JP2009070525A - Information processing device, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to use a portable apparatus for fast-forward playback in the same way as at home even when the user is in a remote location. <P>SOLUTION: A recorder performs fast reproduction of titles to be transferred in the recorder and re-records the titles being reproduced (S1). The recorder performs fast-forward time axis conversion to chapter information of normal reproduction content and generates chapter information for a fast-forward reproduction file (S2 and S3). The recorder adds the chapter information to the fast-forward reproduction file (S4). The present invention is applicable, for example, to a reproducing device for transmitting/receiving and reproducing content. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device, method, and program, and more particularly, to an information processing device, method, and method that can perform fast-view reproduction similar to an indoor recording device even when the user has a portable device. Regarding the program.

  In recent years, recording apparatuses for recording television broadcasts and the like have become capable of recording for a long time by introducing a large-capacity recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD).

  On the other hand, the viewing time of the user is finite. Therefore, a recording apparatus having a function of reducing the reproduction time has recently appeared so that the user can view a program recorded for a long time within the finite time. In other words, the function to shorten the playback time is a so-called “fast playback with sound (hereinafter referred to as“ fast playback ”)” that is a playback function that is faster than the normal playback speed, or only highlight scenes are played back. This is a function such as “digest playback” or “highlight playback”. In recent years, a recording apparatus having a function of creating a moving image file for a portable device (hereinafter referred to as a portable moving image file) so that the user can view it even when away from home and transferring it to the portable device has appeared (patents). References 1 to 5).

Under such circumstances, even when the user has a portable device, there is a demand from many users to perform fast-view playback similar to an indoor recording device.
JP 2005-251374 A JP 2004-40629 A JP 2006-54619 A JP 2003-37817 A JP 2006-4543 A

  However, at present, it is difficult to say that such a request can be sufficiently met.

  That is, in the first place, there are many portable devices that do not have a quick-play function. Therefore, in order to enable fast-playing using such a portable device that does not have a fast-playing function, the mobile video file itself needs to be a file dedicated to fast-playing. That is, for example, it is necessary to create a mobile moving image file in advance so as to include a video signal and an audio signal subjected to frame thinning processing.

  In the conventional technique, as a method for creating such a portable video file dedicated to quick-playing, the following method has been present. That is, by connecting the first device having the fast-playback function and the HDD and the second device having the portable video file creation function, the first device can play the fast-playback of the broadcast program recorded on the HDD. Mobile video including the video signal and the audio signal input to the second device by transferring the video signal and the audio signal when the fast-playing is performed from the first device to the second device. There is a conventional method of creating a file.

  However, with this method, time-related additional information, such as chapter information, among additional information (metadata, etc.) held in a broadcast program or the like that has been played back at an early stage is not carried over to the mobile video file. Such a method can be applied to an analog broadcast program, but cannot be applied to a digital broadcast program. This is because the current digital broadcast is almost broadcast with a copy-once that permits copying only once, and the digital broadcast program recorded on the HDD becomes a copy-necessary copy never.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to perform fast-view reproduction similar to that of an indoor recording apparatus even when the user has a portable device.

  An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that controls recording of content, and the content playback mode is changed from a first mode in which playback is performed according to a first time axis to the first Reproduction form conversion means for converting to a second form reproduced on a second time axis different from the time axis, and first information whose time position is specified for the content of the first form, Information conversion means for converting the content of the second form into second information whose time position is specified; and the content whose reproduction form has been converted to the second form by the reproduction form conversion means; And recording control means for controlling recording on the first recording medium in association with the second information converted from the first information by the information converting means.

  In the first recording medium, a first file including the content of the first form and the first information is recorded in advance, and the recording control unit further includes the second form of the second form. Control is performed to generate a second file including the content and the second information, and to record the second file in association with the first file on the first recording medium.

  The information processing apparatus further transfers the second file from the first recording medium to a second recording medium that is a move destination, and can reproduce whether or not the content included in the first file can be reproduced. A move-out is performed by transitioning from an active state to an inactive state that cannot be regenerated.

When the information processing apparatus further occupies the second recording medium and is under the control of the information processing apparatus after the move-out, the information processing apparatus changes the state of the content included in the first file to the inactive state. A transition is temporarily made from the state to the active state.

  The information processing apparatus further occupies the second recording medium and puts it under the management of the information processing apparatus, and then removes the second recording medium from the management to the first file. The state of the contained content is transitioned from the temporary active state to the inactive state.

  An information processing method and program according to one aspect of the present invention are a method and program corresponding to the information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention described above.

  In the information processing apparatus, method, and program according to an aspect of the present invention, the content reproduction form is a second time different from the first time axis from the first form that is reproduced according to the first time axis. The first information that is converted to the second form to be played back on the axis and the time position is specified for the content of the first form is the time position for the content of the second form. The content that has been converted to the second information to be identified and whose reproduction form has been converted to the second form is associated with the second information that has been converted from the first information, and the recording medium To be recorded.

  As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, fast-playing can be realized. In particular, it is possible to perform fast-view reproduction similar to that of an indoor recording device even when the user has a portable device.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between the constituent elements of the present invention and the embodiments described in the specification or the drawings are exemplified as follows. This description is intended to confirm that the embodiments supporting the present invention are described in the specification or the drawings. Therefore, even if there is an embodiment which is described in the specification or the drawings but is not described here as an embodiment corresponding to the constituent elements of the present invention, that is not the case. It does not mean that the form does not correspond to the constituent requirements. Conversely, even if an embodiment is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, that means that the embodiment does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. It's not something to do.

