JP2009055459A - Terminal and program for reproducing video content - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire thumbnail image data for searching a part to be reproduced on demand. <P>SOLUTION: A video content reproduction terminal includes: an operation means; a communication means; a display means; a storage means; a first control means for allowing the storage means to store each pair of text data and time codes; a second control means for transmitting a first request via the communication means; a third means for allowing the display means to display a reduction image corresponding to subtitles; a fourth control means for transmitting a second request via the communication means; and a fifth control means for allowing the display means to display a series of frame images sequentially. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video content playback terminal and a video content playback program.

The so-called third-generation mobile phone is proud of data transmission at an extremely high bit rate, and has realized streaming playback of moving images that has been difficult with conventional generation mobile phones. With such high specifications of mobile phones, the content distributed from various service providers to mobile phone users is also changing from still images to moving images, and the distribution environment of moving image content is more Techniques for improving it have also been proposed. For example, when a mobile phone terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 receives an incoming call addressed to the terminal while streaming the content of a moving image, the mobile phone terminal requests the distribution source server to interrupt the distribution. To do. When the call with the other party of the incoming call ends, the server again requests distribution, and streaming playback can be resumed from the interrupted point. This type of mobile video streaming playback with mobile phones receives video data obtained by encoding an image of several tens of frames corresponding to a part of the content, and displays the image obtained by decoding the video data. It is possible to proceed while repeating the procedure of receiving video data for the next several tens of frames while
JP 2006-270729 A

  By the way, many users who receive the distribution of moving image content for mobile phones have a desire to confirm the outline before reproducing the content and to reproduce the content from a designated location. However, conventional mobile phones cannot accept fast-forward and rewind operations unless streaming video content is being streamed, resulting in poor usability.

  Under such a background, the present invention was conceived as a mechanism that allows a user to understand the outline of a moving image content before playing it, and plays the content from a location specified by the user. Specifically, prior to playback of moving image content, a thumbnail image obtained by reducing a series or part of frame images constituting the moving image content, and text data indicating subtitles corresponding to the thumbnail image are provided. A system has been devised that acquires and plays moving image data from a predetermined position by acquiring and selecting text data or thumbnail images by the user.

  However, under circumstances where communication is unstable, there is a risk that acquisition of text data and thumbnail image data will fail. In addition, when the storage capacity is limited, there is a desire to reduce the data to be acquired and perform smooth reproduction.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can acquire on-demand thumbnail image data for searching for a playback location.

  A video content playback terminal according to a preferred aspect of the present invention includes an operation unit, a communication unit, a display unit, a storage unit, and a series of frame images forming a video content, or a part of the frame images. Each pair of text data indicating a subtitle corresponding to each of the video data and a time code indicating a position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the video content is acquired via the communication unit, and each acquired pair is stored in the storage unit The first control means to be stored in the display means, and the subtitles indicated by the one or more pairs of text data identified from the storage means are displayed on the display means, and a first request including the time code of the pair is transmitted via the communication means. The second control means for transmitting and the reduced image of the frame image scheduled to be reproduced at the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the first request Third control means for acquiring the thumbnail image data via the communication means, displaying the reduced image indicated by the obtained thumbnail image data in association with the subtitle on the display means, and selecting the displayed subtitle to be operated by the operation means. 4th control means which transmits the 2nd request containing the time code which makes a pair with the subtitle concerning the selection, via a communication means, when receiving a selection of a subtitle via a communication means, and a 2nd request The video data indicating a series of frame images scheduled to be reproduced after the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the video is acquired via the communication means, and the series of frame images indicated by the acquired video data is displayed. And a fifth control means for sequentially displaying.

  Further, the second control means identifies a group of a plurality of pairs including time codes whose positions on the time axis are continuous from the storage means according to the operation of the operation means, and each text data of the identified pair indicates The subtitles are displayed side by side on the time axis and displayed on the display means, and the first request including the time code of each of the pairs is simultaneously or individually transmitted via the communication means. Good.

