JP2008293276A - Digital cinema reproduction system, showing suspension corresponding method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the dissatisfaction of a spectator by restoring a showing device in which any failure is generated, and by performing proper processing according to a showing suspension time upon the showing suspension of a digital cinema. <P>SOLUTION: A digital cinema reproduction device 10 is provided with a main unit 100 for reproducing a digital cinema and a backup unit 200 which can be operated independently of the main unit 100. The main unit 100 is provided with a monitoring part 140 for detecting the generation of a small error by monitoring the operating status of a main unit itself and a recovery processing part 150 for restarting at least a portion of the main unit according to the generation of a small error. A backup unit 200 is provided with a monitor part 240 for detecting the generation of a large error by monitoring the operating statue of the main unit; a restoration processing part 250 for restarting the whole main unit according to the generation of a large error; and a suspension countermeasures processing part 260 for performing processing for facilitating countermeasures to the showing suspension according to the expected restoration time of the main unit when an error is generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital cinema playback apparatus, a screening interruption handling method, and a program, and in particular, when a screening needs to be temporarily interrupted due to a malfunction of a screening apparatus in a movie theater, The present invention relates to a digital cinema playback device and the like for reducing dissatisfaction.

  Conventionally, when a screening trouble occurs in a film-based movie theater, a screening supervisor has resumed the screening by performing recovery work. There were many mechanical factors such as running out of film and entanglement with reels as a cause of screening problems. When dealing with such screening troubles, screening supervisors were required to have skills that required skill, such as connecting pieces of film that were cut immediately.

  In recent years, the environment surrounding movies has changed from film to digital due to advances in digital technology. In recent years, there have been a number of screening theaters that have introduced screening devices such as digital projectors and screening servers. The era of full-fledged digital cinema is coming. This digital cinema is a movie produced using video equipment rather than a film camera for shooting, or a movie that does not use film for screening and distribution. The digitalization of such movies has various advantages, such as reducing the number of film distributors as much as cash transport, the ease of editing, and the reduction of screening observers through automation. Is expected to be replaced.

  A screening server for digital cinema and a general-purpose server have a difference in quality of results to be output after processing and a time limit required for obtaining the results, but their basic structures are the same. In general-purpose computers, priority is given to outputting data completely and reliably without errors, but the time limit until the result is required is loose (allows large fluctuations). On the other hand, even if a part of the entire output data is somewhat uncertain data, the screening server rather reproduces the playback data at a constant flow rate (for example, 24 FPS in the case of a movie) so that humans feel it as a moving image. The structure emphasizes that continuous output is possible.

  However, in any of the methods, the overall result is the same as the result of enormous series of processing requests to various computing resources such as CPU, memory, data, and magnetic disk under the control of the OS. The individual processing demands differ in the quality of the result and the time limit threshold for finding it. In movie screening, even if the image quality temporarily declines, it is less likely that the audience will be dissatisfied if the screening is continuous even if it is temporarily interrupted.Therefore, in the screening server, if the output of the playback data is not in time, Even if the quality is somewhat bad, it will be output without waiting.

  In general, when a failure occurs in a server, the user tends to attempt to restore the server by empirically restarting (resetting) the server and initializing the use state of internal computing resources. This is often effective in many situations, even for temporary recovery. In particular, when a paid service such as digital cinema is performed using a computer, the recovery method by restarting the server is more prominent because the service itself is required to be continued and quickly recovered by any means. Tend to apply.

  A typical example of a problem that is temporarily recovered by resetting the server itself is a memory leak problem due to a design error. Memory leak problems tend not to surface if the device has not been operating for a long time, but once it occurs, once the system is restarted, the memory is reset and can be used again for some time. Such a recovery operation by restarting the server is simpler than the mechanical countermeasures in the conventional film system, and thus does not require special skills. It is also possible to automatically restart the server by determining the type of failure from the error status.

  In addition, as a technique for coping with a display trouble, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for resuming a display by determining a playback restart position when a power interruption occurs during a display in a digital cinema screening device. ing.

JP 2006-331480 A

  By the way, when a screening interruption occurs due to a screening problem such as a problem with a screening server, it is required to reduce as much as possible the dissatisfaction of the audience who is the victim of the service degradation. If the dissatisfaction of the audience due to the interruption of the screening increases, in some cases, a request for refund of the movie ticket from the audience occurs, which becomes a factor that presses on the management. Therefore, when the screening is interrupted, it is of course possible to restore the screening server where the problem occurred as soon as possible and resume the screening, but in addition to that, explanation of the situation to the audience during the screening interruption until the screening server recovers It is necessary to reduce customer dissatisfaction effectively by taking measures such as

  However, in the conventional screening system, when a recovery process is performed by restarting the screening server in the event of a screening problem, there is no provision for effectively suppressing audience dissatisfaction due to the screening interruption. The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 discloses that a restoration process is resumed in response to a power interruption of the screening device and the screening is resumed, but there is no disclosure about how to respond to the audience during the screening interruption.

  Furthermore, although various problems may occur in the screening device, since the recovery method of the screening device differs depending on the type of the problem, the time required for the recovery of the screening device also varies. Therefore, when the screening is interrupted, it is preferable to change the response to the audience according to the time until the recovery of the screening device (that is, the screening interruption time).

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to restore a malfunctioning screening device when a digital cinema screening is interrupted and to respond to the screening interruption time. It is to reduce the dissatisfaction of the audience by performing appropriate processing.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a main unit that reproduces digital cinema content data stored in a storage device; and a backup unit that can operate independently of the main unit; A digital cinema playback device is provided. The main unit monitors the operating state of the main unit itself, and detects a small error that accompanies interruption of the content data reproduction process in the main unit; And a first recovery processing unit that restarts at least a part of the main unit in which the small error has occurred. The backup unit monitors the operating state of the main unit and detects a large error that cannot be recovered by the main unit itself; and the entire main unit according to the occurrence of the large error A second recovery processing section that restarts the digital cinema; when the digital cinema is interrupted due to the occurrence of the small error or the large error, the digital cinema is interrupted according to the expected recovery time of the main unit And an interruption handling processing unit that performs predetermined interruption handling processing for performing the above.

  With this configuration, during the digital cinema screening, the main unit monitors the operation state of the main unit itself, and the backup unit monitors the operation state of the main unit. When the main unit detects the occurrence of a small error accompanying interruption of the content data reproduction process in the main unit, the main unit restarts at least a part of the main unit in which the small error has occurred. Alternatively, when the backup unit detects the occurrence of a large error that cannot be recovered by the main unit itself, the backup unit restarts the entire main unit. Furthermore, when a digital cinema screening is interrupted due to the occurrence of a small error or a large error, a predetermined interrupt handling process for responding to the screening interruption of the digital cinema is performed according to the expected recovery time of the small error or large error in the main unit. Do. Accordingly, it is possible to automatically detect the occurrence of an error in the main unit and automatically execute a process for recovering the error. Furthermore, by executing an appropriate interruption handling process according to the expected time of error, it is possible to reduce the dissatisfaction of the audience during the interruption of the screening of the digital cinema.

  The backup unit further includes an error information storage unit that stores error information that associates the type of error that can occur in the main unit and the expected recovery time of the error, and the interruption handling processing unit includes: Based on the error information, an expected recovery time of the small error or the large error that has occurred in the main unit is obtained, and one of a plurality of types of the interruption handling processes is selected according to the expected recovery time. May be executed. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately estimate the expected recovery time of the error that has occurred in the main unit, and to execute appropriate interruption handling processing according to the screening interruption time.

  Further, the interruption handling processing unit may control one or more screening-related devices connected to the digital cinema playback device as the interruption handling processing. Thereby, in order to cope with the interruption of the screening, the screening-related device can be operated to reduce the dissatisfaction of the audience in the theater.

  In addition, the interruption handling process includes a process of displaying an image corresponding to the interruption of the screening of the digital cinema on a screen, a process of outputting sound corresponding to the interruption of the exhibition of the digital cinema from a speaker, At least one of control processing of a projector that projects an image, audio mute processing of the digital cinema, opening / closing control processing of a curtain device that covers the screen, and control processing of an illumination device provided in the theater showing the digital cinema You may make it perform. Thereby, it is possible to select and execute an appropriate process according to the expected recovery time from the plurality of types of interruption handling processes.

  Further, the interruption handling processing unit performs interruption handling processing for providing an audience with video or audio for responding to the screening interruption of the digital cinema when the large error occurs, and when the small error occurs, the video Or you may make it perform the interruption corresponding | compatible process which does not provide an audio | voice to a spectator. As a result, in the case of a small error with a relatively short recovery time, the processing for providing video or audio to the audience is not executed, and only when a large error has a relatively long recovery time, Video or audio can be provided to the audience to reduce audience dissatisfaction.

  The main unit and the backup unit may be provided in the same casing or in separate casings.

  The first recovery processing unit may restart some processes or devices in which the small error has occurred in the main unit. As a result, only a necessary part of the main unit in which a small error has occurred can be quickly recovered.

