JP2008252270A - Content player - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content player capable of easily retrieving and playing the contents of the different broadcasting time for the contents of the same program or the same series no matter how content data are recorded. <P>SOLUTION: The content player playes video or audio content data. Then, to the content data, date and time information relating to the data is added. The content player is provided with a storage means for storing the two or more pieces of content data, and a special retrieval means (step S2) for, with the date and time information added to the specified content data as a reference, retrieving the content data to which the date and time information a set period apart from the reference date and time information is added from the two or more pieces of content data stored in the storage means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content reproduction apparatus that reproduces video or audio content data.

  2. Description of the Related Art There has been a content reproducing apparatus that stores a large number of content data of video and audio in a storage device and can reproduce them. For example, there are various devices such as a hard disk recorder capable of recording TV broadcasts, a network compatible playback device capable of downloading music data and video data via a network, and a portable playback device equipped with a large capacity storage device.

  In such a content reproduction apparatus, since a large number of content data can be stored, various content data can be selected so that desired content data can be easily found from a large number of content data. A method has been proposed.

  For example, content data can be sorted and displayed in the order of recording date / time or file name based on the attached information such as file name and file format of content data, recording date / time, genre, and artist information added to the content data. Various selection methods have been proposed, such as a method that enables selection of content by displaying a list for each category such as genre or artist.

Further, as a related art related to the present invention, Patent Document 1 generates and stores reference information that correlates content data of the same program such as a continuous drama or a scheduled program when recording and storing broadcast content, and stores the content data. There has been disclosed a technique that makes it possible to easily select content data of another broadcast time using this reference information during reproduction.
JP 2006-202428 A

  The content data includes, for example, content data of the same program broadcast at the same time every day, content data of the same program broadcast at the same time only on weekdays, content data of the same program broadcast at the same time every week, etc. Many are broadcast on Some content data distributed over the network is of the same series and has the same periodicity.

  On the other hand, when the user selects arbitrary content data and starts playback, there often occurs a situation in which the user wants to play the previous or previous content with the same program or the same series of content.

  However, the conventional content reproducing apparatus has a problem that even when a request for reproducing contents of different broadcast times is generated, the corresponding content data cannot be easily searched. That is, even when it is desired to reproduce the content of a different broadcast circuit, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, first, the content selection mode is displayed by input from the operation unit (steps S71 and S72), and the content data sorting method is performed. Or a search method is input to display a list of content data (steps S73 and S74), the previous or previous content data is selected from these (step S75), and the reproduction of the content data is started (step S75). A complicated operation such as step S76) is required.

  Further, in the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to generate reference information that associates content data of the same program at the time of recording, for example, there is no information for checking whether or not it is content data of the same program at the time of recording. In addition, when content data is copied and played back from other devices instead of broadcast recording, the reference information as described above cannot be generated, and a function that makes it easy to select content for different broadcast times. There was a problem of not working.

  An object of the present invention is to reproduce content that can be easily switched to reproduction of different broadcast times such as the previous time or the previous time for the same program or the same series of content, regardless of how the content data is recorded To provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a content playback apparatus for playing back video or audio content data, wherein date and time information related to the data is added to the content data, and a plurality of the data The storage means for storing the content data and the content data to which the date and time information that is a set period interval from the reference date and time information is added to the storage means on the basis of the date and time information added to the designated content data. A special search means for searching from a plurality of content data is provided.

  The invention described in claim 2 is further characterized in that the designated content data used as a reference in the search processing of the special search means is content data that is currently being played back or last played back.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a dedicated operation unit for executing a search process by the special search means.

  The invention described in claim 4 is further characterized in that the set period can be varied according to the day of the week of the date and time information.

  The invention described in claim 5 is characterized by further comprising setting means capable of changing the setting period by a user.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the execution command for the search processing by the special search means is input a plurality of times, the search for the content data to which the date and time information with the set period overlapped a plurality of times is added. It is characterized by being performed.