  The operation means has a first button for instructing a shift to the preceding subtitle, and the second control means is displayed side by side on the display means every time the first button is operated. The time code that is paired with the text data of the subtitle with the earliest subtitle position among the subtitles is specified from the storage means, and the subtitles indicated by the text data that is paired with the time code preceding the specified time code are arranged side by side. A volume that causes the display means to display the displayed subtitles together with the subtitles excluding the most recent subtitle among the displayed subtitles, and transmits the first request including the preceding time code via the communication means. You may have a return direction scroll control means.

  The operation means has a second button for instructing a shift to the subsequent subtitle, and the second control means is displayed side by side on the display means every time the second button is operated. The time code that is paired with the text data of the subtitle that is the latest subtitle among the subtitles is specified from the storage means, and the subtitles indicated by the text data that is paired with the time code following the specified time code are arranged side by side. Fast forward to display on the display means together with the subtitles excluding the previous subtitle among the displayed subtitles, and to send the first request including the subsequent time code via the communication means You may have a direction scroll control means.

  Another preferred aspect of the present invention is a video content playback program that stores a series of frame images constituting a video content on a computer having operation means, communication means, display means, and storage means, or a part of them. Each pair of text data indicating a subtitle corresponding to each of the frame images and a time code indicating a position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the video content are acquired via communication means, and each acquired pair A first control function for storing the information in the storage means, and the display means displays subtitles indicated by one or more pairs of text data identified from the storage means, and communicates the first request including the time code of the pair Playback at a position on the time axis indicated by the second control function transmitted via the means and the time code included in the first request is scheduled. A third control function for acquiring thumbnail image data indicating a reduced image of the frame image via the communication unit, and displaying the reduced image indicated by the acquired thumbnail image data in association with the subtitle on the display unit; and the displayed subtitle 4 is a function for receiving the selection of the first time through the operation of the operation means, and when receiving the selection of the subtitle, the fourth control for transmitting the second request including the time code paired with the subtitle for the selection via the communication means The video data indicating the function and a series of frame images scheduled to be reproduced after the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the second request is acquired via the communication unit, and the acquired video data indicates A fifth control function for sequentially displaying a series of frame images on the display means is realized.

  According to the present invention, thumbnail image data for searching for a playback location can be acquired on demand.

(Embodiment of the Invention)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a moving image content distribution system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this system includes an Internet communication network 91 to which the content distribution server device 10 is connected, a mobile packet communication network 92 to which a mobile phone terminal 30 (corresponding to a “video content playback terminal”) is connected, And a gateway server device 93 interposed between the two communication networks 91 and 92. In this embodiment, the content according to the present invention is distributed using the Internet communication network 91 and the mobile packet communication network 92. However, the content may be distributed through a broadcast network.

  The Internet communication network 91 is a procedure conforming to TCP (transmission control protocol) / IP (internet protocol), HTTP (hyper text transfer protocol), SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol), etc. realized on the TCP / IP. The node is a collection of nodes that transmit data and includes a server device and a router. The mobile packet communication network 92 is a collection of nodes that transfer data in accordance with a protocol based on a simplified TCP / IP protocol or a protocol equivalent to HTTP implemented on the TCP / IP. It has a base station and a packet subscriber processing device.

  The gateway server device 93 is a computer that operates in a mobile packet gateway relay switching center that interconnects the mobile packet communication network 92 and the Internet communication network 91, and is addressed from one communication network node to the other communication network node. The data sent in this way is converted into a protocol by the gateway server device 93 and then transferred to the node of the other communication network.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic hardware configuration of the content distribution server device 10. The content distribution server device 10 uses the mobile phone terminal 30 to store data in various formats (hereinafter referred to as “video content data”) representing video content such as movies and entertainments with moving images, audio, and subtitles. Delivered in response to requests from

  As shown in FIG. 2, the server device 10 includes a control unit 11, a communication interface 12, and a hard disk 13. The control unit 11 includes a CPU 14, a RAM 15, and a ROM 16. The communication interface 12 transmits and receives data according to a procedure according to a protocol such as TCP / IP or HTTP.