  In addition, the second recovery processing unit may restart the hardware of the entire main unit. Thereby, the main unit in which the large error has occurred can be recovered appropriately.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a main unit for reproducing digital cinema content data stored in a storage device, and a backup unit operable independently of the main unit A method for responding to a screening interruption in a digital cinema playback device comprising: monitoring the operating state of the main unit itself with the main unit during the screening of the digital cinema, and operating the main unit with the backup unit A monitoring step for monitoring a state; at least a part of the main unit in which the minor error has occurred when the main unit detects the occurrence of a minor error accompanied by interruption of the content data reproduction process in the main unit; Or restart the A recovery step of restarting the entire main unit when the occurrence of a large error that cannot be recovered by the main unit itself is detected by a backup unit; and the digital cinema associated with the occurrence of the small error or the large error A suspension handling step of performing a predetermined suspension handling process for dealing with the interruption of the digital cinema according to the expected recovery time of the main unit when the presentation is suspended. Is provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a main unit for reproducing digital cinema content data stored in a storage device, and a backup unit operable independently of the main unit In the computer of the digital cinema playback apparatus comprising: monitoring during monitoring of the main unit itself by the main unit and monitoring of the main unit by the backup unit during the digital cinema screening A step of restarting at least a part of the main unit in which the small error has occurred when the main unit detects the occurrence of a small error accompanied by interruption of the reproduction processing of the content data in the main unit; Alternatively, the backup unit A recovery step for restarting the entire main unit when the main unit detects the occurrence of a large error that cannot be recovered by the main unit itself; and showing the digital cinema when the small error or the large error occurs A program for executing an interrupt handling step for performing a predetermined interrupt handling process for responding to the screening interruption of the digital cinema according to the expected recovery time of the main unit at the time of interruption is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the screening of the digital cinema is interrupted, the screening device in which the problem has occurred is recovered, and the dissatisfaction of the audience can be reduced by performing an appropriate process according to the screening interruption time.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

  First, a screening system for screening a digital cinema according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a screening system according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the screening system according to the present embodiment is installed in a theater (movie theater, drive theater, etc.) that screens a digital cinema, for example. This screening system includes a screening server 10 that plays back a digital cinema (corresponding to a digital cinema playback device), a projector 22 that projects a digital cinema video played back by the screening server 10 on a screen 26, and a screening server 10. A speaker 24 for outputting the reproduced digital cinema sound, a screen 26 on which the image of the digital cinema is projected by the projector 22, an openable / closable curtain device 28 covering the screen 26, and an illumination installed in the theater And a device 29. The projector 22 and the speaker 24 are connected to the screening server 10 by wire or wireless, for example, and output digital cinema video or audio. The curtain device 28 and the lighting device 29 are also connected to the screening server 10 by wire or wirelessly, and the curtain device 28 and the lighting device 29 can be controlled by the screening server 10.

  For the realization of digital cinema, in addition to video and audio technology to faithfully reproduce the image and sound intended by the filmmaker, color space conversion, compression processing and encryption processing for copyright protection, etc. It is necessary to produce data in a format called a digital cinema package (DCP) that conforms to specifications proposed by the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI), an organization established by a large studio. Currently, for example, 4k (4096 × 2160 pixels) and 2k (2048 × 1080 pixels) are defined as the DCP screen size. Such DCP includes digital cinema content data (video data, audio data, and / or caption data), and management data (asset map), volume index, and packing for managing the content data. A list (Packing List), a composition play list (Composition Play List), and the like.

  Such a DCP is created by a DCP creation server (not shown) installed in a digital cinema production company, distribution company, or distribution company. The DCP creation server is necessary for processing the digital cinema material data (video processing, compression encoding, encryption, etc.) and playing back the encrypted DCP and the encrypted DCP for the digital cinema. Key information is created. The DCP and key information created by this DCP creation server are distributed to each theater shown in FIG. 1 from a distribution company or distribution company. Examples of this distribution method include conveyance using a removable recording medium (removable medium) and distribution via a network. In the theater to which the DCP and key information are distributed, the content data in the DCP is reproduced by a screening system to display a digital cinema.

  The screening server 10 acquires the DCP and key information distributed from the DCP creation server, and an information storage device (not shown) corresponding to the external storage device 30 of FIG. The acquired DCP and key information are ingested and stored. This information storage device is composed of a large-capacity storage device capable of storing a large amount of data related to digital cinema, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD). This information storage device may be built in the screening server 10 or may be externally attached. Further, the screening server 10 reproduces the content data such as the video, audio, and / or subtitles stored in the information storage device, that is, decrypts (decrypts) and decompresses (decodes) the content data using the key information.

  The digital cinema video and subtitle data reproduced by the screening server 10 is projected onto the screen 26 by the projector 22, and the reproduced digital cinema audio data is output from the speaker 24. In this way, the digital cinema is screened by the screening system, and the audience in the theater can view the digital cinema screened. At the time of screening, the curtain device 28 is set in an open state without covering the screen 26, and the lighting device 29 is turned off or darkened so as not to prevent the digital cinema from being displayed.

  Only one projector 22 or a plurality of projectors 22 may be provided. In the case where a plurality of projectors 22 are provided, the main video of the digital cinema and the video such as a trailer and advertisements that are screened before the main video can be displayed on different projectors. The lighting device 29 includes, for example, not only main lighting and indirect lighting provided in the theater, but also lighting for illuminating the feet and passages of the audience, emergency exit guide lights, and the like.

  The schematic configuration of the screening system according to the present embodiment has been described above. In such a screening system, a malfunction (error) may occur in the screening server 10 during the digital cinema screening, the digital cinema playback process may be interrupted, and the digital cinema screening may be interrupted.

  For example, when playing digital cinema content data, the memory of the main storage device of the screening server 10 is secured and various data are buffered. At this time, the data is stored in the memory due to a program design error or the like. If the routine for releasing the data is not executed, the free space of the memory is exhausted, and the reproduction process may stop. In addition, due to an increase in the processing load on the screening server 10 or the like, the computer of the screening server 10 may freeze and the playback process may stop. As described above, various errors may occur in the screening server 10. Originally, it is ideal to design the screening server 10 perfectly so that there is no such error, but in reality, it is difficult to eliminate all errors at the time of design, and unexpected errors are unavoidable. appear.

  Therefore, in order to cope with the interruption of the screening of the digital cinema due to the occurrence of such an error, the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment always monitors the occurrence of a malfunction (error) of the screening server 10 during the screening, and an error occurs. Is detected, a part of the screening server 10 in which a malfunction has occurred (for example, a screening-related process or device in which an error has occurred) is restarted, or the hardware of the entire screening server 10 is forcibly restarted (“ Recovery process such as “Reset” is also performed automatically. Thereby, the screening server 10 in which the error has occurred can be automatically recovered and the screening can be resumed. Further, during the screening interruption, the screening server 10 executes a process corresponding to the screening interruption in conjunction with the recovery process of the screening server 10 as described above, thereby reducing anxiety and dissatisfaction of the audience accompanying the screening interruption. I am doing so. This interruption handling process includes, for example, a process of notifying the audience of a guide or a recovery time for a screening interruption by video or audio, or a control process for a screening related apparatus such as the projector 22, speaker 24, curtain device 28, or lighting device 29. Etc. Below, the structure of the screening server 10 for performing the above recovery processes and interruption handling processes will be described.

  Before describing the hardware configuration (see FIG. 3) of the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment, first, the hardware configuration of a general screening server will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a general screening server.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a general screening server includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a main storage device 12, a network control device 13, a drive 14, a magnetic storage device 15, and a video decoding device. 16, an audio decoding device 17, a terminal control device 18, a power supply device 19, and a local bus that interconnects these devices.

  The CPU 11 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, and controls each device in the screening server. The CPU 11 executes various processes according to a program stored in the main storage device 12 or a program loaded from the magnetic storage device 15 to the main storage device 12. The main storage device 12 is composed of various memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores programs used by the CPU 11, parameters that change as appropriate in the execution, and the like. The main storage device 12 also functions as a buffer for reducing access from the CPU 11 to the magnetic storage device 15. The main storage device 12 operates various software processing entities.

  The network control device 13 is a communication device configured with, for example, a communication device for connecting the screening server to a network such as a LAN. The network control device 13 transmits and receives various data between the screening server and an external device via a LAN or the like. The network control device 13 is used to monitor the operation of the screening server by externally controlling the network. The network control device 13 is also used when digital cinema content data (DCP) is received from an external device connected to the screening server via a network and ingested into the screening server.

  The drive 14 is loaded with a removable recording medium. Examples of the removable recording medium include a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, an optical disk such as a next-generation DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, and magneto-optical disk, or various semiconductor memories. Any recording medium can be used. The drive 14 writes / reads various data such as digital cinema content data, logs (reproduction logs, etc.), configuration information, etc., on a recording medium mounted on the screening server. Specifically, the drive 14 reads data recorded on a detachable recording medium and supplies the data to the main storage device 12 connected via the local bus. The CPU 11 stores these data in the magnetic storage device 15 or the like as necessary. On the other hand, the drive 14 receives data stored in the main storage device 12 or the magnetic storage device 15, newly generated data, or data acquired from an external device from the CPU 11 and writes it to a removable recording medium. Using the drive 14, various data stored in a removable recording medium can be read out. With such a drive 14, the content data and information key of the digital cinema can be ingested off-line into the screening server.

  The magnetic storage device 15 is an example of an information storage device that stores digital cinema content data. For example, the magnetic storage device 15 includes an HDD that uses a hard disk as a storage medium. The magnetic storage device 15 stores various data such as a program executed by the CPU 11, digital cinema content data, a log (reproduction log, etc.), and configuration information.

  The video decoding device 16 decompresses (decodes) video data compressed and encoded by a predetermined compression encoding method (for example, JPEG2000: Joint Photographic Experts Group 2000), and outputs the video data to the projector 22. In addition, the audio decoding device 17 expands (decodes) audio data that has been compression-encoded in a predetermined compression encoding format (for example, WAV), and outputs the audio data to the speaker 24. The video decoding device 16 and the audio decoding device 17 can reproduce the video and audio of the digital cinema.

  The terminal control device 18 is connected to, for example, an input device such as a mouse, keyboard, touch panel, button, switch, or lever, or a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device or a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The terminal control device 18 is used to monitor the operation by locally controlling the screening server using the input device and the display device. By operating the input device, the user can input various data and instruct processing operations to the screening server via the terminal control device 18. The power supply device 19 supplies power to each device in the screening server.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment schematically includes a main unit 100 (screening device system), a backup unit 200 (management device system), and a sharing unit 300 (shared device system). It consists of and. As described above, the screening server 10 is roughly divided into three processing units.