An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention (for example, the recording apparatus 11 in FIG. 1)
An information processing apparatus for controlling content recording,
The content reproduction form is changed from the first form reproduced according to the first time axis (for example, MPEG2 PS or TS which is the normal reproduction content of FIG. 3 and included in the stream file of FIG. 7). Is converted to a second form (for example, the mdat included in the MP4 file, which is the quick-playing content in FIG. 7, for example, the quick-playing content in FIG. 7) that is played back on the second time-axis different from Reproduction format conversion means (for example, the AV encoder 24 and AV decoder 25 in FIGS. 1 and 7);
First information for specifying a time position with respect to the content of the first form (for example, each chapter point position indicated by Δ (triangle) with respect to the time axis of the normal reproduction content in FIG. 3) The chapter information, which is the chapter information in the stream file of FIG. 7, is second information (for example, the time of the fast-playing content in FIG. 3) whose time position is specified with respect to the content in the second form. Information converting means (chapter information consisting of chapter point positions marked with Δ (triangle mark) with respect to the axis and converted into chapter information included in moov in the MP4 file, which is the quick-play file in FIG. For example, CPU 21 in FIG. 1 and FIG.
The content whose reproduction form has been converted to the second form by the reproduction form conversion means and the second information converted from the first information by the information conversion means are associated (FIG. 7). In the example, the recording control means (for example, the disk controller 27 in FIGS. 1 and 7) that controls recording on the first recording medium (for example, the HDD 34 in FIGS. 1 and 7) is included in the same quick-play file. And.

In the first recording medium, a first file (for example, a stream file in FIG. 7) including the content in the first form and the first information is recorded in advance.
The recording control unit further generates a second file including the content of the second form and the second information, and converts the second file (for example, the quick-view reproduction file of FIG. 7) into the first file. Recording on the first recording medium in association with the first file.

The information processing apparatus further includes:
The second file is transferred from the first recording medium to a second recording medium (for example, the external recording medium 12 in FIG. 1) of the move destination, and whether or not the content included in the first file can be reproduced. Moveout is performed by transitioning from the reproducible active state to the non-reproducible inactive state.

  The information processing method and program according to one aspect of the present invention are, for example, a method and program corresponding to the information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention described above. Such a program is executed by, for example, a computer including the CPU 21 of FIG.

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

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a recording apparatus as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

  In the recording device 11 of FIG. 1, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 performs various processes according to a program recorded in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22 or a program loaded from a storage unit 34 to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23. Execute the process. The RAM 23 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 21 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 21, ROM 22, and RAM 23 are connected to each other via a bus 29 (hereinafter referred to as a stream bus 29). The stream bus 29 is also connected with an AV encoder 24, an AV decoder 25, a tuner 26, a disk controller 27, and an input / output interface 28.

  The AV encoder 24, the AV decoder 25, and the tuner 26 are also connected to each other via a bus 30 (hereinafter referred to as an AV bus 30).

  The AV encoder 24 compresses and encodes the video signal and the audio signal according to a predetermined encoding method, and then multiplexes and encrypts the video signal and the audio signal as necessary. The encoding method employed by the AV encoder 24 is not particularly limited. Although specific examples will be described later, in the present embodiment, a plurality of types of encoding methods are employed. Therefore, the AV encoder 24 is configured to be able to freely switch the type of encoding method.

  The AV decoder 25 decompresses and decodes the video signal and the audio signal that are compression-encoded by a predetermined encoding method. However, when the data to be decompressed / decrypted is encrypted data, the AV decoder 25 decrypts (decrypts) the encrypted data and decompresses / decrypts the data. When the target data for decompression decoding is multiplexed data, the AV decoder 25 performs demultiplexing after demultiplexing the multiplexed data. That is, the AV decoder 25 separates the video signal and the audio signal, and decompresses and decodes each separated signal. In the present embodiment, as described above, a plurality of types of encoding methods are employed. Therefore, the AV decoder 25 is also configured to perform decompression decoding processing according to the type of encoding method to be processed.

  The tuner 26 does not show a broadcast wave of a channel selected by the user (a channel corresponding to the input of the input unit 31) or a preset channel, that is, a broadcast wave broadcast from a broadcast station corresponding to the channel. Receive and demodulate via antenna. In the present embodiment, the tuner 26 is configured to include both a so-called analog broadcast tuner and a digital broadcast tuner.

  An external input / output processing unit 38 is also connected to the AV bus 30 to which the AV encoder 24, the AV decoder 25, and the tuner 26 are connected. The external output processing unit 38 appropriately executes input / output processing of video signals and audio signals with an external device such as a display device.

  The disk controller 27 performs control to read / write various types of information to / from a storage unit 34 configured by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like.

  In addition, the disk controller 27 performs control to read / write various information to / from the external recording medium 12 via the external interface 35. That is, various types of information can be transferred from the recording device 11 to the external recording medium 12. Note that move-out will be described later as an example of such transfer. Various types of information can also be transferred from the external recording medium 12 to the recording device 11. As an example of such transfer, move back will be described later.

  Furthermore, the disk controller 27 performs control for reading and writing various information to and from the removable medium 37 via the drive 36. The removable medium 37 is a package medium comprising a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (including a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory. Configured as

  Connected to the input / output interface 28 are an input unit 31 composed of various keys, an output unit 32 composed of a display, a speaker, and the like, and a communication unit 33 composed of a modem, a terminal adapter, and the like. The communication unit 33 performs communication processing with other information processing apparatuses via a network including the Internet.

  The recording apparatus 11 configured as shown in FIG. 1 can perform various operations. Therefore, hereinafter, several examples of the operation of the recording apparatus 11 will be sequentially described.

  The recording device 11 can record content as a basic operation.

  Here, content is widely generated by human creative activities. For example, movies, music, theatre, literary arts, photographs, comics, animations, computer games and other characters, figures, colors, sounds, actions or videos, or combinations thereof, or information related thereto are provided via an electronic computer. Is a content example.

  In the following description, it is assumed that content composed of video and audio is the main recording target of the recording device 11. More specifically, description will be made assuming that the content constituting an analog broadcast or digital broadcast program is the main recording target of the recording device 11.