  The hard disk 13 stores a content database 17 and menu screen display support data 18. The content database 17 is a database that records a plurality of video content data. Each of the video content data is a collection of video data, text data, and thumbnail image data. Video data is data obtained by encoding an image signal of a series of frame images reproduced as a moving image and a series of audio signals reproduced together with the frame images according to a predetermined encoding standard. A series of frame image and audio signals may be encoded according to a standard such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) -4. In this type of encoding standard, a frame image and audio are compressed and encoded after being associated with a time code indicating a position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the content.

  The text data is data indicating a subtitle character string to be displayed together with a series of frame images of video data. Each subtitle indicated by the text data is associated with a time code indicating a position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the content.

  The thumbnail image data is data obtained by encoding an image signal of a thumbnail image, which is a reduced image of a frame image discretely extracted from a series of frame images of video data, according to a predetermined encoding standard. Each thumbnail image indicated by the thumbnail image data is also associated with a time code indicating a position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the content. The thumbnail image signal may be encoded according to a standard such as GIF (Graphics Interchange Format).

  The menu screen display support data 18 is data in which an association between an address indicating the storage area of each content data recorded in the content database 17 and each character string indicating the title of the content data is described in a predetermined markup language. It is.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic hardware configuration of the mobile phone terminal 30. The mobile phone terminal 30 includes a communication unit 31 (corresponding to “communication unit”), an operation unit 32 (corresponding to “operation unit”), a liquid crystal display unit 33 (corresponding to “display unit”), a sound collection unit 34, and a sound emission. Unit 35 and control unit 36 ("first control means", "second control means", "third control means", "fourth control means", "fifth control means", "fast-forwarding") Equivalent to “direction scroll control means” and “rewind direction scroll control means”). The communication unit 31 performs wireless communication with the base station of the mobile packet communication network 92 under the control of the control unit 36.

  The operation unit 32 includes various buttons such as a multi-function button (described later) that is determined after moving the cursor up, down, left, and right, and a dial button that inputs a number, a character, and the like. Then, an operation signal corresponding to the input operation is supplied to the control unit 36. The liquid crystal display unit 33 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and displays various information under the control of the control unit 36. The sound collection unit 34 is a microphone, and the sound emission unit 35 is a speaker.

  The control unit 36 includes a CPU 37, a ROM 38, a RAM 39 (corresponding to “storage means”), and an EEPROM 40. The CPU 37 executes various programs stored in the ROM 38 and the EEPROM 40 while using the RAM 39 as a work area.

  The ROM 38 stores an OS (Operating System) program, a mailer program, a browser program, a call connection support program, and a video content reproduction program. The OS program is a program that describes basic processing procedures such as driving and arbitration of various hardware resources. The call connection support program is a program that describes a procedure for processing related to call connection and call with other mobile phones and fixed phones. The mailer program is a program in which processing procedures related to creation and transmission / reception of electronic mail are described. The browser program is a program that describes the procedure of processing related to browsing the site.

  The video content reproduction program is a program that describes a processing procedure related to streaming reproduction of video content data recorded in the content database 17 of the content distribution server device 10 and selection of content data to be reproduced. Through the operation of the CPU 37 according to the procedure described in this program, a content selection support process and a content reproduction process which will be described in detail later are executed.

  The EEPROM 40 stores a program downloaded from the gateway server device 93 or the server device of the Internet communication network 91 in response to a request from the mobile phone terminal 30.

  Next, content selection support processing and content reproduction processing, which are characteristic processing according to the present embodiment, will be described.