  The main unit 100 mainly has a function of playing back digital cinema content stored in the external storage device 30 in order to screen a digital cinema. The main unit 100 is a unit dedicated to digital cinema playback processing, and is substantially the same as the configuration of the general screening server described above (see FIG. 2) except for the points described below. Further, the main unit 100 has a self-diagnosis function, that is, a function of monitoring the operating state of the main unit 100 itself and detecting the occurrence of a small error in the main unit 100 itself (first monitoring process). When the main unit 100 generates a small error in the main unit 100 and interrupts the playback process, the main unit 100 restarts the process or device in which the small error has occurred in the main unit 100, thereby reproducing the main unit 100. The process is recovered (first recovery process).

  The backup unit 200 is a processing unit that can operate independently of the main unit 100 and mainly has a function of monitoring and controlling the state of the main unit 100. The backup unit 200 has a function of monitoring the operation of the main unit 100 and detecting the occurrence of a large error in the main unit 100 (second monitoring process). Then, when a large error occurs in the main unit 100 and the reproduction process is interrupted, the backup unit 200 restores the reproduction process in the main unit 100 by restarting the entire main unit 100 (second recovery). processing). Further, the backup unit 200 executes a screening interruption process in response to the digital cinema screening interruption described above in conjunction with the recovery process of the main unit 100. At this time, the backup unit 200 can selectively use a plurality of types of screening interruption processes according to the expected recovery time of the main unit 100.

  As described above, the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment includes the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200 as processing systems that can operate independently of each other. It is possible to stably and accurately execute the failure detection and recovery processing of the unit 100 and the interruption handling processing related to the screening interruption accompanying the failure.

  The shared unit 300 is a unit that collectively includes devices shared by the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200. Providing such a shared unit 300 is efficient because it is not necessary to redundantly install devices having the same functional configuration in the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200, and it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the screening server 10. Can contribute. Hereinafter, the main unit 100, the backup unit 200, and the shared unit 300 will be described in detail.

  First, the main unit 100 will be described. The main unit 100 includes, for example, a CPU 111, a main storage device 112, a network control device 113, a drive 114, a decryption device 115, a connection device 116 to which the external storage device 30 is connected, and a movie video decoding device 117. A movie audio decoding device 118, a movie subtitle decoding device 119, and a video subtitle superimposing device 120. Among them, the CPU 111, the main storage device 112, the network control device 113, and the drive 114 have substantially the same functional configuration as the CPU 11, the main storage device 12, the network control device 13, and the drive 14 in FIG. Detailed description is omitted.

  The network control device 113 of the main unit 100 can send and receive various data to and from the backup unit 200 or the LAN via the internal network hub device 301 of the sharing unit 300.

  The connection device 116 is a connection port for connecting the screening server 10 to an external device such as the external storage device 30 and has a connection terminal such as USB or IEEE1394. By connecting the screening server 10 to the external storage device 30 via the connection device 116 and the wired cable, various contents such as digital cinema content data and control signals are displayed between the screening server 10 and the external storage device 30. Data can be communicated.

  Here, the external storage device 30 is an example of an information storage device that stores data relating to a digital cinema, and is configured by a magnetic storage device such as an HDD, for example. Since the data amount of digital cinema is generally large, a large-capacity external storage device capable of storing such digital cinema data is used as the external storage device 90. From this viewpoint, as the external storage device 30, a storage device (so-called RAID device) using RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks), which is a technique for managing a plurality of hard disks as one hard disk, is used. The external storage device 30 holds digital cinema content data (DCP) ingested in the screening server 10. The content data stored in the external storage device 30 is generally compressed and encoded data. The information storage device for storing digital cinema content data is not limited to the example of the external storage device 30 described above, and a storage device using a large-capacity optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like as a storage medium may be used. The information storage device may be built in the screening server 10.

  In order to protect the security of the digital cinema, the decryption device 115 performs a process of decrypting (decrypting) the encrypted content data when the content data is encrypted. At this time, the decryption device 115 decrypts the encrypted video data, audio data, and the like using the key information legitimately acquired from the distribution company.

  The movie video decoding device 117 expands (decodes) video data compression-encoded by a predetermined compression encoding method (for example, JPEG2000). Also, the movie subtitle decoding device 119 decompresses (decodes) subtitle data that has been compression-encoded by a predetermined compression-encoding method, and outputs it at an appropriate timing suitable for the video. The video data image and the subtitle data image thus decoded are superimposed by the video subtitle superimposing device 120 and then output to the projector 22 via the video output device 302. Also, the movie audio decoding device 118 decompresses (decodes) audio data compression-encoded in a predetermined compression encoding format (for example, WAV), and outputs it to the speaker 24 via the audio output device 303.

  When the CPU 111 of the main unit 100 receives a reset request (instruction for forcibly restarting the hardware of the entire main unit 100) from the reset requesting device 216 of the backup unit 200, the CPU 111 restarts the entire main unit 100 ( Reboot) is retained. In addition, the CPU 111 executes the first monitoring process and the first recovery process. When a small error occurs in the main unit 100, the CPU 111 causes the backup unit 200 to reproduce the main unit 100 itself via the network control device 113. It has a function of notifying information such as status, trouble status, and error type (for example, error code).

  According to the main unit 100 of the screening server 10 configured as described above, a removable recording medium is attached to the drive 114 of the screening server 10, digital cinema content data is read from the removable recording medium, and the screening is performed. Ingest can be performed in the external storage device 30 connected to the server 10. The network control device 113 of the main unit 100 can receive digital cinema content data via a network such as a LAN and ingest it into the external storage device 30. In addition, the screening server 10 reproduces digital cinema content data stored in the external storage device 30 using the decryption device 115, movie video decoding device 117, movie audio decoding device 118, movie subtitle decoding device 119, and the like. And digital cinema can be screened.

  Next, the backup unit 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The backup unit 200 includes, for example, a CPU 211, a main storage device 212, a network control device 213, an internal magnetic storage device 214, an external device control device 215, a video decoding device 217, and an audio decoding device 218. . Among them, the CPU 211, the main storage device 212, and the network control device 213 have substantially the same functional configuration as the CPU 11, the main storage device 12, and the network control device 13 shown in FIG. .

  The CPU 211 monitors the operating state of the main unit 100 and controls the main unit 100 as necessary, that is, executes the above-described second monitoring process and second recovery process. Specifically, the CPU 211 constantly monitors the operation state of the main unit 100 via the network control device 213, the internal network hub device 301, and the network control device 113 of the main unit 100, and performs a reproduction process or the like on the main unit 100. It is determined whether any of the above problems have occurred. As a result of this monitoring, when it is determined that a problem (a large error) has occurred in the main unit 100 that prevents the continuation of the screening, the CPU 211 causes the CPU 111 of the main unit 100 to perform the hardware of the entire main unit 100. The reset request device 216 is instructed to output a reset request (restart instruction) for instructing to perform the restart. As a result, the entire main unit 100 is restarted and the large error is recovered.

  In addition, when a digital cinema screening is interrupted due to an error in the main unit 100, the CPU 211 executes a predetermined interrupt handling process for responding to the digital cinema screening interruption. For example, when a small error occurrence notification is received from the CPU 111 of the main unit 100 when a small error occurs in the main unit 100, the CPU 211 executes a predetermined interruption handling process according to the expected recovery time of the small error. When the occurrence of a major error in the main unit 100 is detected, the CPU 211 executes a predetermined interruption handling process according to the expected recovery time of the major error. Data used for the interruption handling process (data related to the interruption of the screening of the digital cinema) is stored in the internal magnetic storage device 214.

  The internal magnetic storage device 214 is an example of an information storage device that stores data (hereinafter referred to as “interrupt correspondence data”) corresponding to the interruption of the screening of the digital cinema. For example, a magnetic field such as an HDD built in the screening server 10 is stored. Consists of storage devices. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the storage device that stores the interruption handling data may be a storage device that uses an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like as a storage medium. The storage device may be externally attached to the screening server 10. The interruption correspondence data stored in the internal magnetic storage device 214 is video or audio data related to the interruption of the presentation. For example, various types of information provided to the audience at the interruption of the presentation due to an error in the main unit 100 , Content etc.

  The internal magnetic storage device 214 can also store log information related to an error (screening accident) of the main unit 100. Further, the internal magnetic storage device 214 may store error information in advance. The error information is a table that associates an error type (for example, an error code) with an expected recovery time (for example, an average value of error recovery times obtained from past results) until the error is recovered. . As a result, the CPU 211 can estimate the expected recovery time of the error that has occurred based on the error information, and can select an interruption handling process suitable for the expected recovery time.

  Also, the video decoding device 218 expands the compressed data of the interruption-capable video data stored in the internal magnetic storage device 214 based on an instruction from the CPU 211, and uses the expanded video data as the video output device 302 of the sharing unit 300. Output to. Similarly, the audio decoding device 219 expands the compressed data of the interruption-corresponding audio data stored in the internal magnetic storage device 214 based on an instruction from the CPU 211, and uses the expanded audio data as the audio output device of the sharing unit 300. It outputs to 303. As a result, the video and audio of the interruption correspondence data are output from the projector 22 and the speaker 24. In this way, when the digital cinema screening is interrupted, the CPU 211 displays the video data of the interrupt corresponding data stored in the internal magnetic storage device 214 or outputs the audio data, for example. It is possible to perform interruption handling processing, thereby reducing the audience's anxiety and dissatisfaction with the interruption of the screening.

