JP2008276855A - Content reproduction system, content reproducing device, content reproducing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content reproduction system for sharing a play list among content reproducing devices, and to provide a content reproducing device, a content reproducing method, and a program. <P>SOLUTION: Home audio equipment A2 and portable audio equipment A1 are connected to each other through a USB cable C1 and the home audio equipment A2 reproduces a compressed audio file according to the contents of the play list stored in the portable audio equipment A1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content reproduction system, a content reproduction device, a content reproduction method, and a program using a playlist.

  In recent years, content playback devices such as home audio devices, portable audio devices, car audio devices, and the like that have a playback function for compressed audio files such as MP3 and WMA have become widespread. These content reproduction apparatuses can reproduce the compressed audio file according to the contents of the preset playlist. A playlist refers to a list of contents selected in advance for continuously reproducing content data such as a compressed audio file, and includes information related to specific contents and is stored as playlist data in the content reproduction apparatus.

  In addition, such a content playback device has a connection unit conforming to a standard such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), and is connected to another content playback device and stored in the other content playback device. It also tells you what can play compressed audio files. For example, a portable audio device can be connected to a home audio device, and a compressed audio file stored in the portable audio device can be played on the home audio device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that enables continuous playback by linking a portable audio device and an in-vehicle audio device.
JP 2002-373484 A

  However, in the above prior art, when a plurality of content playback devices are connected to each other and the content stored in another content playback device is played back according to the playlist by the one content playback device, the one content playback device side Therefore, it is necessary to create a playlist for playing back the content stored in the other content playback device, which is troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a content reproduction system, a content reproduction apparatus, a content reproduction method, and a program that can share a playlist once created between the content reproduction apparatuses.

The invention according to claim 1 is a content playback system,
The first playback device and the second playback device are connected to each other;
The first playback device stores content data and playlist data;
The second playback device includes playback means for playing back content data in accordance with the contents of playlist data stored in the first playback device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the content reproduction system according to the first aspect,
The second playback device
Storage means for storing content data;
The playlist data stored in the first playback device has information relating to content data stored in the storage means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the content reproduction system according to the second aspect,
When the reproduction means reproduces the content data according to the contents of the playlist data stored in the first reproduction apparatus, the reproduction means stores information on the content data stored in addition to the first reproduction apparatus and the storage means. The content data is reproduced according to the contents of the removed playlist data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the content reproduction system according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The second playback device includes playlist generation means for generating playlist data that can be shared with other playback devices including the first playback device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the content reproduction apparatus,
Connection means connectable to an external playback device for storing content data and playlist data;
Reproduction means for reproducing content data in accordance with the contents of playlist data included in an external reproduction device connected by the connection means;
It is characterized by providing.

The invention according to claim 6 is a content playback method,
The content data is reproduced according to the contents of the playlist data acquired from an external reproduction device that stores the content data and the playlist data.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided connection means capable of connecting a computer to an external playback device that stores content data and playlist data;
Reproducing means for reproducing content data in accordance with the contents of the playlist data acquired from the connecting means;
It is a program for making it function as.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a content playback system, a content playback device, a content playback method, and a program that can share a playlist once created between the content playback devices.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[Outline of content playback system]
First, an outline of the content reproduction system will be described.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a content reproduction system.

  The content reproduction system 100 includes a portable audio device A1, a home audio device A2, and a car audio device A3. Each audio device can be connected via the USB cable C1, and various data such as a compressed audio file and playlist data can be transmitted and received between the audio devices.

  The portable audio device A1 that is the first content reproduction device is a portable audio device. The home audio device A2 that is the second content playback device is a stationary audio device for viewing audio at home. The car audio device A3, which is the third content reproduction device, is an audio device mounted on a car. Any audio device can play a compressed audio file such as MP3 or WMA format.

  By adopting the above-described configuration, the content playback system 100 allows one audio device to play back a compressed audio file stored in another audio device according to a playlist.

[Configuration of content playback device]
Next, the configuration of the home audio device A2 will be described as an example of the configuration of the content reproduction apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the home audio device A2 includes a storage unit 1, an analog audio input unit 2, a CD (Compact Disk) mechanism unit 3, a selector 4, an ADC (Analog Digital Converter) 5, and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 6. , DAC (Digital Analog Converter) 7, amplifier unit 8, speaker 9, display unit 10, operation unit 11, system microcomputer 12, and external I / F 13.