  4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the content selection support process. The series of processes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are performed in a state where a menu screen listing the titles of the respective content data recorded in the content database 17 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 33, and any of those titles is displayed on the operation unit. When selected through 32 operations, it starts. The menu screen transmits a request including the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the menu screen display support data 18 to the mobile packet communication network 92, and the menu screen display support data 18 included in the response returned from the content distribution server device 10. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 33 based on the content obtained by interpreting the above.

  When one of the titles displayed on the menu screen is selected (S100: Yes), the control unit 36 activates the video content reproduction program (S110). The subsequent processing is performed according to the procedure indicated by the video content reproduction program.

  The control unit 36 transmits a request addressed to the content distribution server device 10 for text data from the communication unit 31 (S120). This request includes an identifier indicating the title selected in step S100. The transmitted request is transmitted to the content distribution server device 10 via the mobile packet communication network 92, the gateway server device 93, and the Internet communication network 91.

  The control unit 11 of the content distribution server device 10 that has received the request identifies video content data of the content indicated by the identifier included in the request from the content database 17 (S130), and includes text data acquired from the video content data. A response is transmitted from the communication interface 12 (S140). The transmitted response is transmitted to the mobile phone terminal 30 that is the source of the request via the Internet communication network 91, the gateway server device 93, and the mobile packet communication network 92.

  The control unit 36 of the mobile phone terminal 30 that has received the response stores the text data included in the response in the RAM 16 (S150). As described above, each subtitle indicated by the text data is paired with a time code indicating a position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the content.

  Subsequently, the control unit 11 acquires three time codes indicating positions on the time axis closer to the beginning of the content from a series of time codes associated with each subtitle in the RAM 16 (S160). A request addressed to the content distribution server device 10 including the three time codes is transmitted from the communication unit 31 (S170), and a playback location search screen in which subtitles that are paired with these time codes are embedded is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 33. (S180).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a playback location search screen. This screen has a layout in which a subtitle display area 53 and a thumbnail image display area 54 are arranged side by side on the left and right below the playback time display area 52. The playback time display area 52 is divided into two elongated rectangular upper and lower frames 52a and 52b, and the upper frame 52a displays a numerical value indicating the position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the content as a percentage. Is done. The lower frame 54b displays numerical values representing the position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the content in terms of hours, minutes, and seconds. Also, behind the numerical values representing the hours, minutes, and seconds are indicators that represent the position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the content.

  In the subtitle display area 53, the subtitles embedded in step S180, that is, three subtitles corresponding to positions on the time axis closer to the beginning of the content are displayed in an upper stage, a middle stage, and a lower stage. Of the three subtitles, the subtitle with the earliest position on the time axis is displayed in the upper row, and the subtitle with the last position on the time axis is displayed in the lower row. In the thumbnail image display area 54, three rectangular frames for embedding thumbnail images are displayed at positions corresponding to the right side of each subtitle. However, these rectangular frames are left blank until thumbnail image data is acquired from the content distribution server device 10 in step S190 described later.

  The control unit 11 of the content distribution server device 10 that has received the request acquires the thumbnail image data paired with the three time codes included in the request from the video content data specified in step S130 (S190), and acquires the acquired 3 A response including two thumbnail image data is transmitted from the communication interface 12 (S200).

  Upon receiving the response, the control unit 36 of the mobile phone terminal 30 displays each thumbnail image obtained by decoding the three thumbnail image data included in the response in the thumbnail image display area 54 of the playback location search screen ( S210). Specifically, after storing the three thumbnail image data included in the response in the buffer area secured in the RAM 39, the image data is decoded one by one in order from the one with the position on the time axis, and decoded. The thumbnail images obtained through the above are displayed in order from the rectangular frame on the thumbnail image display area 54.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a playback location search screen during the display in step S210. FIG. 7 shows the state of the screen after the thumbnail image display in the upper rectangular frame is completed and before the thumbnail image display in the lower rectangular frame is completed. A character string “Loading” indicating acquisition is written in each of the two rectangular frames excluding the upper row.