  The invention according to claim 7 further includes data storage means capable of registering search setting data indicating the setting period as a search condition of the special search means for each content data, and the content corresponding to arbitrary content data. Search setting data generating means for generating a search setting data by calculating a setting period by comparing similarities of each content data, wherein the special search means has the search setting data corresponding to the specified content data as the data When the storage means executes the content data search process based on the search setting data, the search setting data generation occurs when the data storage means does not have search setting data corresponding to the specified content data. Means for generating search setting data corresponding to the content data, and the data storage means It is characterized in that register.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to directly search for content data having a relationship with specified content data separated by a set period (for example, one day or one week) by special search means. Therefore, there is an effect that switching between reproduction of a plurality of content data of the same program or the same series that is broadcasted and distributed at a predetermined cycle can be executed between the plurality of content data without requiring a complicated operation. .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a content reproduction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The content playback apparatus 1 according to this embodiment records a television broadcast and stores it as digital content data, downloads and stores content data distributed over a network, and plays back these content data. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the content reproduction apparatus 1 includes a tuner 10 that receives a broadcast signal of a selected channel via an antenna AN, and analog video signals and analog audio signals received by the tuner 10 as digital signals in a predetermined format. An AD converter 11 for conversion, a DA converter 12 for converting a digital video signal or audio signal into an analog signal in a predetermined format when content data is reproduced, and a specific computer network for communication and specific communication Network communication & digital input module 13 for downloading digital contents from a server computer, DSP (digital signal processor) 14 for compressing and decoding video and audio signals, and hard disk drive for storing contents data Na Storage device is provided with a (storage means) 15, and the like.

  In addition, the content reproducing apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a controller 16 that performs overall control of the apparatus, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores setting data and the like. 17, a flash memory (rewritable nonvolatile memory) 18 in which a control program and control data are stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 19 that provides a working memory space for the CPU, and light reception of operation buttons and a remote control An operation unit 20 having an instrument and the like for inputting an operation command from a user, a remote controller (remote controller) (not shown) having a plurality of operation buttons, a display unit 21 capable of display output such as simple character display, and the like. Is provided.

  The controller 16 has a clock function (real time clock), for example, and can recognize the current date and time.

  The network communication & digital input module 13 has a function of downloading not only digital contents but also a digital program guide for television broadcasting from a specific server, for example. If the tuner 10 is a digital broadcast tuner, the digital program guide can be received by a digital broadcast signal. Even if the tuner 10 is an analog broadcast tuner, it is distributed by an auxiliary broadcast signal inserted in a gap between broadcast waves. You can also receive digital program guides.

  Although not shown in the drawings, the operation unit 20 and the above-described remote control are provided with a one-touch search button (dedicated operation unit) for directly searching content data such as the previous or previous playback content with a small number of operations. In addition, for example, a recording button, a playback button, a channel switching button, a volume button, a general button for operating the device such as a primary stop and a search button before and after, a menu button for displaying a menu screen, and a cursor movement General function buttons for menu operations such as a button and a determination button are provided.

  The content playback apparatus 1 of this embodiment has the following recording function and playback function with the above-described configuration. For example, as a playback function, a normal playback function that receives and plays back the content currently broadcast on FM broadcast or television broadcast, a network playback function that downloads and plays content data via a network, and stores in a storage device Recorded content playback function for playing recorded content data, and normal recording function for recording or recording the content currently being received as recording, recording reservation, and recording and recording automatically at the scheduled date and time A reservation recording function for downloading, and a music recording function for downloading broadcast music information from the network and storing it in association with the recording data during FM broadcast recording.

  The normal playback function is, for example, a function for causing the tuner 10 to receive the content currently being broadcast and to directly play back and output the content via the DSP 14 or the DA converter 12. This normal playback function is executed, for example, by inputting FM broadcast or TV broadcast switching, broadcast channel selection, playback processing command, etc. by operating the operation buttons, and the playback signal from the DA converter 12 is displayed on an external display device. And output to a speaker for display output and audio output.

  The network playback function is a function for downloading and playing back video and audio content data distributed from a specific server device. For example, the network playback function connects to the server device by a menu operation of a remote controller, and then displays the operation screen of the server device. A desired digital content can be selected and downloaded by appropriately performing a selection operation by a cursor operation or the like. The downloaded content data is converted into a display signal or an audio signal via the DSP 14 or DA converter 12 and output to an external display device or speaker.