  Further, the external device control device 215 controls the screening related devices (for example, the projector 22, the speaker 24, the curtain device 28, the lighting device 29, etc.) connected to the screening server 10 based on an instruction from the CPU 211. . Specifically, the external device control device 215 uses a sequencer that controls the screening-related devices in the theater according to a procedure prepared in advance when an error occurs in the main unit 100 or during the screening based on an instruction from the CPU 211. The following control is performed. The theater-related devices in the theater are devices (curtain device 28, lighting device 29, etc.) that have been available since the old analog film base that cannot be connected to a network. The sequencer is a control device based on a simple method in which a plurality of contacts are short-circuited and opened in a predetermined order.

  For example, when controlling the curtain device 28, the external device control device 215 opens the curtain at the start of the screening, and controls the opening of the curtain when switching from cinema advertisement (advertising video) or trailer to the main part of digital cinema. Adjust and control to close the curtain at the end of the screening. Also, when controlling the lighting device 28, the external device control device 215 dims the lighting at the start of the screening so that the movie can be favorably watched, and when the screening is interrupted, the external device control device 215 slightly increases the lighting in the theater. Panic in the dark, and at the end of the show, the lights are brightened to make it easier for the audience to leave the theater.

  Next, the sharing unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG. The shared unit 300 is composed of a group of devices shared by the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200 described above. The sharing unit 300 includes an internal network hub device 301, a video output device 302, an audio output device 303, a terminal control device 304, and a power supply device 305.

  The internal network hub device 301 connects the network control device 113, the network control device 213, and an external LAN to each other to enable communication between the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200 and network communication of each unit. The video output device 302 outputs a video (a digital cinema video, a video of interruption correspondence data, etc.) to the external projector 22 or the like. The audio output device 303 outputs audio (digital cinema audio, interruption-compatible data audio, etc.) to the external speaker 24, sound processor, and the like.

  The terminal control device 304 has substantially the same functional configuration as the above-described terminal control device 18 (see FIG. 2), and enables local operation of the screening server 10 via a keyboard or a monitor. The power supply device 305 supplies power to both the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200.

  Since the backup unit 200 of the screening server 10 having the above-described configuration can operate independently of the main unit 100 that performs digital cinema playback processing, it continues even if an error occurs in the main unit 100. It is possible to operate. Therefore, the backup unit 200 constantly monitors the operation state of the main unit 100 during the digital cinema playback process by the main unit 100, and an error occurs in the main unit 100. In this case, the recovery process can be executed on the main unit 100, and an appropriate interruption handling process corresponding to the expected recovery time of the main unit 100 can be executed on the audience.

  Next, a hardware configuration of the screening server 10 according to the modified example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a screening server 10 according to a modification of the present embodiment.

  In the screening server 10 in FIG. 3 described above, the main unit 100, the backup unit 200, and the shared unit 300 are installed in the same casing, and are configured as one apparatus as a whole. On the other hand, in the screening server 10 shown in FIG. 4, the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200 described above are separately configured and installed in separate housings. The main unit 100 is provided with a connection port 126 and the backup unit 200 is provided with a connection port 226. By connecting the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200 by wire or wirelessly, data communication between both units can be performed. Yes.

  Further, in the screening server 10 of FIG. 4, each device (video output device 302, audio output device 303, terminal control device 304, power supply device 305, etc.) belonging to the shared unit 300 of FIG. Each backup unit 200 is provided. Specifically, the main unit 100 includes a video output device 122, an audio output device 123, a terminal control device 124, and a power supply device 125, and the backup unit 200 includes a video output device 222, an audio output device 223, and terminal control. A device 224 and a power supply device 225 are provided.

  As described above, in the screening server 10 shown in FIG. 4, the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200 are separated into separate devices. In such a configuration, the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200 can be connected to each other via a network such as a LAN. Therefore, the apparatus including the main unit 100 and the apparatus including the backup unit 200 are remotely located, and the main unit 100 can be remotely controlled / operated using the backup unit 200. In addition, the apparatus including the backup unit 200 can be configured by a general-purpose computer apparatus (such as a personal computer).

  Next, the functional configuration of the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram showing the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the screening server 10 includes the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200 described above. The main unit 100 includes a reproduction unit 130, a first monitoring unit 140, a first recovery processing unit 150, a communication unit 160, and a restart unit 170. On the other hand, the backup unit 200 includes a communication unit 230, a second monitoring unit 240, a second recovery processing unit 250, an interruption handling processing unit 260, an error information storage unit 270, and an interruption handling data storage unit 280. Is provided. The second recovery processing unit 250 corresponds to the reset request device 216 in FIG. 4 and the error information storage unit 270 and the interruption handling data storage unit 280 correspond to the internal magnetic storage device 214 in FIG.

  First, each part of the main unit 100 will be described. The reproduction unit 130 performs processing for reproducing digital cinema content data. The playback unit 130 is realized by the above-described CPU 111 in FIG. 2 executing a digital cinema playback program to control the decryption device 115, the decoding devices 117, 118, 119, and the like. The playback unit 130 reads compressed data (video, audio, caption data, etc.) of digital cinema content data from the external storage device 30 which is an example of a content storage unit, and uses the key information to output the compressed data of the content data. The decoded data is further decompressed and the compressed data of the decrypted content data is expanded to generate reproduction data (reproduction video data and reproduction audio data), and reproduction subtitle data is superimposed on the reproduction video data as necessary. Then, the playback unit 130 outputs the playback video data obtained in this way to the projector 22 and also outputs the playback audio data to the sound processor 21 or the speaker 24. The projector 22 projects the playback video data input from the screening server 10 on the screen 26 to display a movie video. In addition, the sound processor 21 performs audio processing on the reproduced audio data input from the screening server 10 as necessary, and outputs movie audio from the speaker 24.

  During the digital cinema playback process by the playback unit 130, that is, during the screening process by the main unit 100, the first monitoring unit 140 constantly monitors the operating state of the main unit 100 including the playback unit 130 performing the playback process. is doing. The first monitoring unit 140 monitors whether or not an error has occurred in a part of the main unit 100 (for example, the playback process or playback device of the playback unit 130). Here, the small error is an error that accompanies the interruption of digital cinema playback processing in the main unit 100 and is an error that can be recovered by the main unit 100 itself (see FIG. 6). Thus, the first monitoring unit 140 corresponds to a self-diagnosis unit that diagnoses the operation of the main unit 100 itself (whether a small error has occurred).

  Further, when the first monitoring unit 140 detects the occurrence of a small error in the main unit 100, the first monitoring unit 140 uses the information indicating the occurrence of the small error (for example, the type of error, the location where the error occurred) as the first recovery process. The first recovery processing unit 150 is instructed to resolve the small error in the main unit 100 and recover the reproduction processing of the main unit 100. Then, the first recovery processing unit 150 restarts the part where the error of the main unit 100 has occurred (for example, a part of the playback process or playback device of the playback unit 130). By partially restarting the main unit 100, most of the small errors are eliminated, and the main unit 100 can be restored to a reproducible state.

  Further, when the first monitoring unit 140 detects the occurrence of the small error, the first monitoring unit 140 transmits information indicating the occurrence of the small error to the interruption handling processing unit 260 of the backup unit 200 via the communication unit 160 and the communication unit 230. (For example, the type of error, the location where the error occurred, etc.) are notified. When receiving the small error occurrence notification, the interruption handling processing unit 260 executes a predetermined interruption handling process according to the expected recovery time of the small error, details of which will be described later. When the recovery process of the main unit 100 is completed and the digital cinema can be played back again, the first recovery processing unit 150 responds to the interruption of the backup unit 200 via the communication unit 160 and the communication unit 230. The processing unit 260 is notified of information indicating the resumption of screening. In response to this screening resumption notification, the interruption handling processing unit 260 ends the predetermined interruption handling process that has been executed in conjunction with the occurrence of the small error.

  In addition, when a major error occurs in the main unit 100, the restart unit 170 instructs the main unit 100 to restart from the second recovery processing unit 250 of the backup unit 200 via the communication unit 160 and the communication unit 230. When accepted, the hardware of the entire main unit 100 is forcibly restarted (reset) in order to eliminate the large error.

  The communication unit 160 of the main unit 100 transmits and receives various data and control signals to and from the communication unit 230 of the main unit 100.

  Next, each part of the backup unit 200 will be described. The second monitoring unit 240 can communicate with the main unit 100 via the communication unit 160 and the communication unit 230. The second monitoring unit 240 is based on the result of communication with the main unit 100 via the communication unit 160 and the communication unit 230 during the digital cinema content data reproduction process (during the screening of the digital cinema) by the main unit 100. Thus, the operating state of the main unit 100 is constantly monitored. Then, the second monitoring unit 240 detects the occurrence of a large error in the main unit 100 based on the communication result or an error code or message notified from the software of the main unit 100. This large error is an error that accompanies the interruption of reproduction processing in the main unit 100, and is an error that cannot be recovered by the main unit 100 itself (see FIG. 6). When the occurrence of such a large error is detected, the second monitoring unit 240 notifies the second recovery processing unit 250 and the interruption handling processing unit 260 of information indicating the occurrence of the large error.

  The second monitoring unit 240 can also detect the occurrence of a large error in the main unit 100 based on the communication result with the main unit 100. Here, the serious error is an error that cannot be recovered even if the entire main unit 100 is restarted (hardware reset), or an error in which the main unit 100 has failed to such an extent that it cannot be restarted. . The second monitoring unit 240 determines that a serious error has occurred in the main unit 100 when the main unit 100 does not recover even though the main unit 100 is forcibly restarted. Information indicating the occurrence of a serious error is notified to the interruption handling processing unit 260.

