scheduled to be performed;
When it is determined that the recording start time of the first recording reservation is in the middle of the predetermined program based on the program information acquired by the processing of the acquisition step, the predetermined program starts broadcasting. A change step of changing the setting information of the first recording reservation so that the recording starts from the time.

Images