  When the thumbnail images are displayed in the three rectangular frames in the thumbnail image display area 54 of the image in step S210, the user instructs fast forward or rewind of the subtitles through the up and down operations of the multifunction buttons of the operation unit 32. can do. The fast-forward instruction is given through pressing the lower button of the multi-function, and the rewinding instruction is given through pressing the upper button. In addition, an instruction to reproduce video data from a fast-forward destination location or a rewind destination location is given by pressing a confirm button between the lower button and the upper button.

  When an instruction for fast-forwarding is given (S220: Yes), the control unit 36 obtains subtitles subsequent to the subtitles displayed in the lower part of the subtitle display area 53 from the text data in the RAM 39 (S240), and thumbnail image data. A request addressed to the content distribution server device 10 is transmitted from the communication unit 31 (S250). This request includes a time code that is paired with the text data acquired in step S240.

  The control unit 11 of the content distribution server device 10 that has received the request acquires the thumbnail image data corresponding to the time code included in the request from the video content data specified in step S130 (S260), and acquires the acquired thumbnail image data. A response including this is transmitted from the communication interface 12 (S270).

  The control unit 36 of the mobile phone terminal 30 that has received the response uses the thumbnail image data included in the response and the subtitle acquired in step S240, among the three sets of thumbnail image data and subtitles displayed on the playback location search screen. The position on the time axis is displayed instead of the previous group (S280). The display switching in step S280 follows the following procedure. First, the subtitles and thumbnail images displayed in the middle of the subtitle display area 53 and the thumbnail image display area 54 are moved to the upper stage of the respective areas, and are displayed in the lower stage of the subtitle display area 53 and the thumbnail image display area 54. The subtitles and thumbnail images that have been moved are moved to the middle of each area. Next, the subtitles acquired in step S240 are displayed in the lower part of the subtitle display area 53, and the thumbnail images obtained by decoding the thumbnail image data included in the response transmitted in step S270 are displayed in the lower part of the thumbnail image display area 54. To display.

  Each time the down button is pressed, the processing from step S240 to step S280 is repeated, and the lower two of the three sets of subtitles and thumbnail images arranged in the subtitle display area 53 and thumbnail image display area 54 of the playback location selection screen are displayed. One scrolls up and a new pair appears in the bottom row. By repeatedly pressing the down button, the user sequentially switches the combination of subtitles and thumbnail images displayed on the playback location selection screen to the one corresponding to the position on the later time axis, and the location where playback is desired When the subtitle has reached the middle of the subtitle display area 53, the confirm button is pressed.

  On the other hand, when an instruction for rewinding is given (S230: Yes), the control unit 36 acquires the subtitle preceding the subtitle displayed in the upper part of the subtitle display area 53 from the text data in the RAM 39 (S290), A request addressed to the content distribution server device 10 for thumbnail image data is transmitted from the communication unit 31 (S300). This request includes a time code that is paired with the text data acquired in step S290.

  The control unit 11 of the content distribution server apparatus 10 that has received the request acquires thumbnail image data corresponding to the time code included in the request from the video content data specified in step S130 (S310), and acquires the acquired thumbnail image data. A response including this is transmitted from the communication interface 12 (S320).

  The control unit 36 of the mobile phone terminal 30 that has received the response displays the thumbnail image data obtained by decoding the thumbnail image data included in the response and the thumbnail image data displayed on the playback location search screen, with the subtitles acquired in step S290. And the position on the time axis among the three sets of subtitles is displayed instead of the last set (S330). The switching of display in step S330 follows the following procedure. First, the subtitles and thumbnail images displayed in the middle of the subtitle display area 53 and the thumbnail image display area 54 are moved to the lower stages of the respective areas, and are displayed in the upper stages of the subtitle display area 53 and the thumbnail image display area 54. The subtitles and thumbnail images that have been moved are moved to the middle of each area. Next, the caption obtained in step S290 is displayed in the upper part of the caption display area 53, and the thumbnail image obtained by decoding the thumbnail image data included in the response transmitted in step S320 is displayed in the upper part of the thumbnail image display area 54. To display.