  When the second recovery processing unit 250 receives a notification of occurrence of a large error from the second monitoring unit 240, a reset instruction for restarting the entire main unit 100 is sent via the communication unit 160 and the communication unit 230. The restart unit 170 of the main unit 100 is notified. When receiving the reset instruction, the restart unit 170 forcibly restarts the entire main unit 100 as described above. As a result, most of the large errors that have occurred in the main unit 100 are eliminated, and the playback unit 130 of the main unit 100 can resume the digital cinema playback process. When the recovery process by restarting the entire main unit 100 is completed and the main unit 100 returns to a state in which the digital cinema can be played back, the restarting unit 170 passes through the communication unit 160 and the communication unit 230. Information indicating the resumption of screening is notified to the interruption handling processing unit 260 of the backup unit 200. In response to this screening resumption notification, the interruption handling processing unit 260 ends the predetermined interruption handling process that was executed in response to the occurrence of a large error described later.

  The interruption handling processing unit 260 performs predetermined interruption handling processing for responding to the interruption of the digital cinema depending on the expected recovery time of the main unit 100 when the screening of the digital cinema due to the occurrence of an error in the main unit 100 is interrupted. Do. Here, the expected recovery time is an estimated time required until the main unit 100 resolves the error and restarts playback of the digital cinema content data by the playback unit 130.

  The interruption handling process is a special process provided to cope with the interruption of the digital cinema when the screening of the digital cinema is interrupted due to the occurrence of an error in the screening server 10. The interruption handling processing unit 260 controls various screening-related devices (projector 22, speaker 24, curtain device 28, lighting device 29, etc.) connected to the screening server 10 and executes the interruption handling processing. Thereby, when a screening is interrupted, a predetermined service is provided to the audience, thereby reducing anxiety and dissatisfaction of the audience.

  A specific example of such interruption handling processing will be described. For example, the interruption handling processing unit 260 provides the audience with video or audio related to the screening interruption based on the interruption handling data stored in advance in the interruption handling data storage unit 280. As described above, the interruption handling data is various information such as video and audio, content, etc. provided to the audience in order to cope with the interruption of the screening of the digital cinema.

  Specifically, the video of the interruption correspondence data is, for example, a guide video related to the interruption of the screening (for example, “Please wait for a while.”, “It is only ○ seconds until the screening resumes.”, “Sorry. Such as message images such as “We are repairing equipment”), advertising videos, news, weather forecasts, trailers, videos of other digital cinemas, special videos, etc. In addition, the voice of the above-mentioned interruption correspondence data is, for example, a guidance voice related to the interruption of the screening (for example, an announcement such as “Please wait for a while”), BGM, music content, advertising that has the effect of calming the audience's anger Voice, trailer, etc. Such interruption handling data is prepared for each of a plurality of types of interruption handling processes corresponding to the expected error recovery time in the main unit 100 and stored in the interruption handling data storage unit 280 in advance.

  The interruption handling processing unit 260 reads the video data of the interruption handling data from the interruption handling data storage unit 280 and displays the video data on the screen 26 by the projector 22, so that the video (screening) corresponding to the screening interruption is displayed. Providing audiences with information about interruptions, trailers, etc. Also, the interruption handling processing unit 260 reads out the audio data of the interruption handling data from the interruption handling data storage unit 280, outputs the audio data to the sound processor 21, and outputs the audio from the speaker 24, thereby responding to the screening interruption. To provide the audience with audio (such as guidance announcements regarding BGM, BGM, etc.).

  In addition, the interruption handling processing unit 260 can also perform the interruption handling process by controlling the screening-related apparatus 20 without using the interruption handling data stored in the above-described interruption handling data storage unit 280. For example, the interruption handling processing unit 260 controls to close the shutter of the projector 22 in order to prevent a distorted image from being displayed on the screen 26 when the presentation is interrupted. In addition, the interruption handling processing unit 260 performs audio mute (mute) in order to prevent the disordered audio from being output from the speaker 24 when the screening is interrupted. This audio mute process may be executed by controlling the speaker 24 and the sound processor 21 or may be executed in the screening server 10.

  The interruption handling processing unit 260 can also control the opening / closing of the curtain device 28 that covers the screen 26 by outputting a control signal to the curtain control device 23. Thereby, a part or all of the curtain device 28 can be closed when the screening is interrupted. Further, the interruption handling processing unit 260 can also control lighting / extinction of the lighting device 29 and its brightness by outputting a control signal to the lighting control device 25. Thus, when the screening is interrupted, the lighting device 29 is turned on to brighten the theater, so that the audience can be prevented from panicking in the dark and the audience can easily move.

  Further, the interruption handling processing unit 260 uses various interruption handling processes depending on the scale of the error that has occurred in the main unit 100 and the expected recovery time. For this reason, the interruption handling processing unit 260 includes a small error handling unit 262 for handling a screening interruption associated with the occurrence of a small error, and a large error handling unit 264 for handling a screening interruption associated with the occurrence of a large error. And a serious error handling unit 266 for dealing with a screening interruption accompanying the occurrence of a serious error.

  When the small error handling unit 262 receives a small error occurrence notification in the main unit 100 from the first monitoring unit 240 of the main unit 100, the small error handling unit 262 executes an interruption handling process according to the expected recovery time of the small error. When the large error handling unit 264 receives a notification of occurrence of a large error from the second monitoring unit 240 of the backup unit 200, the large error handling unit 264 executes predetermined interruption handling processing according to the expected recovery time of the large error. Further, when the serious error handling unit 266 receives the notice of occurrence of the serious error from the second monitoring unit 240, a predetermined interruption handling process for dealing with the serious error (for example, notification to the screening manager, exit to the audience) , Etc.).

  As described above, the interruption handling processing unit 260 uses the error information stored in advance in the error information storage unit 270 in order to properly use a plurality of types of interruption handling processing according to the error scale and the like. The error information is a table that associates the types of errors that can occur in the previous main unit 100 (such as error codes) and the expected recovery time required to recover the main unit 100 when the error occurs. For example, the expected recovery time of the first minor error (error code A) is a second, the expected recovery time of the second minor error (error code B) is b seconds, and the first major error (error code) When the expected recovery time of C) is c seconds and the expected recovery time of the second large error (error code D) is d seconds, the error information includes error codes A to D and expected recovery times a to This is information that associates d with each other. The expected recovery time for each type of error is generally constant according to the specifications of the screening server 10 and is known information.

  The interruption handling processing unit 260 selects and executes the interruption handling process corresponding to the error that has occurred based on the error information stored in advance in the error information storage unit 270. Specifically, when the interruption handling process 260 receives an error occurrence notification from the first monitoring unit 140 or the second monitoring unit 240, the interruption handling process 260 extracts an error code included in the error occurrence notification, and then receives error information. By referring to the error information stored in the storage unit 270, the expected recovery time associated with the error code is obtained, and further, from among a plurality of types of interruption handling processes set in advance for each expected recovery time, The interruption handling process corresponding to the expected recovery time is selected and executed.

  For example, if the interruption handling process 260 determines that the expected recovery time of the error that has occurred is short (for example, a small error whose expected recovery time is about several seconds), the small error handling unit 262 stops the screening for a short time. Execute interruption handling processing to deal with In this case, since the screening can be resumed at an early stage, it is only necessary to execute a short interruption processing that does not provide the audience with the video or audio related to the screening interruption. In this short interruption processing, for example, the shutter of the projector 22 is closed to prevent a distorted image from being displayed on the screen 26, and the sound is muted to prevent the distorted sound from being output from the speaker 24. A process, a process of closing the curtain device 28, a process of brightening the lighting device 29, and the like.

  On the other hand, when the interruption handling process 260 determines that the expected recovery time of the error that has occurred is long (for example, a large error with an expected recovery time of several minutes), the large error handling unit 264 interrupts the screening for a long time. Execute interruption handling processing to deal with In this case, since it takes time to resume the screening, a long-time interruption handling process for providing the audience with video or audio related to the interruption is performed. This long interruption processing is, for example, a process of displaying a message video such as “Please wait for a while” or playing a BGM that has the effect of reducing the dissatisfaction of the audience.

  If the error cannot be recovered even if the entire hardware of the main unit 100 is reset, or if the main unit 100 cannot be restarted, the interruption handling process 260 determines that a serious error has occurred in the main unit 100. To do. When this serious error occurs, it takes a lot of time to repair and restore the screening server 10, so the serious error handling unit 266 notifies the digital cinema screening manager of the occurrence of the serious error, An interruption handling process for notifying the audience that the screening cannot be resumed is executed. For example, “I ’m sorry, but I ca n’t show the movie due to a malfunction of the screening equipment. I ’ll refund the fee, so please leave the hall.” Processing. After that, if the screening manager repairs or replaces the screening server 10 so that it can be screened before the next screening in the theater screening schedule, the next screening can be executed.

  As described above, the interruption handling processing unit 260 selectively executes the interruption handling process according to the expected recovery time of the error that has occurred in the main unit 100. Thereby, since it is possible to provide the audience with appropriate interruption response according to the scale of the error and the duration of the screening interruption, the anxiety and dissatisfaction of the audience accompanying the interruption of the screening can be further reduced.

  Next, a specific example of an error that occurs in the main unit 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a specific example of an error that occurs in the main unit 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, errors occurring in the main unit 100 are classified into, for example, the above-described small error and large error. FIG. 6 does not show a serious error.

  The small error is an error that accompanies the interruption of the reproduction process in the main unit 100, but is a relatively small error that can be recovered by the self-diagnosis process of the main unit 100 itself. On the other hand, the large error is an error accompanied by interruption of the reproduction process in the main unit 100 and is a relatively large error that can be recovered depending on the self-diagnosis process of the main unit 100 itself.