  The recording location of the content is not particularly limited, and for example, the removable medium 37 can be used. However, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that it is the storage unit 34 (hereinafter also referred to as HDD 34).

  Also, the recording form of the content on the HDD 34 is not particularly limited. However, in this embodiment, it is assumed that content is managed for each title. When one title is recorded on the HDD 34, content in a form (hereinafter referred to as recording device content) encoded in an encoding method suitable for reproduction in the recording device 11, and the transfer destination external Content in a form encoded by an encoding method suitable for reproduction by the recording medium 12 (hereinafter referred to as “external recording medium transfer content”) is generated, and both forms are associated and recorded in the HDD 34. And

  More precisely, for example, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the recording device content and the external recording medium transfer content are included in separate files and recorded in the HDD 34. Therefore, hereinafter, in order to make the distinction between these files clear, a file in which content for a recording device is included is referred to as a stream file, while a file in which content for external recording medium transfer is included is referred to as a portable video file. .

  Specifically, for example, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, one broadcast program such as “9 o'clock news”, “World Cup”, “Today's dish” is managed as one title. . Then, for this one broadcast program, a stream file and a mobile video file are respectively configured and recorded in the HDD 34 in association with each other. In the example of FIG. 2, for “9 o'clock news”, only a stream file named news and a mobile video file are shown.

  In other words, it is not necessary for the user to specifically recognize the distinction between the stream file and the portable video file, and it can be operated by recognizing that the recording unit is a title.

  For example, when the user desires to view (reproduce) a predetermined title, the user only has to select a desired one from a plurality of titles listed in the title list as shown in FIG. Good. Furthermore, in this case, the types of playback that can be selected by the user include various types of special playback, for example, higher than normal speed, in addition to normal speed (single speed) playback (hereinafter referred to as normal playback). There is also a replay, i.e., a quick-play. Furthermore, it is assumed that the user can also select a playback speed (hereinafter referred to as “fast viewing speed”) in fast playback.

  Therefore, as an example of the operation of the recording apparatus 11, an operation for quick-playing will be described below.

  The disc controller 27 reads out the stream file (recording device content) of the title selected by the user from the HDD 34 in accordance with the fast viewing speed, and provides it to the AV decoder 25.

  Here, it is assumed that the recording device content is, for example, an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) -2 system stream.

  In this case, since the content for the recording device is encrypted, the AV decoder 25 appropriately decrypts (decodes) it, further separates it into a video stream and an audio stream, and decompresses and decodes them respectively. The AV decoder 25 performs a frame thinning process according to, for example, a fast viewing speed before and after the decompression decoding. Hereinafter, a series of processes of the AV decoder 25 accompanied with such a frame decimation process is referred to as decimation decoding. As a result of the thinning decoding, a video baseband signal and an audio PCM signal in which frames are appropriately thinned in accordance with the fast viewing speed are obtained and provided to the external input / output processing unit 38.

  The external input / output processing unit 38 outputs the video baseband signal and the audio PCM signal to an external device such as a monitor device. At that time, the external input / output processing unit 38 appropriately executes, for example, graphic superimposition processing, downmix processing, filtering processing, D / A conversion processing, and the like as necessary.

  As a result, the user can view a title that is quickly played back from an external device such as a monitor device.

  Next, as another example of the operation of the recording device 11, a series of operations until a predetermined broadcast program is recorded on the HDD 34 as one title will be described.

  However, an analog broadcast broadcast program and a digital broadcast broadcast program have slightly different operations as follows because the signal format at the time of reception is different.

  That is, in the case of an analog broadcast program, analog video signals and audio signals input from the tuner 26 and the external input / output processing unit 38 are subjected to A / D conversion processing in the tuner 26 and the external input / output processing unit 38. As a result, a digitized video baseband signal or audio PCM signal is input to the AV encoder 24.

  The AV encoder 24 multiplexes the digitized video baseband signal and audio PCM signal as, for example, a compression-encoded video stream and audio stream such as MPEG-2 to form an MPEG-2 system stream, Further, encryption is performed, and the resulting stream is provided to the disk controller 27 as recording device content.

  The disk controller 27 includes the recording device content in the stream file and records it in the HDD 34.

  In parallel with the recording of the recording device content, the external recording medium transfer content is also recorded on the HDD 34 as follows.

  That is, the AV encoder 24 encrypts and multiplexes the digitized video baseband signal and audio PCM signal, for example, as a compressed and encoded video stream and audio stream such as MPEG-4 as necessary. As a result, it is converted into an MP4 file and provided to the disk controller 27.

  The disk controller 27 records the MP4 file on the HDD 34 as a portable video file.

  At this time, the stream file and the portable video file are recorded in the HDD 34 in association with each other as a pair of predetermined titles.

  In contrast to the recording operation in the case of an analog broadcast broadcast program described above, the recording operation in the case of a digital broadcast broadcast program is performed as follows.

  That is, a broadcast program of digital broadcasting is received by the tuner 26 and input to the AV decoder 25 as, for example, an encrypted MPEG-2 system stream.

  The AV decoder 25 decrypts (decrypts) the encrypted MPEG-2 system stream. Then, the AV decoder 25 separates the decoded MPEG-2 system stream into a video stream and an audio stream, and performs decompression decoding on each. Thereby, a digitized video baseband signal and audio PCM signal are obtained and input to the AV encoder 24.

  The AV encoder 24 multiplexes the digitized video baseband signal and audio PCM signal as, for example, a compression-encoded video stream and audio stream such as MPEG-2 to form an MPEG-2 system stream, Further, encryption is performed, and the resulting stream is provided to the disk controller 27 as recording device content.

  The disk controller 27 includes the recording device content in the stream file and records it in the HDD 34.

  In parallel with the recording of the recording device content, the external recording medium transfer content is also recorded on the HDD 34 as follows.

  That is, the AV encoder 24 encrypts and multiplexes the digitized video baseband signal and audio PCM signal, for example, as a compressed and encoded video stream and audio stream such as MPEG-4 as necessary. As a result, it is converted into an MP4 file and provided to the disk controller 27.