  The normal recording function is executed, for example, by operating the recording button during the broadcast reception by the normal reproduction function and the reproduction process, and thereby the digital content data received by the tuner 10 and compressed by the DSP 14. Is sent to the storage device 15 via the controller 16 and stored therein. At the time of this recording process, the above-mentioned digital program guide is referred to, and from this digital program guide, attached information such as program title name of recording content, start date / time and end date / time, outline description of performers and program contents is data. The file is stored in the storage device 15 in association with the content data being recorded. Of these, the data of the start date and time and the end date and time are the date information related to the content data.

  The scheduled recording function allows, for example, selection of an arbitrary broadcast channel or broadcast time or selection of an arbitrary broadcast program by performing a selection operation on a menu screen or a cursor operation for displaying a digital program guide to perform scheduled recording. In this way, it is a function for automatically receiving the broadcast program and storing the content data as described above when the broadcast date / time is reached. In addition, for example, by inputting various conditions such as a keyword and a genre, a broadcast program that matches these conditions may be automatically selected and reserved for recording. Also at the time of such reservation recording, the above-mentioned digital program guide is referred to, and attached information such as program title name of recording content, start date / time and end date / time, outline description of performers and program contents from this digital program guide Are stored in the storage device 15 in association with the content data being recorded. The data of the start date / time and the end date / time becomes date / time information related to the content data.

  In the processing of the normal recording function and the reservation recording function, when video content is recorded such as TV broadcast recording, it is stored in a predetermined data file format including video and audio, and audio such as FM broadcast recording is recorded. When content is stored, it is stored in an audio data file format such as MP3.

  Also, if the digital program guide cannot be obtained in the processing of the normal recording function or the reservation recording function described above, or if the program being recorded is not listed in the digital program guide, it can be obtained from the digital program guide. However, the attached information such as the recording start date and the recording end date is stored in association with the content data using the clock function of the controller 16, for example. In this case, the data of the recording start date / time and the recording end date / time becomes date / time information related to the content data.

  The music recording function is performed using FM broadcast and a network service by a specific server device. During recording of FM broadcast, the music information of the music being broadcast from the server device (music title, performance artist name, Start date / time) or download FM program information (program name, DJ (disc jockey) name, program start date / time, program end date / time, etc.). And associated information including program information are stored in the storage device 15 in association with each other. Also in this case, when music information or program information cannot be obtained from the server device, for example, the accessory information such as the recording start date and time and the recording end date and time is made to correspond to the content data by using the clock function of the controller 16. Is memorized.

  The recorded content playback function is a process of reading and recording the content data recorded and recorded as described above from the storage device 15. The content data to be reproduced is, for example, a list display of all the content data stored in the storage device 15 by selecting and inputting the content selection mode from the menu screen, and the contents of the list are displayed by operating the cursor movement button. Desired content data can be designated and selected. Alternatively, in this list display, the sorting method is instructed, for example, sorted in order of recording date and time or title, or search conditions such as genre and file format are specified, and only items that match these conditions are extracted and displayed. This makes it easy to search for desired content data. When the content data to be reproduced is selected, the controller 16 reads the content data from the storage device 15 and transfers it to the DSP 14, where it performs processing such as decryption and outputs it externally via the DA converter 12.

Next, one-touch search processing (special search means) using the one-touch search button will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the one-touch search process executed by the CPU of the controller 16.

  The one-touch search process is performed almost the same one day before the date when the one-touch search button provided on the operation unit 20 or the remote controller is pressed during playback of arbitrary content data. This is a process for searching for content data having date and time information and reproducing it.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the one-touch search button is pressed during the reproduction of the content data (step S1), the date / time information (start date / time and end date / time is determined from the attached information associated with the content data currently being reproduced). Data, etc.) is acquired, and content data to which date / time information at almost the same time one day before is added is searched using this date / time information as a reference (step S2). As conditions for substantially the same time, for example, when there is an overlap in the range from the start time to the end time, the case where the start time is the same with an error of several minutes (for example, an error of 5 minutes or 10 minutes) is applied. I can do it.

  Then, the presence / absence of the corresponding content data is determined in the search process in step S2 (step S3). If not found, the process proceeds to step S4 to display an error indicating that there is no corresponding content, and this one-touch search process is terminated. To do.