  First, a small error will be described. The main body that detects the occurrence of a small error in the main unit 100 is the first monitoring unit 140 of the main unit 100. For example, the first monitoring unit 140 includes a self-diagnosis processing daemon installed in the main unit 100. The “daemon” is software that resides in a memory and provides a predetermined service in a UNIX (registered trademark) OS (Operating System). In the present embodiment, the example of the daemon is given as the software for performing the monitoring process. However, the daemon is not limited to this example, and is realized by other software in various OSs such as “service” in WINDOWS (registered trademark). It is also possible. The first monitoring unit 140 determines whether or not a small error has occurred in various software and devices related to digital cinema playback in the main unit 100 based on the following determination criteria.

  For example, the first monitoring unit 140 determines whether or not an error has occurred in the monitored device driver based on whether or not various device drivers that drive various devices provided in the main unit 100 can be opened. Judging. As a result, when there is no response from the device driver to be monitored, it can be determined that an error has occurred in the device driver.

  Further, the first monitoring unit 140 performs monitoring based on whether or not various daemons (software) exist in the main unit 100 (that is, whether or not the daemons are operating in the main unit 100). Determine whether an error has occurred in the target daemon. The existence of this daemon can be determined by checking the status of the OS process table of the main unit 100. As a result, when the daemon to be monitored is not running, it can be determined that an error has occurred in the daemon.

  Further, the first monitoring unit 140 can detect whether an error has occurred in various screening processes in the main unit 100. For example, if each screening process generates a notification (error code, error log, etc.) indicating the occurrence of an error, the first monitoring unit 140 can detect the occurrence of the error based on this error notification. This makes it possible to detect errors in various screening processes such as content data (video, audio, caption data) reading errors from the disk of the external storage device 30, content data decryption errors, content data decoding errors, and the like. .

  Next, a small error recovery method will be described. The small error recovery in the main unit 100 is performed by the first error recovery processing unit 150 of the main unit 100 restarting only the screening related process in which the error has occurred. In other words, the process and hardware of the entire main unit 100 are not restarted, but only the process related to the digital cinema screening (the screening related process) is partially restarted. This screening-related process is, for example, a process executed by the screening-related software configuring the playback unit 130. The time required for such a small error recovery process is a time required for restarting the screening-related process, and is a relatively short time (for example, about several seconds).

  Next, a large error will be described. The entity that detects the occurrence of a large error in the main unit 100 is the second monitoring unit 240 of the backup unit 200. For example, the second monitoring unit 240 includes a monitoring processing daemon for the main unit installed in the backup unit 200. The second monitoring unit 240 determines whether a large error has occurred in the main unit 100 based on the following determination criteria.

  For example, the second monitoring unit 240 detects the occurrence of a large error based on the communication result with the main unit 100. Specifically, the second monitoring unit 240 transmits inquiry data to the network address of the main unit 100, and detects the occurrence of a large error based on whether there is a response to the inquiry data from the main unit 100. it can. When the main unit 100 freezes due to an excessive load and a large error occurs, it is not possible to respond to the inquiry data from the backup unit 200. The monitoring process of the main unit 100 can be executed using a network diagnostic program such as Ping (Packet Internet Groper). By configuring the second monitoring unit 240 of the main unit 100 with a network diagnosis program, the second monitoring unit 240 transmits inquiry data to the network address of the main unit 100, and a response from the main unit 100 is received. Whether or not there is a response, if there is a response, whether or not the main unit 100 is operating normally can be determined using the response time as a criterion.

  Further, the second monitoring unit 240 can detect the occurrence of a large error in the main unit 100 based on the socket port response to the network communication related process of the main unit 100. Even if the main unit 100 returns a response to the backup unit 200 as described above, if the socket port is not acceptable in the network communication related process of the main unit 100, the second monitoring unit 240 will 100, it can be determined that a large error has occurred.

  Next, a method for recovering a large error will be described. For recovery of a large error in the main unit 100, the second error recovery processing unit 250 of the backup unit 200 instructs the main unit 100 to restart, and the restart unit 170 (for example, the CPU 111) of the main unit 100 performs the main error recovery. This is performed by forcibly restarting (resetting) the hardware of the entire unit 100. The time required for such a large error recovery process is a time required for hardware reset of the entire main unit 100, and is a relatively long time (for example, about several minutes).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a screening interruption handling method in the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a screening interruption handling method in the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment.

  First, the overall operation of the screening server 10 will be schematically described. As shown in FIG. 7, while the digital cinema is being screened, the main unit 100 always monitors the operating state of the main unit 100 itself (S6, S8), and the backup unit 200 monitors the operating state of the main unit 100. (S52). When the main unit 100 detects the occurrence of a small error in the main unit 100 (S6, S8, S16), recovery processing and interruption response processing corresponding to the small error are executed (S18 to S50). . When the backup unit 200 detects the occurrence of a major error in the main unit 100 (S40, S52), recovery processing and interruption handling processing corresponding to the major error is executed (S54 to S64, S2,. S4, S66 to S72).

  The detailed processing procedure will be described below. In the following description, in the screening server 10, the main unit 100 is activated (S2), and after the activation notification is transmitted from the main unit 100 to the backup unit 200 (S4), the main unit 100 performs a digital cinema to be screened. Assuming that is being shown.

  During the digital cinema screening, the main unit 100 checks whether or not each screening process in the main unit 100 is operating normally (S6), and each device in the main unit 100 operates normally. It is confirmed whether or not (S8). As a result, if it is determined that all screening processes and devices are operating normally, it is confirmed whether a trouble warning is being issued in the main unit 100 (S10). This trouble warning is warning information issued when a past abnormality is detected, and is held in a memory in the main unit 100 (S14). If it is determined in S10 that the trouble warning is being issued, after the trouble warning is canceled (S12), if it is determined that the trouble warning is not issued in S10, S66 and S74 are left as they are. Then, the monitoring process (S6, S8) in the main unit 100 is repeated.

  On the other hand, if an abnormality is detected in any of the screening processes and devices in the main unit 100 in the monitoring process (S6, S8), the main unit 100 issues the trouble warning and detects the abnormality. The recorded history is left (S14), and further, it is determined whether or not the digital cinema can be continued due to the occurrence of the abnormality (S16). As a result, if it is determined that the screening can be continued, the process proceeds to S66 and S74, and the monitoring process (S6 and S8) in the main unit 100 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the screening cannot be continued, the main unit 100 determines that the abnormality is a small error accompanied by the screening interruption, and proceeds to S18 to recover the small error and handle the interruption. (S18 to S50).

  Specifically, first, the main unit 100 transmits a screening stop notification (small error occurrence notification) to the backup unit 200 (S18). When the backup unit 200 receives the screening stop notification (S20), the backup unit 200 executes the first stage of the interruption handling process corresponding to the small error, and controls the screening-related devices connected to the screening server 10 (S22, S24). . Specifically, the backup unit 200 closes the shutter of the projector 22 connected to the screening server 10 (S22), prevents the image from being projected on the screen 26, and outputs the sound output from the screening server 10. Mute (mute) (S24) so that no sound is output from the speaker 24. When a small error occurs, the output video and output audio from the screening server 10 are distorted video (including gray video) and distorted audio. Therefore, the shutter of the projector 22 is closed and the sound is muted so as not to make the audience uncomfortable with the output of the distorted video and audio. Thereafter, the backup unit 200 transmits a display stop response (screen stop Ack) to the main unit 100 (S26) to notify that the first stage of the interruption handling process in S22 and S24 has been completed.

  When the main unit 100 receives a screening stop response from the backup unit 200 (S28), the main unit 100 normally stops the digital cinema screening (that is, stops the reproduction process of the content data) (S30), and then relates to the digital cinema screening. The screening related process is stopped (S32). Next, the main unit 100 restarts the stopped screening-related process (S34), and then restores the screening restart position when the screening of the stopped digital cinema is restarted (S36). This screening resumption position corresponds to the reproduction resumption position of the content data of the digital cinema by the main unit 100 when the digital cinema screening is resumed. This screening resumption position is determined as a screening interruption position when the screening has been interrupted in the past, or a screening position slightly before this screening interruption position. As a method for restoring the screening resumption position, for example, the position when the digital cinema screening was stopped in S30 may be recorded in the main unit 100, and the position may be read in S36. As another restoration method, during the normal screening on the main unit 100, the recorded display position may be read by recording the display position while updating it as needed. After restoring the screening resumption position, the main unit 100 transmits a screening resumption notification to the backup unit 200 (S38). This screening resumption notification indicates that the recovery process by the partial restart of the main unit 100 has been completed and the screening can be resumed.

  After the transmission stop response is transmitted (S26), the backup unit 200 stands by until a screening resumption notification is received from the backup unit 200 (S40). As a result, if the screening resumption notification is not received even after a predetermined time-out period has elapsed since the transmission of the screening stop response, the backup unit 200 determines that a major error has occurred in the main unit 100 and will be described later. Proceeding to S54 to S62, the entire main unit 100 is restarted.

  On the other hand, when the backup unit 200 receives a resumption notification from the main unit 100 within the predetermined timeout time (S40), the backup unit 200 executes the second stage of the interruption handling process corresponding to the small error, 10 controls display-related devices connected to 10 (S42, S44). Specifically, the backup unit 200 opens and closes the shutter of the projector 22 connected to the screening server 10 (S42) so that the image can be projected onto the screen 26, and the audio mute is canceled. (S44), a state in which sound can be output from the speaker 24 is set. Thereafter, the backup unit 200 transmits a screening restart response (screening restart Ack) to the main unit 100 (S46) to notify that the second stage of the interruption handling process in S42 and S44 has been completed.