  As the storage unit 1, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like is used. The storage unit 1 stores audio data that can be reproduced by the home audio device A2 in the form of a compressed audio file such as MP3 or WMA.

  The analog voice input unit 2 is an input unit that inputs an analog voice signal output from an external device (not shown).

  The CD mechanism unit 3 is a device such as a CD drive, and reads audio data recorded on the CD and outputs it to the selector 4 or the DSP 6.

  The selector 4 is a circuit that selects a source of audio data to be reproduced by the home audio device A2. The source selection is switched according to the control signal input from the system microcomputer 12.

  The ADC 5 is an A / D conversion circuit that converts an input analog signal into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal.

  The DSP 6 is a processor for digital signal processing, and includes an encoder 6a and a decoder 6b. The encoder 6a encodes the digital signal output from the ADC 5 and outputs a compressed audio file. The decoder 6b decodes the compressed audio file from the storage unit 1 and the external I / F 13, performs reproduction processing, and outputs a digital signal.

  The DAC 7 is a D / A conversion circuit that converts a digital signal output from the DSP 6 into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal.

  The amplifier unit 8 is a circuit that amplifies the analog signal output from the DAC 7 and outputs the amplified analog signal to the speaker 9.

  The speaker 9 is a device that outputs an analog signal output from the amplifier unit 8 as a sound wave.

  The display unit 10 displays various types of information such as operation mode information, playlist information, and song information of the home audio device A2.

  The operation unit 11 is a device including various operation keys, and outputs an operation signal to the system microcomputer 12 in accordance with operation of the operation keys by the user of the home audio device A2.

  The system microcomputer 12 functions as a control unit, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12b. Each part in the audio apparatus 1 is centrally controlled by the operation, and various calculations are performed.

  The external I / F is an interface for connecting to an external device via a USB cable or the like and transmitting / receiving various data such as a compressed audio file and a playlist.

  The configurations of the portable audio device A1 and the car audio device A3 are the same as those shown in FIG.

[Operation of content playback system]
Next, the operation of the content reproduction system will be described.
First, referring to FIG. 3, a control flow of processing performed by the system microcomputer 12 of the home audio device A2 when the portable audio device A1 is connected to the external I / F 13 of the home audio device A2 via the USB cable C1. Will be explained.

  First, when it is detected that the USB storage is connected to the external I / F 13 via the USB cable C1 (step S1; Yes), that is, in this embodiment, it is detected that the portable audio device A1 is connected. If so, the process proceeds to step S2.

  If it is not detected that the USB storage is connected (step S1; No), the process waits until it is detected.

  Next, when there is a specific DB (Database) in which playlist data is registered in the portable audio device A1 detected in Step S1 (Step S2; Yes), the DB is portable audio via the USB cable C1. Obtained from device A1.

  If there is no specific DB in which playlist data is registered in the USB storage (step S2; No), this process ends.

  Next, a control flow of processing performed by the system microcomputer 12 of the home audio device A2 when a compressed audio file is reproduced according to the contents of the playlist DB will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, it is confirmed whether or not a playlist DB exists in the portable audio device A1. If there is a playlist DB (step S11; Yes), the DB is acquired and the operation signal output from the operation unit 11 is determined. The compressed audio file is reproduced according to the information registered in the DB of the selected playlist (step S12). When the reproduction is finished (step S13; Yes), this process is finished.

  If there is no playlist DB in the portable audio device A1 (step S11; No), a message “No playlist” is displayed on the display unit 10 of the home audio device A2 (step S14). The process ends.

  Here, referring to FIG. 6, the data structure of the playlist DB and how the compressed audio file is reproduced according to the information registered in the playlist DB in step S12 of FIG. An example will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the DB of the playlist includes a file name 51, an ID 52, a pass 53, a playlist a 54, a playlist b 55, a trash box 56, and the number of plays 57 as data items.

  The file name 51 is a file name of the compressed audio file. ID 52 is an ID for uniquely specifying the compressed audio file in the DB. A path 53 is a path indicating a storage location of the compressed audio file.