  Each time the upper button is pressed, the processing from step S290 to step S330 is repeated, and the upper two of the three sets of subtitles and thumbnail images arranged in the subtitle display area 53 and the thumbnail image display area 54 of the playback location selection screen are displayed. One scrolls down and a new pair appears in the top row. By repeatedly pressing the upper button, the user sequentially switches the subtitle and thumbnail image set displayed on the playback location selection screen to the one corresponding to the position on the later time axis, and the location where playback is desired When the subtitle has reached the middle of the subtitle display area 53, the confirm button is pressed.

  When the confirmation button is pressed after step S280 or step S330 is executed (S340: Yes), streaming playback processing is started.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing streaming playback processing. When the confirmation button is pressed (S340: Yes), the control unit 36 sends a request for video data to the content distribution server device 10 from the communication unit 31 (S350), and displays a streaming playback screen on the liquid crystal display unit. 33 is displayed (S360). This request includes a time code that is paired with the subtitle displayed in the middle of the subtitle display area 53 when the confirmation button is pressed. Details of the layout of the streaming playback screen will be described later.

  The control unit 11 of the content distribution server apparatus 10 that has received the request starts downloading video data for the amount of playback scheduled after the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the request (S370).

  When the download of video data by the content distribution server device 10 starts, the control unit 36 starts streaming playback of the video data through the streaming playback screen (S380). When streaming playback starts, processing related to encoding of video data, display of a frame image obtained through the encoding, sound emission, and display of subtitles corresponding to the frame image are performed in parallel. Specifically, the procedure of these processes is as follows. Video data downloaded from the content distribution server is stored in a buffer area secured in the RAM 39. The control unit 36 decodes the video data stored in the buffer area, sequentially displays a series of frame images obtained through the decoding in a frame image display area 55 (described later) of the streaming playback screen, and releases the sound. Sound is emitted from the sound part 35. The display switching timing of each frame image and the sound emission timing are specified based on a time code obtained together with the frame image and the sound signal at the time of decoding. In addition, the control unit 36 obtains subtitles that are paired with the time code having the same position on the time axis as the frame image from the text data stored in the RAM 39, and these subtitles are displayed in the subtitle display area 56 of the streaming playback screen. (To be described later) sequentially displayed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a streaming playback screen. This screen has a layout in which a frame image display area 55 and a caption display area 56 are arranged vertically below the playback time display area 52. In the frame image display area 55, a frame image obtained by decoding the video data is displayed. In the caption display area 56, captions acquired from the text data in the RAM 39 are displayed. As described above, the frame images and subtitles in these areas 55 and 56 are switched according to the flow of the time axis.

  In step S380, when streaming playback starts, the user can instruct fast forward or rewind of subtitles through left and right operations of the multifunction buttons of the operation unit 32. A fast-forward instruction is issued by pressing the right button of the multi-function, and a rewind instruction is given by pressing the left button. In addition, an instruction to reproduce video data from a fast-forward destination or a rewind destination is issued by pressing the enter button.

  When an instruction for fast-forwarding is given (S390: Yes), the control unit 36 acquires a subtitle subsequent to the subtitle displayed in the subtitle display area 56 from the text data in the RAM 39 (S410), and the subtitle is displayed on the streaming playback screen. Is displayed in the subtitle display area 56 (S420), and a request addressed to the content distribution server device 10 for video data is transmitted from the communication unit 31 (S430). This request includes a time code that is paired with the caption obtained in step S410.

  The control unit 11 of the content distribution server apparatus 10 that has received the request starts downloading video data for the amount of playback scheduled after the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the request (S440). That is, in this step S440, the download of the video data that has continued until the request is received is temporarily interrupted, and the download of the video data after the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the request is started again.