  When the main unit 100 receives the screening resumption response from the backup unit 200 (S48), the main unit 100 resumes the digital cinema screening from the digital cinema screening resumption position set in S36 (S50). That is, the backup unit 200 restarts the digital cinema playback process from the playback start position, and outputs video and audio. After the screening is resumed in this way, the process proceeds to S66 and S74, and the main unit 100 repeats the monitoring process (S6 and S8) in the main unit 100 described above.

  By the way, during the screening of the digital cinema by the main unit 100, the backup unit 200 constantly monitors the operation state of the main unit 100 to determine whether or not a large error has occurred in the main unit 100 (S52). ). For example, the backup unit 200 uses the network diagnosis program such as Ping as described above, and the monitoring process in the main unit 100 operates normally based on whether there is a communication response from the main unit 100. Determine whether or not. As a result, if the response from the main unit 100 is within the predetermined timeout period, the backup unit 200 determines that the main unit 100 is operating normally and no major error has occurred. On the other hand, if there is no response from the main unit 100 even if the predetermined time-out period is exceeded, the backup unit 200 determines that the operation of the main unit 100 is abnormal and a large error has occurred. When the occurrence of a major error is detected, the backup unit 200 executes a recovery process and an interruption handling process corresponding to the major error (S54 to S64, S2, S4, S66 to S72).

  Specifically, first, the backup unit 200 executes the first stage of the interruption handling process corresponding to the large error (control 1 of the screening related apparatus 20) (S54). This “control 1” is, for example, a process for closing the shutter of the projector 22, a sound mute process, a lighting control process for the lighting device 29, and the like, which will be described later in detail (see FIG. 9).

  Next, the backup unit 200 instructs the main unit 100 to perform a hardware reset of the entire main unit 100 (S56). Further, the backup unit 200 executes the second stage of the interruption handling process corresponding to the large error (control 2 of the screening related apparatus 20) (S58). This “control 2” is, for example, a process of displaying a video related to a screening interruption, a process of outputting a BGM related to a screening interruption, and the details will be described later (see FIG. 9).

  When the main unit 100 receives a restart instruction (S56) from the backup unit 200, the main unit 100 resets the hardware of the entire main unit 100 and restarts (S2). Next, when the restart is completed and the main error of the main unit 100 is recovered, the main unit 100 transmits a startup notification to the backup unit 200 (S4).

  The backup unit 200 stands by until an activation notification is received from the backup unit 200 (S60) during the second stage of the interruption handling process (S58). As a result, if the start-up notification is not received from the main unit 100 even after a predetermined time-out period has elapsed since the transmission of the restart instruction (S56), the backup unit 200 has caused a serious error in the main unit 100. It is determined that the main unit 100 cannot be activated (S64). When this serious error occurs, the backup unit 200 may execute an interruption handling process corresponding to the serious error described above.

  On the other hand, when the activation notification is received from the main unit 100 within the predetermined time-out period (S60), the backup unit 200 performs the third stage of the interruption handling process corresponding to the large error (control of the screening related apparatus 20). Step 3) is executed. This “control 3” relates to, for example, the process of opening the shutter of the projector 22, the process of canceling the audio mute, the process of turning off the lighting device 29, the process of stopping the display of the video related to the interruption of the screening, and the interruption of the screening The process for stopping the BGM is described later in detail (see FIG. 9). Thereafter, the backup unit 200 continuously performs the monitoring process of the main unit 100 in S52.

  As described above, the main unit 100 is restarted by the backup unit 200, so that a large error in the main unit 100 is recovered. In this case, the main unit 100 reaches the process of S66 via S6, S8, S10, and S12 after the activation notification (S4). In S66, the main unit 100 determines whether there is a report (restart occurrence report) indicating that the hardware of the entire main unit 100 has been restarted during the digital cinema screening. At the time of recovery from a large error as described above, since the hardware of the entire main unit 100 is restarted, a restart occurrence report (for example, the session between the screening processes is not normally terminated due to the interruption of the screening). History) is recorded. When the restart occurrence report exists, the main unit 100 restores the screening restart position corresponding to the screening position when the screening was interrupted in the past after canceling the restart occurrence report (S68) ( S70) The digital cinema screening is resumed from the screening resumption position (S72). Thereafter, the main unit 100 repeats the monitoring process (S6, S8) in the main unit 100 described above.

  Heretofore, the screening interruption handling method in the screening server 10 according to the present embodiment has been described with reference to FIG. According to this screening interruption handling method, the self-diagnosis function of the main unit 100 can automatically detect and recover the occurrence of a small error in the main unit 100, and the function of monitoring the main unit 100 by the backup unit 200 can The occurrence of a large error that the main unit 100 cannot handle can be automatically detected and recovered. In addition, if a small error that requires a relatively short recovery time occurs, an interruption handling process suitable for the short screening interruption time is performed and a large error that requires a relatively long recovery time occurs. Can perform an interruption handling process suitable for the long interruption time. As described above, by appropriately using the interruption handling process for the audience according to the error recovery time (ie, the screening interruption time), it is possible to effectively reduce the anxiety and dissatisfaction of the audience at the time of the screening interruption.

  Next, a specific example of the screening interruption handling method when a small error occurs according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the screening interruption handling method when a small error occurs according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, during the digital cinema screening, the main unit 100 continuously reproduces the content data of the digital cinema. At this time, the main unit 100 reproduces the content data currently being reproduced. The position is recorded at any time (S100). As a result, even when the screening is interrupted due to a sudden error, the playback position (corresponding to the screening restart position) at the time of the screening interruption can be saved. If a small error occurs in the main unit 100 during the digital cinema screening and the screening is interrupted, the main unit 100 detects the small error (S101) and sends a display stop notification to the backup unit 200. Transmit (S102).

  When the backup unit 200 receives the notification of the stop of the screening from the main unit 100, the backup unit 200 executes an interruption handling process corresponding to the small error, and controls the screening related apparatus 20. Specifically, the backup unit 200 controls the projector 22 connected to the screening server 10 and closes the shutter of the projector 22 (S103). Thereby, it is possible to prevent an inappropriate movie image caused by a small error from being projected from the projector 22. Further, the backup unit 200 performs audio mute processing by controlling the sound processor 21 or the speaker 24 connected to the screening server 10 or by controlling the audio output device 303 in the screening server 10 (S104). ). Thereby, it is possible to prevent inappropriate movie sound generated by a small error from being output from the speaker 24. Thereafter, the backup unit 200 transmits a screening stop response (Ack) to the main unit 100 as a response to the screening stop notification (S105).

  When the main unit 100 receives the screening stop response from the backup unit 200, the main unit 100 stops the playback of the digital cinema content data (S106), and also stops the above-described screening-related processes (S107). Next, the main unit 100 restarts the stopped screening-related process (S108), and recovers the small error generated in the main unit 100. Further, the main unit 100 reads the latest playback position recorded in S100 (that is, the screening position when the screening is interrupted), and sets the playback position as the screening restart position (S109). Thereafter, the main unit 100 transmits a screening resumption notification to the backup unit 200 (S110).

  When the backup unit 200 receives the screening resumption notification from the main unit 100, the backup unit 200 opens the shutter of the projector 22 closed in S103 (S111), and cancels the audio mute processing set in S104 (S112). Thereafter, the backup unit 200 transmits a screening restart response (Ack) to the main unit 100 as a response to the screening restart notification (S113).

  When the main unit 100 receives the screening resumption response from the backup unit 200, the main unit 100 resumes the playback of the digital cinema content data from the screening resumption position set in S109 (S114). Will be resumed from where it left off.

  As described above, according to the screening interruption handling method associated with the occurrence of the small error shown in FIG. 8, the main unit 100 itself can restart the screening-related processes necessary for the recovery of the small error to recover the small error. Furthermore, while the digital cinema screening is interrupted for a short time (for example, about several seconds) due to the occurrence of a small error, the backup unit 200 performs interrupt handling processing such as shutter opening / closing of the projector 22 and sound muting. Inappropriate movie video and movie audio can be prevented from being displayed and output. Thereby, audience dissatisfaction can be reduced when the short screening is interrupted. Note that, even when an interruption due to such a small error occurs, if the recovery of the small error takes a relatively long time, the backup unit 200 displays a video (such as a guidance message) for responding to the interruption of the screening as the interruption handling process. Or a sound (BGM or the like) for responding to the interruption of the screening may be output.

  Next, a specific example of the screening interruption handling method when a large error occurs according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the screening interruption handling method when a large error occurs according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, during the digital cinema screening, the main unit 100 records the playback position of the content data currently being played back as needed (S200). This S200 is substantially the same as S100 of FIG.

  During the screening of such a digital cinema, the backup unit 200 constantly monitors the operating state of the main unit 100. As a result of this monitoring, when the backup unit 200 detects the occurrence of a large error in the main unit 100 (S201), the backup unit 200 executes the first stage of the interruption handling process corresponding to the large error (corresponding to S54 in FIG. 7). The screening related device 20 connected to the screening server 10 is controlled. Specifically, the backup unit 200 turns on, for example, indirect lighting and an emergency exit guide light among the lighting devices 29 installed in the theater (S202) to prevent the theater from becoming dark due to the interruption of the screening. Next, the backup unit 200 closes the shutter of the projector 22 as described above (S203) and performs audio mute processing (S204). Thereafter, the backup unit 200 transmits a restart instruction for the main unit 100 to the main unit 100 (S205).

  When the main unit 100 receives the restart instruction from the backup unit 200, the main unit 100 forcibly stops the reproduction of the digital cinema content data in the main unit 100 (S206). Further, the backup unit 200 forcibly restarts (resets) all hardware in the main unit 100 (S207). This restart takes a while (for example, several minutes).