  The disk controller 27 records the MP4 file on the HDD 34 as a portable video file.

  At this time, the stream file and the portable video file are recorded in the HDD 34 in association with each other as a pair of predetermined titles.

  Note that the above-described recording operation is merely an example. That is, it is only necessary to finally record a stream file and a mobile video file in a pair in association with each other, and the flow and method of operations up to that point are not particularly limited. . Specifically, for example, the recording apparatus 11 decrypts (decodes) a stream received by the tuner 26 for a digital broadcast program, and then re-encrypts the digital broadcast program without performing video and audio compression encoding processing. You may make it record on HDD34.

  Here, an outline of the MP4 file adopted as the mobile video file in the present embodiment will be described.

  An MP4 file refers to an MP4 format file based on ISO / IEC14496-12, and specifically refers to a file having the following configuration.

  That is, the MP4 file is mainly composed of mdat, which is a set of encoded data of moving images and audio, and data called moov centered on a table of their data positions and presentation times.

  mdat corresponds to the external recording medium transfer content referred to in the present embodiment.

  moov consists of video and audio tracks. Each track stores a table of data positions and presentation times from the beginning of the file of the access unit (one picture for moving images). moov can also store metadata such as title names and creation dates. That is, various metadata related to the recording medium transfer content can be stored in moov.

  Therefore, for example, a temporal arrangement position of chapter points (hereinafter referred to as chapter point position) can be included in moov as one of metadata.

  Here, the method itself of how to lie down chapter points is not particularly limited. For example, it is possible to employ a technique of detecting a point indicating a predetermined feature in the content (hereinafter referred to as a feature point) and using the feature point as a chapter point. It is assumed that this method is also adopted in the present embodiment.

  That is, it is assumed that the recording apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment has a function of detecting feature points in order to realize such a method. That is, as described above, during the period until the content is recorded on the HDD 34, there is a timing when the content form becomes a video baseband signal or an audio PCM signal. Thus, for example, the CPU 21 detects a predetermined feature amount each time by analyzing the video baseband signal or the audio PCM signal for each predetermined unit (for example, every frame, every GOP, every chunk, etc.) at such timing. Recognize the time-series transition of those feature quantities. And CPU21 detects a feature point based on the recognition result. CPU21 produces | generates the information (henceforth chapter information) which shows each chapter point position by making this feature point into a chapter point.

  In this case, the CPU 21 can control the chapter information to be recorded in the HDD 34 as content metadata. That is, the CPU 21 can add the chapter information to the moov of the corresponding mobile video file.

  The method of adding chapter information to moov itself is not particularly limited, but for example, the following method can be employed.

  The first method is a method of arranging chapter time information in order in the user area of moov.

  The second method is a method of preparing a chapter track in moov and storing a table of chapter images and chapter time information.

  Note that such chapter information can also be used during playback on the recording device 11, and therefore can be included in a paired stream file, that is, a stream file including recording device content of the same title.

  Furthermore, it is sufficient that the chapter information is associated with mdat as the external recording medium transfer content, and it is not essential to store it in moov.

  For example, apart from the MP4 file containing mdat, prepare a chapter-dedicated file that is paired with the MP4 file and arrange the chapter time information in the dedicated file or store the chapter image and chapter time information table It is also possible to adopt the method.

  Alternatively, a database of MP4 files recorded on the external recording medium 12 is prepared in the HDD 34 of the recording device 11 and chapter information is registered in the database, that is, whether chapter time information is arranged in the database. A method of storing a table of chapter images and chapter time information can also be adopted.

  As described above, as an example of the operation of the recording device 11, an operation for quick playback of a title (hereinafter referred to as a quick playback operation) and an operation of recording a title on the HDD 34 (creation of a stream fill or a portable video file) (hereinafter, content (Referred to as recording operation).

  Here, since the quick-playing operation and the content recording operation are independent of each other, parallel execution, that is, simultaneous execution is possible.

  As a result, the recording device 11 reproduces a predetermined title recorded in the HDD 34, that is, generates a fast reproduction stream with frame thinning or the like, The content for external recording medium transfer can be included in the portable video file and re-recorded on the HDD 34. Hereinafter, such a mobile video file for quick playback is referred to as a quick playback file in order to distinguish it from a mobile video file for normal playback. The external recording medium transfer content included in the quick-play file is referred to as fast-play content.

  If chapter information can also be included in such a fast-playing file, the user can perform fast-playing from a desired chapter point position using an external playback device that does not have the fast-playing function. It is.

  However, the fast-playing content is content in which several frames are appropriately thinned out from the recording device content for normal playback (hereinafter referred to as normal playback content when compared with the fast-playing content). . In other words, the frames included in the quick-view playback content are also included in the normal playback content, but the playback time (temporal arrangement position) of the same frame is completely different. That is, the time axis of the normal playback content and the time axis of the quick-view playback content are different. Therefore, the chapter point position in the normal reproduction content cannot be inherited as it is in the quick-view reproduction content.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 21 of the recording device 11 quickly locates each chapter point position from the position on the time axis of the normal playback content (position of Δ (triangle mark) on the upper side in FIG. 3). Performs processing (hereinafter referred to as quick reference time axis conversion processing) for conversion to the position on the time axis of the playback content (arrangement position of Δ (triangle mark) on the lower side in FIG. 3), and each chapter point position after the conversion The information indicating “” may be associated with the quick-play file as chapter information. Here, it is described that the association is made, the converted chapter information can be included in the moov of the quick-play file, but as described above, another dedicated file associated with the quick-play file, This is because it can be included in a database or the like.

  Furthermore, the quick reference time axis conversion process will be described using the specific examples of FIGS. 4 and 5.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of normal reproduction content.