  The playlist a54 and the playlist b55 indicate whether the compressed audio file is set in the playlist a and the playlist b, respectively. “1” indicates that the playlist is set, and “0” indicates that the playlist is not set. Accordingly, the playlist DB in FIG. 6 indicates that “file1”, “file3”, and “file5” are set in the playlist a, and “file1” and “file2” are included in the playlist b. , “File5” is set.

  The trash box 56 indicates whether or not the compressed audio file is in a state of being discarded in the trash box, that is, whether or not the file is a deletion candidate. “1” indicates that it is set as a deletion candidate, and “0” indicates that it is not set as a deletion candidate. The number of plays 57 indicates the number of times that the compressed audio file has been played in the past.

  Since the playlist DB is configured as described above, for example, the operation unit 11 is operated by the user of the home audio device A2 in step S12 of FIG. 4, and the operation signal output from the operation unit 11 is displayed. Accordingly, when the playlist a in the DB is selected, the path 53 that is the storage location of the compressed audio file set as the playlist a is referred to, and the compressed file is successively played back sequentially.

  In the path value registered in the path 53 of FIG. 6, the drive “F” indicates the portable audio device A1 viewed from the home audio device A2. As described above, when a compressed audio file whose path drive registered in the path 53 is “F” is reproduced, the file to be reproduced is acquired from the portable audio device A1 via the USB cable C1, and the home It is reproduced by the audio device A2.

  As described above, the home audio device A2 can reproduce the compressed audio file stored in the portable audio device A1 according to the playlist stored in the portable audio device A1. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the trouble of creating a playlist again for playing back the compressed audio file stored in the portable audio device A1 by the home audio device A2.

  In addition, information regarding each file such as information on a compressed audio file that is a deletion candidate and information on the number of times the compressed audio file has been played in the past can be shared between different audio devices.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a control flow of processing performed by the system microcomputer 12 of the home audio device A2 when the playlist stored in the portable audio A1 is updated or registered by the home audio device A2 will be described. To do.

  First, if it is detected that the USB storage is connected to the external I / F 13 via the USB cable C1 (step S21; Yes), that is, if it is detected that the portable audio device A1 is connected, step Proceed to S22.

  When it is not detected that the USB storage is connected to the external I / F 13 via the USB cable C1 (step S21; No), the process waits until it is detected.

  Next, a request for registering the compressed audio file stored in the storage unit 1 or the portable audio device A1 in the playlist is received by the operation of the operation unit 11 by the user of the home audio device A2 (step S22).

  Next, when there is a playlist DB in the portable audio device A1 (step S23; Yes), a playlist DB stored in a predetermined area in the portable audio device A1 according to the content of the request received in step S22. Is updated (step S24), and this process ends.

  If the playlist DB does not exist in the portable audio device A1 (step S23; No), a playlist DB is newly created according to the content of the request received in step S22, and a predetermined list in the portable audio device A1 is created. This DB is recorded in this area (step S25), and this process ends.

  7 and 8 show an example of the data structure when the home DB A2 is updated and the playlist DB created in step S25 in FIG. 5 is acquired by the home audio device A2.

  In FIG. 7, a path whose drive is “C” is registered in the path 61 of the record whose file name 61 is “file3”. Here, the drive C indicates the own device, that is, the home audio device A2.

  As described above, the home audio device A2 can create or update a playlist that can be shared with other audio devices, and the user of the home audio device A2 can select different audio devices according to the information registered as the playlist. Compressed audio files stored in can be played. Therefore, the user can view the audio without being aware of which audio device the compressed audio file is stored in.

  In FIG. 8, a path whose drive is “E” is registered in the path 72 of the record whose file name 71 is “file3” or “file5”. Here, the drive E indicates a device (for example, a car audio device A3) other than the home audio device A2 or the portable audio device A1.

  In the state where the home audio device A2 and the portable audio A1 are connected, when the compressed audio file is reproduced according to the information registered in the playlist as shown in FIG. 8, the file name 71 is “file3” or “file5”. A compressed audio file is played based on a playlist that excludes a certain record. The compressed audio file indicated by the record whose file name 71 is “file3” or “file5” is stored in the car audio device A3 that is not connected to the home audio device A2 or the portable audio A1, and therefore is not reproduced.