  Until the main unit 100 is restarted, the backup unit 200 executes the second stage (corresponding to S58 in FIG. 7) of the interruption handling process corresponding to the large error, and the video for handling the screening interruption. And present the audio to the audience. In detail, the backup unit 200 reads out the interruption support data (video data, audio data) for large errors stored in the backup unit 200 and displays a guidance screen (“Please wait for a while.” ”And the like (S208), and music for responding to the interruption of the screening (such as BGM that eases the dissatisfaction of the audience) is output (S209). The video display and audio output for responding to the screening interruption are sub projectors and speakers (for example, projectors for trailers and cinema advertisements) provided separately from the projectors 22 and speakers 24 for screening digital cinema. However, it is of course possible to use a projector 22 or a speaker 24 for showing a digital cinema.

  Next, when the restart of the main unit 100 is completed (S210), the large error generated in the main unit 100 is recovered, and the main unit 100 is ready to be screened. Then, the main unit 100 reads the latest playback position recorded in S200 (that is, the screening position when the screening is interrupted), and sets the playback position as the screening restart position (S211). Thereafter, the main unit 100 transmits a screening resumption notification to the backup unit 200 (S212).

  When the backup unit 200 receives the screening resumption notification from the main unit 100, the backup unit 200 executes the third stage (corresponding to S62 in FIG. 7) of the interruption handling process corresponding to the large error. Specifically, the backup unit 200 turns off the indirect illumination and the emergency exit guide light turned on in S202 (S213), opens the shutter of the projector 22 closed in S203 (S214), and outputs in step S209. The started BGM is stopped (S215), the display of the guidance screen started in step S208 is stopped (S216), and the audio mute process set in S204 is canceled (S217). Thereafter, the backup unit 200 transmits a screening restart response (Ack) to the main unit 100 as a response to the screening restart notification (S218).

  When the main unit 100 receives the screening resumption response from the backup unit 200, the main unit 100 resumes the playback of the digital cinema content data from the screening resumption position set in S211 (S219). As a result, the digital cinema that has been suspended is resumed from the position where it was suspended.

  As described above, according to the screening interruption handling method associated with the occurrence of a large error shown in FIG. 9, the backup unit 200 detects the occurrence of a large error occurring in the main unit 100 and restarts the entire main unit 100. Can be recovered. Furthermore, while the digital cinema screening is interrupted for a long time (for example, about several minutes) due to the occurrence of a large error, in addition to the shutter opening / closing of the projector 22 and the sound mute, the backup unit 200 causes the lighting device 29 to In addition to controlling, interruption handling processing is performed such as displaying video and audio to respond to the interruption of the presentation to the audience. Thereby, the dissatisfaction of the audience can be reduced without causing the audience to get bored or anxious when the long-time screening is interrupted.

  Heretofore, the screening server 10 that is the digital cinema playback apparatus according to the present embodiment and the screening interruption handling method using the same have been described. The screening server 10 includes a main unit 100 and a backup unit 200 that can operate independently of each other. In other words, the screening server 10 has two processing systems: a screening apparatus system (main unit 100) specialized for digital cinema screening processing and a management apparatus system (backup unit 200) specialized for backup processing of the main unit 100. I have.

  During the digital cinema screening, the main unit 100 has a self-diagnosis function that constantly monitors the operation state of the main unit 100 itself, and can recover itself by a small error (local error of the main unit 100). Can be detected automatically. Furthermore, the main unit 100 restarts the part where the small error has occurred (part of the software such as the screening process, or part of the hardware such as the device that reads and decodes the data), so that the small error occurs. Can self-heal.

  In addition, the backup unit 200 has a function of constantly monitoring the operation state of the main unit 100, and can automatically detect a large error or a serious error that cannot be recovered by the main unit 100 (an error in the main unit 100 as a whole). Further, the backup unit 200 controls the main unit 100 to reset the entire main unit 100 in order to recover a large error in the main unit 100. Further, the backup unit 200 automatically determines the expected recovery time of the error when the small error, the large error, or the serious error occurs, and executes an appropriate longitudinal response process corresponding to the estimated recovery time. Can do.

  As a result, in a situation where the screening of the digital cinema in the theater has to be temporarily interrupted (for example, the occurrence of a malfunction of the screening server 10), the malfunction may be caused by restarting part or all of the main unit 100 of the screening server 10. Can be automatically recovered, the interruption handling process can be automatically performed in conjunction with the recovery process. This interruption handling process includes a process for controlling the screening-related device 20 such as the projector 22, speaker 24, curtain device 28, and lighting device 29 in the theater, a process for displaying an image related to the recovery process on the screen 26, and a screening speaker. There are various processes such as a process of outputting a sound related to the recovery process from 24. From these multiple types of interruption processes, interruption handling processes suitable for the expected recovery time of the error that has occurred can be selected, combined, and executed.

  Therefore, customer dissatisfaction and anxiety during the screening interruption due to the interruption of the screening service when the screening server 10 is abnormal can be reduced. In addition, since the main unit 100 and the backup unit 200 operate in parallel at the same time, it is possible to execute an action for a customer immediately at the time of a screening failure without being affected by an abnormality of the main unit 100.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the screening system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows a general screening server. It is a block diagram which shows the screening server concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the screening server concerning the example of a change of this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the screening server concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the error which generate | occur | produces in the main unit concerning the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the screening interruption response method concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the screening interruption response method at the time of the small error generation concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the screening interruption response method at the time of the big error generation concerning the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Screening server 20 Screening related device 21 Sound processor 22 Projector 23 Curtain control device 24 Speaker 25 Illumination control device 26 Screen 28 Curtain device 29 Illumination device 30 External storage device 100 Main unit 130 Playback unit 140 First monitoring unit 150 First monitoring unit 150 Recovery processing unit 160 Communication unit 170 Restart unit 200 Backup unit 230 Communication unit 240 Second monitoring unit 250 Second recovery processing unit 260 Interruption response processing unit 262 Small error handling unit 264 Large error handling unit 266 Severe error handling unit 270 Error information storage unit 280 Interruption corresponding data storage unit 300 Shared unit

Claims (10)

A main unit for reproducing digital cinema content data stored in a storage device;
A backup unit operable independently of the main unit;
With
The main unit is
A first monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the main unit itself and detects occurrence of a small error accompanied by an interruption of the reproduction process of the content data in the main unit;
A first recovery processing unit that restarts at least a part of the main unit in which the small error has occurred in response to the occurrence of the small error;
With
The backup unit is
A second monitoring unit that monitors the operating state of the main unit and detects the occurrence of a large error that cannot be recovered by the main unit itself;
A second recovery processing unit that restarts the entire main unit in response to the occurrence of the large error;
When the digital cinema screening is interrupted due to the occurrence of the small error or the large error, a predetermined interrupt processing for responding to the digital cinema screening interruption is performed according to the expected recovery time of the main unit. A processing unit;
A digital cinema playback device comprising: The backup unit further includes an error information storage unit that stores error information that associates the types of errors that can occur in the main unit and the expected recovery time of the errors,
The interruption handling processing unit obtains an expected recovery time of the small error or the large error that has occurred in the main unit based on the error information, and according to the expected recovery time, a plurality of types of the interruption handling processing are performed. The digital cinema playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein any one of them is selected and executed.   The digital cinema playback device according to claim 1, wherein the interruption handling processing unit controls one or more screening-related devices connected to the digital cinema playback device as the suspension handling processing. The interruption handling process is
A process for displaying an image on the screen to cope with the interruption of the screening of the digital cinema;
A process of outputting sound from a speaker in response to the interruption of the screening of the digital cinema;
Control processing of the projector that projects the image of the digital cinema,
Audio muting processing of the digital cinema,
Open / close control processing of the curtain device covering the screen, or
2. The digital cinema playback device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of control processes of an illumination device provided in the theater for digital cinema is executed. The interruption handling processing unit
When the large error occurs, an interruption handling process is performed to provide the audience with video or audio for dealing with the interruption of the digital cinema.
2. The digital cinema playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the small error occurs, an interruption handling process that does not provide the video or audio to the audience is performed.   2. The digital cinema playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main unit and the backup unit are provided in the same casing or in separate casings.   2. The digital cinema playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first recovery processing unit restarts a part of processes or devices in which the small error has occurred in the main unit.   The digital cinema playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second recovery processing unit restarts hardware of the entire main unit. A method for responding to a screening interruption in a digital cinema playback device comprising a main unit for playing back digital cinema content data stored in a storage device and a backup unit operable independently of the main unit:
A monitoring step of monitoring the operation state of the main unit itself by the main unit and the operation state of the main unit by the backup unit while the digital cinema is being screened;
The main unit restarts at least a part of the main unit in which the small error has occurred when detecting the occurrence of a small error accompanied by interruption of the reproduction processing of the content data in the main unit, or A recovery step of restarting the entire main unit when the backup unit detects a large error that cannot be recovered by the main unit itself;
When the digital cinema screening is interrupted due to the occurrence of the small error or the large error, a predetermined interrupt processing for responding to the digital cinema screening interruption is performed according to the expected recovery time of the main unit. Steps and;
A method for responding to a screening interruption, comprising: To a computer of a digital cinema playback device comprising a main unit for playing back digital cinema content data stored in a storage device and a backup unit operable independently of the main unit:
A monitoring step of monitoring the operation state of the main unit itself by the main unit and the operation state of the main unit by the backup unit while the digital cinema is being screened;
The main unit restarts at least a part of the main unit in which the small error has occurred when detecting the occurrence of a small error accompanied by interruption of the reproduction processing of the content data in the main unit, or A recovery step of restarting the entire main unit when the backup unit detects a large error that cannot be recovered by the main unit itself;
When the digital cinema screening is interrupted due to the occurrence of the small error or the large error, a predetermined interrupt processing for responding to the digital cinema screening interruption is performed according to the expected recovery time of the main unit. Steps and;
A program for running

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