  In FIG. 4, the frame of the film means the content of the normal playback content. That is, in the example of FIG. 4, the normal playback content is composed of a main part of a broadcast program and a CM (Commercial Message) broadcast between the main part. Note that CM and CM2 in FIG. 4 indicate separate CMs. Further, the display of αMβS (α and β are numbers) on the right side of the time axis means that the time when the display start time of the first frame of the normal playback content is 0, that is, α minutes β seconds. Yes. Further, the bar graph on the side of the film indicates the audio level for each predetermined unit (for example, GOP or chunk) of the audio PCM signal, and indicates that the level increases as it goes to the right in the figure. That is, in the example of FIG. 4, the audio level is adopted as the feature amount. Note that the assumptions in this paragraph also apply to FIG.

  Here, it is considered to facilitate the cueing of commercials and the main part of the program. In this case, the CPU 21 may detect a gap between the main story and the CM or a gap between the CM and another CM as a chapter point (feature point).

  For example, commercials in Japan are broadcast in 15-second units, and before and after that, screen changes occur and there are many silent portions. Therefore, the CPU 21 can analyze, for example, a change in audio level and detect a position on the time axis that is a silent part as a feature point, that is, a chapter point. That is, in the example of FIG. 4, 0 minute 30 seconds, 0 minute 45 seconds, and 1 minute 00 seconds are detected as the chapter point positions.

  The CPU 21 can also adopt a predetermined feature amount of the frame image and detect a position on the time axis at which the screen is switched as a feature point, that is, a chapter point.

  FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the fast-playing content when the fast-viewing speed is 1.5 times the normal speed.

  As is clear from FIG. 5, the chapter point positions shown on the time axis of the normal playback content in FIG. 4, ie, 0 minutes 30 seconds, 0 minutes 45 seconds, 1 minute 00 seconds, are used as the chapter point positions. If this happens, it will not be possible to find the beginning of a commercial or the main part of a program. This is because the time axis of the normal playback content in FIG. 4 is different from the time axis of the quick-view playback content in FIG.

  For this reason, the CPU 21 executes the above-mentioned quick viewing time axis conversion process, that is, the process of converting each chapter point position from the position on the time axis of the normal playback content to the position on the time axis of the fast playback content. is there. In the example of FIG. 5, the fast viewing speed is 1.5 times the normal speed. That is, the time axis of the fast-playing content (FIG. 5) is a time axis in which time elapses at a speed 1.5 times faster than the time axis of the normal playback content (FIG. 4). That is, a time obtained by multiplying the predetermined time on the time axis of the normal reproduction content by 2/3 is the corresponding time on the time axis of the quick-view reproduction content. Therefore, the CPU 21 only has to convert the position of each chapter point on the time axis of the normal playback content to the position of 2/3 times the time. That is, the CPU 21 converts 0 minutes and 30 seconds into 2/3 times 0 minutes and 20 seconds, converts 0 minutes and 45 seconds into 2/3 times 0 minutes and 30 seconds, and converts 1 minute 00 seconds to 2 You just need to convert it to 0/340 times / 3 times.

  As a result, even when playing fast-playing content, it is possible to easily find the beginning of the CM and the beginning of the main program, which improves user convenience.

  Further, a series of processes up to the creation of a fast-playing playback file (hereinafter referred to as a fast-playing playback file creation process) including such a fast-viewing time axis conversion process will be described below with reference to FIGS. .

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the quick-play file creation process.

  FIG. 7 shows an outline of various information flows when the quick-play file creation process is executed.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the chapter information after the quick reference time axis conversion process is stored in moov. However, as described above, the storage location of chapter information is not limited to moov. For the sake of simplicity, the HDD 34 only shows the stream file of the title to be transferred. However, as described above, the mobile video file (for normal playback) of the title to be transferred may actually be recorded in association with the stream file. Further, the data described as “MPEG2 PS or TS” in the stream file of FIG. 7 indicates the content for the recording device of the title to be transferred.

  In step S1 of FIG. 6, the recording device 11 reproduces the title to be transferred within the recording device 11 in a fast-viewing manner (thinning decoding) and re-records the title that is being played back in a fast-forwarding manner (to the transfer destination external recording medium 12) Encode with a suitable encoding method).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the data described as “MPEG2 PS or TS” in the stream file, that is, the content for the recording device of the title to be transferred is read by the disk controller 27 and is read by the AV decoder 25. And the AV decoder 25 performs decimation decoding, so that the fast playback within the recording device 11 is performed.

  In this way, the content subjected to the thinning decoding, that is, the video baseband signal and the audio PCM signal in which the frames are thinned appropriately according to the fast viewing speed are provided to the AV encoder 24. The content subjected to such thinning decoding is converted into an MP4 file by the AV encoder 24. The MP4 file is recorded in the HDD 34 by the disk controller 27 as a quick play file. That is, the title that is being played back is re-recorded. In the example of FIG. 7, mdat is a fast-playing content.

  In step S2, the recording device 11 acquires chapter information for normal playback content of the title to be transferred. In the example of FIG. 7, the chapter information for the normal playback content of the title to be transferred is included in the stream file and recorded in the HDD 34. Therefore, the chapter information is read from the stream file by the disk controller 27 and provided to the CPU 21.

  In step S <b> 3, the recording device 11 performs the quick-view time axis conversion process on the acquired chapter information, and generates chapter information for the quick-view playback file. In step S4, the recording device 11 adds chapter information to the quick-view playback file.

  That is, in the example of FIG. 7, the CPU 21 moves each chapter point position specified by the chapter information acquired from the stream file from a position on the time axis of the normal playback content to a position on the time axis of the fast-view playback content. Convert. Then, chapter information indicating each chapter point position after conversion, that is, chapter information for the fast-playing file is stored in moov of the fast-playing file, and is added to the fast-playing file.

  The quick-play file created in this way can be transferred to the external recording medium 12 in the same manner as the portable video file for normal playback. That is, the recording device 11 can transfer the quick-view playback file to the external recording medium 12 in addition to the portable video file for normal playback.