  On the other hand, when an instruction to rewind is given (S400: Yes), the control unit 36 acquires the subtitle preceding the subtitle displayed in the subtitle display area 56 from the text data in the RAM 39 (S450), and the subtitle is displayed. The streaming reproduction image is displayed in the subtitle display area 56 (S460), and a request for the video data is sent from the communication unit 31 to the content distribution server device 10 (S470). This request includes a time code that is paired with the caption obtained in step S450.

  The control unit 11 of the content distribution server apparatus 10 that has received the request starts downloading video data for the amount of playback scheduled after the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the request (S480). Similarly to step S440 described above, in step S480, the download of video data that has continued until the request is received is temporarily interrupted, and the download of video data after the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the request is updated. Be started.

  In the content selection support process of the mobile phone terminal 30 according to the present embodiment described above, the mobile phone terminal 30 that has received the text data of the video content data corresponding to the title selected by the user from the menu screen from the content distribution server device 10. However, three subtitles whose positions on the time axis are continuous are acquired from the text data, and the acquired subtitles and thumbnail images corresponding to the subtitles are displayed on the playback location search screen. Further, the pair of subtitles and thumbnail images displayed on the playback location search screen is scrolled up and down through the up and down operation of the operation unit 32, and the image data of the thumbnail images is stored as content each time a new thumbnail image appears by scrolling. It is received in exchange for a request to the distribution server device 16. As described above, the subtitle text data from the beginning to the end of the content is collectively received, while the thumbnail image data having a data capacity larger than the text data is received on-demand, so that the operation unit It is possible to improve the followability of the scroll with respect to the up / down operation of 32 and to efficiently use the memory resource of the mobile phone terminal 30.

  In the content playback process of the mobile phone terminal 30 according to the above embodiment, a streaming playback screen in which the frame image display area 55 and the caption display area 56 are individually arranged is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 33, and the caption display area 56 is displayed. The subtitles displayed on the screen are scrolled left and right through left and right operations of the operation unit 32. When an instruction to reproduce video data is given from the fast-forward destination or the rewind destination location through the left and right operations, the video data is reproduced from that location. In this way, the subtitle in the subtitle display area 56 is fast-forwarded or rewinded without interrupting the playback of the video data in the frame image display area 55, and the video data is replayed from that position when an instruction to confirm the playback position is given. By doing so, the operability of rewinding and fast-forwarding can be further improved.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can be modified in various ways.

  In the content selection support process of the mobile phone terminal 30 according to the above embodiment, when a fast-forward or rewind instruction is given by the up / down operation of the multifunction button, a request addressed to the content distribution server device 10 for obtaining thumbnail image data Is first transmitted, and after decoding the thumbnail image data included in the response, the thumbnail image obtained through the decoding and the corresponding subtitles are displayed together. On the other hand, when a fast forward or rewind instruction is given, only the subtitles are switched first, and the thumbnail image obtained by decoding the thumbnail image data may be displayed later.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a moving image content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a hardware schematic block diagram of a content delivery server apparatus. It is a hardware schematic block diagram of a mobile telephone terminal. It is a flowchart which shows a content selection assistance process (first half part). It is a flowchart which shows a content selection assistance process (second half part). It is a figure which shows a reproduction | regeneration location search screen. It is a figure which shows a reproduction | regeneration location search screen. It is a flowchart which shows a streaming reproduction process. It is a figure which shows a streaming reproduction | regeneration screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Content delivery server apparatus, 91 ... Internet communication network, 92 ... Mobile packet communication network, 93 ... Gateway server apparatus, 30 ... Mobile phone terminal, 11, 36 ... Control part, 12 ... Communication interface, 13 ... Hard disk, 14 37 ... CPU, 15, 38 ... ROM, 16, 39 ... RAM, 17 ... content database, 18 ... menu screen display support data, 40 ... EEPROM, 31 ... communication unit, 32 ... operation unit, 33 ... liquid crystal display unit, 34 ... Sound collection unit, 35 ... Sound emission unit, 52 ... Playback time display area, 53, 56 ... Subtitle display area, 54 ... Thumbnail image display area, 55 ... Frame image display area,