  On the other hand, if there is a corresponding content, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of the contents in step S5. If there is one, the process proceeds to step S7 and reproduction of the content data is started. Then, in this step, the other information of the attached information is compared among the plurality of content data to search for contents containing more of the same information. For example, a comparison is made as to whether or not the genre information is the same and how many characters the same character string is included in the title information. Then, the process proceeds to step S7, and reproduction of the content data found in step S6 is started.

  By such one-touch search processing, for example, the following highly convenient content data search processing can be performed. In other words, when a program that is broadcast every day at the same time is scheduled to be recorded every day, when the user reproduces the content data of any of the broadcast times of the program, the user must not watch the previous broadcast. Suppose you notice. In such a case, the user can start playback of the content data for the previous broadcast that was broadcast at the same time the day before and can view it simply by pressing the one-touch search button.

  Further, for example, even when distribution of a digital program guide is not received and additional information such as a program title and a genre is not added to the content data, the recording start date and time and the recording end date and time are always added to the content data. Based on this information, the above-described one-touch search process can be normally executed.

  In the one-touch search process of this embodiment, the content data at the same time one day ago is searched and reproduced. For example, the content data at the same time one week ago is searched. The interval (setting period) can be changed as appropriate. In addition, a plurality of one-touch search buttons and a week-specific button may be provided so that two types of one-touch search processes can be executed.

[Second Embodiment]
The content playback apparatus according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the interval of the content data to be searched in the one-touch search process can be set by the user, and other hardware configurations and basic recording The playback function is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In the content reproduction apparatus of this embodiment, for example, when a menu selection is performed from the menu screen to display the device setting screen, setting items such as “one-touch search function search interval” are included. For example, “1 day”, “1 week”, “remove weekend”, “user setting”, and the like can be selected by the user. When “user setting” is selected, it is possible to set a detailed interval such as how many hours per day. Such setting processing is realized by software processing by the CPU of the controller 16, and these constitute setting means.

  The information of the “one-touch search function search interval” whose setting has been changed is stored in, for example, the EEPROM 17 and is read out and used in the process when the one-touch search process is executed.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the one-touch search process of the second embodiment.
In the one-touch search process of the second embodiment, steps S1, S3 to S7 are the same as the process of the first embodiment (FIG. 2), and only the contents of the search process of step S12 are different. Therefore, the description of the same steps is omitted.

  In the one-touch search process of the second embodiment, when the one-touch search button is pressed and the process proceeds to step S12, the set period as a search condition for the content data is stored in the “one-touch search function search interval” stored in the EEPROM 17. The content data having date / time information separated by the set period is searched.

  By such a search process, for example, if “one day” is selected in the “one-touch search function search interval” setting, content data at the same time one day before is searched, and “one week” is searched. "Is selected, content data at the same time one week ago is searched. If" user setting "is selected, the content data Y hours before X days set by the user is searched. To be done.

  As described above, according to the content reproduction apparatus of the second embodiment, the setting period used in the search process of the one-touch search process can be appropriately changed by the user, so the content data separated by the setting period suitable for the user The search function can be provided as appropriate.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the one-touch search process of the third embodiment.

  The content playback apparatus according to the third embodiment is obtained by slightly changing the search method of the one-touch search process, and the hardware configuration and basic recording / playback function are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the content playback apparatus of this embodiment, since there are many programs that are broadcast at the same time only on weekdays, if the content data being played back at the time of executing the one-touch search process is for Monday, the Saturdays and Sundays are set. The content data at the same time three days ago is retrieved, and if the content data being reproduced is other than Monday, the content data at the same time one day ago is retrieved.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the one-touch search process of the third embodiment, steps S1, S3 to S7 are the same as the process of the first embodiment (FIG. 2), and only the contents of the search process of steps S22 to S24 are different. . Therefore, the description of the same steps is omitted.

  In the one-touch search process of the third embodiment, when the one-touch search button is pressed and the process proceeds to step S22, first, based on the date / time information of the content data being reproduced, this date / time is calculated, and whether or not the result is Monday. Judge. As a result, if it is Monday, the process moves to step S23 to search for content data having date and time information of the same time three days ago, and if it is not Monday, the process moves to step S24 and the date and time of the same time one day ago. Search for content data having information. Then, in the subsequent steps S3 to S7, reproduction processing for the retrieved content data is performed.