  Here, a move-out, which is a form of transfer to the external recording medium 12, will be described.

  That is, at present, as high-quality video content can be easily stored on a portable recording medium, the importance of protecting the copyright of the video content is increasing. As a copyright protection technique for video content, a technique of attaching copy control information (CCI: Copy Control Information) indicating whether or not copying is possible to the video content is generally used at present. For example, by using copy control information, each video content is in a state where copying is not restricted (copy free, copy free), a state where copying only once (copy once), a state where copying is prohibited ( It is possible to take a state such as copy never or copy never. In the digital broadcasting described above, copy control information indicating “copy once” is currently attached to all video contents, and the recording apparatus normally records such video contents as “copy never” and then records them on a recording medium. .

  Also, the video content recorded on the recording medium as “copy never” is permitted to be copied to another recording medium on condition that the original data is erased on the recording medium side. The operation of erasing the original data and copying it to another recording medium is called “Move”. Thus, for example, when video content is received by a recording device through digital broadcasting or the like and recorded on the HDD in the recording device, when the user wants to store the video content for a long period of time, it can be stored on a removable medium such as a DVD. It becomes possible to move. As a result, both improvement in user convenience and prevention of unauthorized mass copying can be achieved.

  Furthermore, the video content copied to the move destination can be re-copied to the move source on condition that it is erased at the move destination. That is, a first move from the move source to the move destination and a subsequent move from the move destination to the move source are possible. Hereinafter, the first move is referred to as “move out”, and the second move is referred to as “move back”.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the predetermined title is the object to be moved, the move out is performed from the recording device 11 to the external recording medium 12, and the move back is performed from the external recording medium 12 to the recording device 11.

  For example, in the recording apparatus 11 of the present embodiment, each title of such a movement target candidate is managed separately from other titles by a predetermined ID. That is, the predetermined title is described as being recorded in the HDD 34 or the like in association with the stream file and the portable video file, but is associated with the ID indicating the predetermined title. .

  In this case, when the title to be moved is moved out, the mobile video file is transferred to the external recording medium 12. That is, the quick-play file is also a form of a mobile video file, so the quick-play file of the title to be moved is transferred to the external recording medium 12.

  Here, it should be noted that at the time of move-out, it is necessary to delete the title to be moved in the recording apparatus 11 that is the move source. However, the deletion of the title in the present embodiment does not mean that the existence of the actual title data (stream file or the like) itself is deleted from the move source. In other words, the fact that the right to use the title to be moved has been transferred from the recording device 11 at the move source to the external recording medium 12 at the move destination means that the title at the move source is erased at the time of the move out. The right to use a title means, for example, a right to view a title in the present embodiment.

  That is, the actual data itself such as the stream file to be moved remains held in the recording device 11 without being deleted even if it is moved out. Instead, the state in which the title can be reproduced by the stream file in the recording device 11 before the move-out is the state in which the title cannot be reproduced by the stream file in the recording device 11 by the move-out. It will transition to. Hereinafter, a state in which content can be reproduced is appropriately referred to as an active state. On the other hand, a state where regeneration is impossible is appropriately referred to as an inactive state.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, each title is managed by an ID. Further, in the present embodiment, the reproduction availability status of each ID (each title) is managed by, for example, reproduction management information. In other words, in the present embodiment, one piece of reproduction management information including at least an ID and information indicating an active state or an inactive state (hereinafter referred to as reproduction availability information) is created for a predetermined title. Are stored separately from the stream file and the mobile video file (including the quick-view playback file). That is, the reproduction management information of each title is held in the recording device 11, and is associated with each title's stream file and portable video file (including a quick-view reproduction file) by each ID.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the title to be moved is specified by the ID, and the portable moving image file (including the quick-view playback file) having the ID is transferred to the external recording medium 12 and the playback management specified by the ID is used. Updating the information reproducibility information to information indicating an inactive state is a move-out process for the title to be moved.

  When such a move-out process is performed, the title (mobile video file) in the external recording medium 12 can be played back by another mobile device or the like.

  Next, the move back will be described.

  When the recording device 11 and the external recording medium 12 are connected by wired or wireless communication, the recording device 11 acquires the ID of the portable moving image file (including the quick-view playback file) stored in the external recording medium 12. Then, the recording device 11 collates the acquired ID with each ID managed as an inactive state in the recording device 11. In the present embodiment, as described above, the ID managed in the inactive state in the recording device 11 is obtained from the reproduction management information. That is, the recording device 11 uses one or more pieces of reproduction management information whose reproduction availability information is information indicating an inactive state as search targets, searches each ID from these search targets, Collation with the ID acquired from the external recording medium 12 is performed.

  If there is an ID that matches the acquired ID among the searched IDs, the recording device 11 changes the state of the title having the matching ID from the inactive state to the temporarily active state. The temporary active state refers to a state in which reproduction is possible only while a predetermined condition is satisfied. In addition, although it does not specifically limit about predetermined conditions, For example, in this Embodiment, suppose that it is connecting. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the reproduction availability information of the reproduction management information specified by the ID is updated to information indicating a primary active state.

  At this time, however, the external recording medium 12 is connected to the recording apparatus 11 and is occupied by the recording apparatus 11 and is under the management of the recording apparatus 11. In such a case, even if the external recording medium 12 is built in or connected to a portable device or the like, the title (portable moving image file) cannot be reproduced on the portable device or the like side.

  That is, the occupation of the external recording medium 12 means a state in which another device other than the recording device 11 does not access the external recording medium 12. On the other hand, the management of the recording device 11 means a state in which the recording device 11 can access the external recording medium 12. That is, “Occupied by the recording device 11 and managed by the recording device 11” means that a device (for example, a portable device) other than the recording device 11 has a title (mobile video file) in the external recording medium 12. ) Means that the recording device 11 can access the external recording medium 12 in a state where reproduction, copying, erasure, etc. are not executed.