Claims (5)

Operation means;
Communication means;
Display means;
Storage means;
A series of frame images constituting the video content, or text data indicating subtitles corresponding to each of some of the frame images and a time indicating a position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the video content. First control means for acquiring each pair of codes via the communication means and storing the acquired pairs in the storage means;
Second control for causing the display means to display subtitles indicated by one or more pairs of text data identified from the storage means, and for transmitting a first request including the time code of the pair via the communication means. Means,
The thumbnail image data indicating the reduced image of the frame image scheduled to be reproduced at the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the first request is acquired via the communication unit, and the acquired thumbnail image data is Third control means for causing the display means to display a reduced image to be displayed in association with the subtitle;
The means for accepting the selection of the displayed subtitles through the operation of the operation means. When the selection of the subtitles is accepted, a second request including a time code paired with the subtitles for the selection is received via the communication means. A fourth control means for transmitting
Video data indicating a series of frame images scheduled to be reproduced after the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the second request is acquired via the communication unit, and the series indicated by the acquired video data Fifth control means for sequentially displaying the frame images on the display means;
A video content playback terminal comprising: The second control means includes
A group of the plurality of pairs including time codes whose positions on the time axis are continuous is specified from the storage unit according to the operation of the operation unit, and the subtitles indicated by each text data of the specified pair are displayed on the time axis The first position including the time code of each of those pairs is simultaneously or individually transmitted via the communication means while being displayed on the display means side by side from the position preceded.
The video content reproduction terminal according to claim 1, wherein The operation means includes
A first button for instructing a shift to the preceding subtitle,
Have
The second control means includes
Each time the first button is operated, a time code that is paired with the text data of the subtitle whose time axis position is the earliest among subtitles displayed side by side on the display means is specified from the storage means. The display means includes the subtitles indicated by the text data paired with the time code preceding the specified time code, together with the subtitles excluding the subtitle that is displayed on the time axis among the subtitles displayed side by side. And a rewind direction scroll control means for transmitting the first request including the preceding time code via the communication means,
The video content reproduction terminal according to claim 2, further comprising: The operation means includes
A second button for instructing a shift to the following subtitle,
Have
The second control means includes
Each time the second button is operated, a time code that is paired with the text data of the latest subtitle in the subtitles displayed side by side on the display means is identified from the storage means. The display means includes the subtitles indicated by the text data paired with the time code subsequent to the specified time code, together with the subtitles excluding the subtitle that is displayed on the time axis among the subtitles displayed side by side. And fast-forwarding direction scroll control means for transmitting the first request including the subsequent time code via the communication means,
The video content reproduction terminal according to claim 2, further comprising: In a computer having operation means, communication means, display means, and storage means,
A series of frame images constituting the video content, or text data indicating subtitles corresponding to each of some of the frame images and a time indicating a position on the time axis from the beginning to the end of the video content. A first control function for acquiring each pair of codes via the communication means, and storing each acquired pair in the storage means;
Second control for causing the display means to display subtitles indicated by one or more pairs of text data identified from the storage means, and for transmitting a first request including the time code of the pair via the communication means. Function and
The thumbnail image data indicating the reduced image of the frame image scheduled to be reproduced at the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the first request is acquired via the communication unit, and the acquired thumbnail image data is A third control function for causing the display means to display a reduced image to be displayed in association with the subtitle;
The function of accepting selection of the displayed subtitles through the operation of the operation means. When the selection of the subtitles is accepted, a second request including a time code paired with the subtitles related to the selection is sent via the communication means. A fourth control function for sending
Video data indicating a series of frame images scheduled to be reproduced after the position on the time axis indicated by the time code included in the second request is acquired via the communication unit, and the series indicated by the acquired video data A fifth control function for sequentially displaying the frame images on the display means;
A video content playback program that realizes

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