  As described above, according to the content reproduction apparatus of this embodiment, it is possible to provide a one-touch search process appropriately corresponding to many broadcast programs that are broadcast only on weekdays and not on weekends.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the one-touch search process of the fourth embodiment.
The content playback apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is obtained by slightly changing the search method of the one-touch search process, and the hardware configuration and basic recording / playback function are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the content playback apparatus of this embodiment, when the one-touch search button is operated continuously a plurality of times, the search of content data is performed by changing the interval of the search period to a time interval overlapped a plurality of times. It is. That is, if the content data is searched for at the same time one day before by one operation, the content data at the same time before n days is searched when operated n times consecutively. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the one-touch search process of the fourth embodiment, only the contents of steps S32 to S34 are different, and the other steps S1, S3 to S7 are those of the one-touch search process (FIG. 2) of the first embodiment. It is the same. Therefore, the description of the same steps is omitted.

  In the one-touch search process of the fourth embodiment, when the one-touch search button is pressed and the process proceeds to step S32, it is confirmed how many times the button input has been performed, and this number is substituted into a variable n. In step S33, search for content data having date and time information at the same time n days ago is executed.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to directly switch and reproduce the content data from the previous broadcast to multiple previous broadcasts, and further improve the convenience of the user when viewing the same program I can do it.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The content playback apparatus according to the fifth embodiment does not fix the set period (the gap between the date / time information of the content data being played back and the date / time information of the content data to be searched) that is a search condition for the content data in the one-touch search process. An appropriate setting period is automatically generated and registered for each content data, and the one-touch search process is executed using the registered period. In addition, the hardware configuration and basic playback / recording function are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The set period is generated for the content data being played back at the time when the one-touch search button is pressed. The generated data is stored as search setting data for the content data, for example, in the EEPROM 17 as data storage means. The search setting data includes start time information and day information calculated from the file name of the corresponding content data and the start date information included in the attached information in addition to the information of the set period. . Such search setting data may be in a format in which a plurality of content data are collectively stored in one data file, or may be stored as one data file for each content data.

  FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the one-touch search process of the fifth embodiment.

  In the one-touch search process of this embodiment, first, when the one-touch search button is operated and its command is input (step S41), the presence / absence of search setting data corresponding to the content data being reproduced is determined in step S42. If there is, the process proceeds to step S43, and if not, the process proceeds to step S48.

  As a result, if there is corresponding search setting data and the process proceeds to step S43, the search setting data is read in that step, and the content data to which the date and time information for the set period before that is recorded is added. I do.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the corresponding content data is found in this search process (step S44). If not found, the process proceeds to step S54 to display an error indicating that there is no corresponding content, and this one-touch search process is terminated. To do. On the other hand, if there is a corresponding content, it is determined in step S45 whether or not there are a plurality of corresponding contents. If there is one, the process proceeds to step S47 and reproduction of the content data is started. The process proceeds to step S46, and other information of the attached information is compared to search for a piece of content data that contains more of the same information. In step S47, the reproduction of the content data is started.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S42 that there is no search setting data and the process proceeds to step S48, the date and time information is greater than that of the content data being reproduced, including many similarities to the content data being reproduced. Searches for old content data. For example, if the content data file name (when title information is used as part of the file name) includes the same character string, or the content information has the same title information, the content data Perform a search. Then, the process proceeds to step S49.

  In step S49, the presence / absence of the corresponding content data is determined. If there is no corresponding content data, the process proceeds to step S54 to display an error indicating that the one-touch search cannot be executed, and the one-touch search process is terminated. On the other hand, if there is corresponding content data, the file name and title information of the content data are displayed, and the user is requested to input OK or NO (step S50). Here, if the content data is the same program as the content data being reproduced, the user performs an OK selection input, and if the content data is a different program, the user performs a NO selection input.

  Then, the input result from the user is determined (step S51), and if the input result is NO, the process proceeds to step S54 to display an error indicating that the one-touch search cannot be executed, and the one-touch search process is terminated. To do.