  In this way, a virtual moveback process can be realized without deleting the title (mobile video file) of the moveout destination.

  When such a virtual moveback process is performed, the title (stream file) in the recording device 11 can be reproduced again in the recording device 11 or the like.

  Furthermore, the following re-moving out is also possible.

  That is, when the connection between the recording apparatus 11 and the external recording medium 12 is disconnected in the state where the above-described virtual moveback processing is performed, that is, when the external recording medium 12 is removed from the management of the recording apparatus 11. The recording apparatus 11 immediately starts the move-out process. That is, the recording device 11 changes the title that has been temporarily activated to the inactive state again. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the reproduction availability information of the reproduction management information specified by the ID is updated to information indicating an inactive state.

  As a result, the title (mobile video file) in the external recording medium 12 can be reproduced again on another mobile device or the like.

  As described above, by executing the virtual move-back process, it is possible to realize a move-back without deleting the actual data (mobile video file) of the title of the move-out destination. This eliminates the need to re-transfer the actual content data at the time of re-moving out.

  Therefore, the removal time can be shortened and the convenience of the user can be improved. That is, with the increase in recording capacity of recording media in recent years, the capacity of content data is also increasing, and it takes a long time to transfer such large-capacity content data. Processing time was also long. On the other hand, the re-moving process described above eliminates the need for re-transfer of large-capacity content data, so that the re-moving process time can be shortened by the amount that the transfer time is unnecessary. It is possible to achieve an effect that convenience is improved.

  Further, since the recording device 11 can reproduce the original content in the recording device 11 only when the external recording medium 12 is under management, it is possible to produce an effect that security is not impaired.

  In the state in which the virtual move-back process described above is performed, before the recording device 11 and the external recording medium 12 are connected and the connection is disconnected, the mobile video file (fast-playing) If the file is deleted, the recording device 11 changes the state of the title having the corresponding ID from the inactive state to the active state instead of the temporary active state. Alternatively, the recording device 11 transitions to the active state after transitioning to the temporary active state. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the reproduction availability information of the reproduction management information specified by the ID is updated to information indicating the active state. In this case, the active state of the title is maintained even when the connection between the recording device 11 and the external recording medium 12 is subsequently disconnected. That is, even when the connection between the recording device 11 and the external recording medium 12 is disconnected, it is possible to reproduce the title by the stream file on the recording device 11 side.

  By the way, in the above description, the metadata added to the portable moving image file transferred to the external recording medium 12 by the move or the like is only the chapter information. However, the metadata that can be added to the mobile video file is not particularly limited to chapter information.

  Specifically, for example, caption information can be added as metadata of a mobile video file. However, the caption information includes caption data and the time position of the caption data. That is, the caption information is information specified by the time position, similar to the chapter information described above. Therefore, when a fast-view playback file is adopted as the portable video file, it is necessary to perform a fast-view time axis conversion process for the caption information as well as the chapter information.

  Also, for example, when a stream file (that is, a title with the same ID) that is paired with the mobile video file is played in the recording device 11 before the mobile video file is transferred (move out), the playback stop position is It can be added as metadata of a portable video file as a playback (resume playback) start position.

  In this case, when the title (mobile video file) transferred to the external recording medium 12 is played back by a portable device or the like, playback from the playback (resume playback) start position included as metadata in the mobile video file is performed. That is, reproduction from the reproduction stop position on the recording apparatus 11 side becomes possible. As a result, the user can view the title from a subsequent location where the title has been viewed on the recording device 11 side.

  However, the reproduction start position is information specified by the time position, like the chapter point position described above. Therefore, when the fast-playing file is adopted as the mobile video file, it is necessary to perform the fast-viewing time axis conversion process for the playback start position as well as the chapter information.

  Specifically, for example, it is assumed that the apparatus 11 performs normal playback (single speed playback) for 6 minutes from the beginning. In this case, the reproduction stop position is 6 minutes. Therefore, for example, when a fast-playing file having a fast-playing speed of 1.5 times is a transfer target, the recording device 11 performs a fast-viewing time axis conversion process to set the playback stop position from 6 minutes to 4 minutes (= 6 minutes × 2/3). ), And 4 minutes as a playback start position must be added to the quick-play file.

  As a result, the user can start viewing the title on the recording device 11 side, that is, from a position corresponding to 4 minutes in the 1.5 × fast-forward playback (a position corresponding to 6 minutes in the normal playback at 1 × speed). From), it becomes possible to view on the transfer destination portable device or the like.

  It is assumed that, after that, the user views up to the position of 8 minutes in the fast-forward playback at 1.5 times speed on the transfer destination portable device or the like, and stops viewing (stops playback) there. In this case, the transfer destination portable device or the like can update the reproduction start position, which is one of the metadata of the title, to 8 minutes. Then, when the title is moved back to the recording device 11, the recording device 11 performs reverse conversion processing of the quick-view time axis conversion processing, and subsequently sets the playback start position from 8 minutes to 12 minutes (= 8 minutes × 3/2). ).

  As a result, the user can start viewing the title on the transfer destination portable device or the like, that is, from the position of 12 minutes for normal playback at 1 × speed (equivalent to 8 minutes for fast playback at 1.5 × speed). From the position of the recording device 11, the recording device 11 can view again.

  The playback start position has been described as the previous playback stop position in the above example. However, the playback start position is not limited to the above example. For example, an appropriate time position such as several seconds to several tens of seconds before the playback stop position is used. Can also be adopted.

  Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 described above, an audio level acquired in units of chunks or GOPs can be added as metadata of the mobile video file. As a result, it is also possible to reproduce only a scene with a high audio level (for example, a portion where the audio level is white in FIG. 4) on the transfer destination portable device or the like.

  However, the sound level is also information specified by the time position, similar to the chapter point position described above. Therefore, when a fast-playing file is adopted as the mobile video file, as shown in FIG. 5, it is necessary to perform a fast-view time axis conversion process on the audio level as well as the chapter information.