  By making it possible to create such a playlist, the user of the home audio device A2 can play back the compressed audio file stored in a different audio device according to the information registered as the playlist, Furthermore, since the file is reproduced based on the contents of the playlist that excludes the information related to the compressed audio file stored in the audio device that is not connected, it is possible to view the audio without any trouble.

[Modification]
In the present embodiment, the playlist DB stored in the portable audio device A1 is shared with other audio devices. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and is stored in another form of storage such as a USB flash memory. It is good also as sharing DB of the playlist made.

  In the present embodiment, the home audio device A2 can create or update a playlist that can be shared with other audio devices stored in the portable audio device A1, but the portable audio device A1 also uses the playlist. It is good also as what can be created or updated.

  In the present embodiment, an example of a playlist for reproducing a compressed audio file has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and audio data of other formats may be used.

  Further, the play list for playing back video content such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) is not limited to audio content, and may be shared between video playback devices.

[effect]
As described above, the home audio device A2 can reproduce the compressed audio file stored in the portable audio device A1 according to the contents of the playlist stored in the portable audio device A1. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the trouble of creating a playlist again for playing back the compressed audio file stored in the portable audio device A1 by the home audio device A2.

  In addition, information regarding each file such as information on a compressed audio file that is a deletion candidate and information on the number of times the compressed audio file has been played in the past can be shared between different audio devices.

  In addition, the user of the home audio device A2 can play back the compressed audio file stored in a different audio device according to the information registered as a playlist. Therefore, the user can view the audio without being aware of which audio device the compressed audio file is stored in.

  Further, since the file is reproduced based on the contents of the playlist that excludes the information related to the compressed audio file stored in the audio device that is not connected, it is possible to view the audio without any trouble.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of a content reproduction system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a home audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the control which the system microcomputer of a home audio apparatus performs when a USB cable is connected to the home audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the control which the system microcomputer of a home audio apparatus performs when a compression audio file is reproduced | regenerated by a home audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the control which the system microcomputer of a home audio apparatus performs when the playlist stored in the portable audio apparatus is updated or registered by the home audio apparatus. It is a table which shows the example of DB of a play list. It is a table which shows the example of DB of a play list. It is a table which shows the example of DB of a play list.

Explanation of symbols

100 Content Playback System A1 Portable Audio Device A2 Home Audio Device A3 Car Audio Device C1 USB Cable 1 Storage Unit 2 Analog Audio Input Unit 3 CD Mechanical Unit 4 Selector 5 ADC
6 DSP
7 DAC
8 Amplifier unit 9 Speaker 10 Display unit 11 Operation unit 12 System microcomputer 12a ROM
12b RAM
13 External I / F

Claims (7)

The first playback device and the second playback device are connected to each other;
The first playback device stores content data and playlist data;
The content reproduction system characterized in that the second reproduction device comprises reproduction means for reproducing content data in accordance with the contents of playlist data stored in the first reproduction device. The second playback device
Storage means for storing content data;
The content playback system according to claim 1, wherein the playlist data stored in the first playback device includes information on the content data stored in the storage unit. When the reproduction means reproduces the content data according to the contents of the playlist data stored in the first reproduction apparatus, the reproduction means stores information on the content data stored in addition to the first reproduction apparatus and the storage means. The content reproduction system according to claim 2, wherein the content data is reproduced in accordance with the contents of the removed playlist data. The said 2nd reproducing | regenerating apparatus is provided with the play list production | generation means which produces | generates the play list data which can be shared with the other reproducing | regenerating apparatuses containing the said 1st reproducing | regenerating apparatus. The content reproduction system according to claim 1. Connection means connectable to an external playback device for storing content data and playlist data;
Reproduction means for reproducing content data in accordance with the contents of playlist data included in an external reproduction device connected by the connection means;
A content playback apparatus comprising: A content playback method, wherein content data is played back according to the contents of playlist data acquired from an external playback device that stores content data and playlist data. Connection means for connecting the computer to an external playback device for storing content data and playlist data;
Reproducing means for reproducing content data in accordance with the contents of the playlist data acquired from the connecting means;
Program to function as.

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