  On the other hand, if the input result is OK, the process proceeds to step S52, and in this step, the time difference between the latest date / time information of the retrieved content data and the date / time information of the content data being reproduced is calculated. The time difference is set as information on a set period that is a search condition in the one-touch search process. For example, if it is nearly 24 hours, the set period is 1 day, and if it is approximately 3 × 24 hours across the weekend, the set period is 1 day excluding weekends.

  Next, in step S53, the set period is stored in the EEPROM 17 as search setting data in association with the start time information, day information, and file name of the content being played back. The search setting data generation means is configured by the processing of steps S48 to S53. Then, the process proceeds to step S43, and in the subsequent steps S43 to S47, search processing using the search setting data is performed, and reproduction processing of the searched content data is performed.

  As described above, according to the content playback apparatus of this embodiment, the set period of the one-touch search process is automatically automatically generated for each content data by the operation of the one-touch search button, and the search and playback of the content data before this set period is performed. Even if there is a mixture of programs that are broadcast every day or every week, one-touch search processing is performed at intervals according to the programs. An effect is obtained that the search and reproduction of the content data for the previous broadcast can be easily realized.

  The present invention is not limited to the first to fifth embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, the first to fifth embodiments have been described as separate content playback apparatuses for each embodiment. For example, the specification of the one-touch search processing of the first to fifth embodiments is applied to one content playback apparatus. It is good also as a structure which mounts and can change these according to the setting of an apparatus.

  In the above embodiment, the one-touch search function is described as a function for searching for content data of broadcast times older than the content data being reproduced. For example, the one-touch search buttons are “old broadcast times” and “ “New broadcast times” is provided, and when the old broadcast times content data is being played, if the “new broadcast times” one-touch search button is pressed, the content data of the broadcast times after the content data being played back It may be configured to search for and reproduce.

  In the above embodiment, it has been described that the attached information added to the content data is stored in a data file different from the content data. However, the attached information may be included in the data file of the content data. .

  In the above embodiment, the date / time information is added to the content data as the attached information. For example, the creation date / time information of the data file registered in the file system of the storage device 15 is changed to the date / time information of the content data. You may make it use as.

  In addition, as the operation unit for executing the one-touch search process, one dedicated operation button is illustrated, but for example, a display button displayed on a menu screen or the like may be used. In this case, although the one-touch search process is executed, the menu screen is called, the display button is selected, and the number of operations is somewhat increased, but the same search process can be performed with fewer operations compared to the conventional case. .

  In addition, the details specifically shown in the embodiments can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the content reproduction apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the one touch search process performed by CPU of FIG. It is a flowchart of the one-touch search process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the one-touch search process in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the one-touch search process in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the one-touch search process in 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the selection process of the content data in the conventional content reproduction apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Content Playback Device 10 Tuner 13 Network Communication & Digital Input Module 14 DSP
16 Controller 17 EEPROM
18 Flash memory 19 RAM
20 Operation part 21 Display part

Claims (7)

A content playback device for playing back video or audio content data,
Date and time information related to the data is added to the content data,
Storage means for storing a plurality of the content data;
Based on the date and time information added to the specified content data, the content data to which the date and time information that is a set period interval from the reference date and time information is added is retrieved from the plurality of content data stored in the storage means. A content reproducing apparatus comprising special search means.   2. The content playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designated content data used as a reference in the search processing of the special search means is content data currently being played back or last played back.   The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a dedicated operation unit for executing search processing by the special search unit.   The content reproduction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the set period can be changed according to a day of the week of the date and time information.   The content reproduction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising setting means capable of changing the setting period by a user.   The content data to which date and time information separated by the setting period being overlapped a plurality of times is searched when a search processing execution command by the special search means is input a plurality of times. The content reproduction device according to any one of 1 to 5. Data storage means capable of registering search setting data indicating the setting period for each content data;
Search setting data generating means for generating the search setting data by calculating the setting period corresponding to arbitrary content data by comparing the similarities of each content data,
When the search setting data corresponding to the specified content data is present in the data storage means, the special search means executes a content data search process based on the search setting data, while the specified content data 2. The search setting data corresponding to the content data is generated by the search setting data generation means and registered in the data storage means when there is no corresponding search setting data in the data storage means. The content reproduction device according to any one of?

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