  Further, for example, index information (score or the like) indicating whether or not the scene is exciting can be added as metadata of the mobile video file. Specifically, for example, assuming that the audio level in FIG. 4 is the degree of excitement, a scene having an audio level equal to or higher than a threshold level (dotted line in FIG. 4) is 1 (scene that is rising), and an audio level less than the threshold level is set. Information in which the existing scene is set to 0 (a scene that is raised) can be added as metadata of the mobile video file. As a result, it is also possible to reproduce only a lively scene (for example, a portion where the audio level is higher than the dotted line in FIG. 4) on the transfer destination portable device or the like.

  However, the index information is also information specified by the time position, like the chapter point position described above. Therefore, when the quick-view playback file is adopted as the mobile video file, the index information and the like need to be subjected to the quick-view time axis conversion process just like the chapter information.

  Also, for example, a flag indicating whether or not the scene is a specific scene (such as CM) can be added as metadata of the mobile video file. Specifically, for example, information in which 0 to 30 seconds from the top of FIG. 4 is set to “1”, 0 minutes 30 seconds to 1 minute 00 is set to “0”, and after 1 minute 00 seconds is set to “1”. It can be added as metadata for mobile video files. In this case, by reproducing only the scene set to “1”, it is possible to realize reproduction with the CM skipped.

  However, this flag is also information specified by the time position, like the chapter point position described above. Therefore, when a quick-view playback file is adopted as the mobile video file, the flag also needs to be subjected to a quick-view time axis conversion process just like the chapter information.

  In summary, various information can be used as the metadata of the mobile video file. Furthermore, when the information specified at the time position is adopted as metadata, and when the quick-view playback file is adopted as the portable video file, the quick-view time axis conversion process is performed on the information specified at the time position. By applying the above, the following effects can be achieved.

  In other words, it is possible to perform viewing by fast playback even with a portable device that does not have the fast playback function, and it is possible to achieve an effect that highly convenient functions such as chapters and subsequent playback can be used as they are.

  In other words, in order to achieve such an effect, it is only necessary to perform a fast-view time axis conversion process on the metadata. Any method can be used. That is, the content playback mode is changed from the first mode that is played back according to the first time axis (for example, the normal playback time axis) to the second time axis that is different from the first time axis (for example, for quick playback). If the generation method is such that the content in the second form after conversion is adopted as the fast-playing playback content, the fast-viewing time-axis conversion process is performed in the meta form. Since it can be applied to data, as a result, the above-described effects can be achieved.

  By the way, the series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. 1 is installed from a program recording medium in a computer appropriately including the recording device 11 of FIG. 1 or the like, a general-purpose personal computer, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a program recording medium that stores a program that is installed in a computer and is ready to be executed by the computer includes a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read). Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), removable media 37, which is a package medium composed of a magneto-optical disk, semiconductor memory, or the like, or a ROM 22 for storing programs temporarily or permanently, or a storage unit (HDD) It is comprised by the hard disk etc. which comprise 134. FIG. The storage of the program in the program recording medium is performed using a wired or wireless communication medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting via the communication unit 33 as necessary.

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

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1. 6 is an operation example of the recording apparatus in FIG. 1, and is a flowchart for explaining a quick-play reproduction file creation process. It is a figure explaining the flow of the information at the time of the quick-play reproduction file creation process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  11 recording device, 12 external recording medium, 21 CPU, 22 ROM, 23 RAM, 24 AV encoder, 25 AV decoder, 26 tuner, 27 disk controller, 28 input / output interface, 29 stream bus, 30 AV bus, 31 input section, 32 output unit, 33 communication unit, 34 storage unit (HDD), 35 external interface, 36 drive, 37 removable media

Claims (7)

In an information processing apparatus that controls recording of content,
A reproduction form conversion for converting the reproduction form of the content from a first form reproduced according to a first time axis to a second form reproduced on a second time axis different from the first time axis. Means,
Information conversion means for converting first information whose time position is specified for the content of the first form into second information whose time position is specified for the content of the second form When,
The content whose reproduction form has been converted to the second form by the reproduction form conversion means and the second information converted from the first information by the information conversion means are associated with each other, An information processing apparatus comprising: a recording control unit that controls recording on a recording medium. In the first recording medium, a first file including the content of the first form and the first information is recorded in advance,
The recording control unit further generates a second file including the content of the second form and the second information, associates the second file with the first file, and generates the second file. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein recording on the recording medium is controlled. The information processing apparatus further includes:
The second file is transferred from the first recording medium to the second recording medium to which it is moved, and it is determined that the content contained in the first file is reproducible from the reproducible active state. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the move-out is performed by transitioning to an inactive state. The information processing apparatus further includes:
After the move-out, when the second recording medium is occupied and placed under the control of the information processing apparatus, the state of the content included in the first file is temporarily changed from the inactive state to the active state. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3. The information processing apparatus further includes:
After occupying the second recording medium and being managed by the information processing apparatus, when the second recording medium is removed from the management, the state of the content included in the first file is The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein transition is made from a temporary active state to the inactive state. In an information processing method of an information processing apparatus for controlling content recording,
As the step executed by the information processing apparatus,
Converting the playback mode of the content from a first mode played back according to a first time axis to a second mode played back on a second time axis different from the first time axis;
Converting first information whose time position is specified for the content of the first form into second information whose time position is specified for the content of the second form;
Information processing including the step of controlling the recording of the content whose playback form is converted to the second form and the second information converted from the first information in association with each other Method. To the computer that controls the recording of content,
Converting the playback mode of the content from a first mode played back according to a first time axis to a second mode played back on a second time axis different from the first time axis;
Converting first information whose time position is specified for the content of the first form into second information whose time position is specified for the content of the second form;
A program for executing a step of controlling recording of a content associated with the content converted to the second format and the second information converted from the first information on a recording medium .

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