JP2009153218A - Content storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reserve video-recording of a program relating to broadcast information by transmitting electronic mail. <P>SOLUTION: In accordance with input of a storage reservation, at least a storage starting time and a storage ending time in the storage reservation are registered as storage reservation information, and a program relating to storage-reserved broadcast information input according to the registration is stored in a broadcast information storage means. In a case where a storage time period from the storage starting time to the storage ending time in the storage reservation overlaps a time period of storage reservation information registered already in inputting a storage reservation of the broadcast information contained in received electronic message, the time of a time period excluding the overlapping time period is registered as the storage reservation information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides content such as video and audio from a remote location by using e-mail when storing TV broadcast video represented by terrestrial TV, BS and CS TV programs in a storage medium such as a hard disk and DVD. In particular, the present invention relates to a content storage device having an exclusive control function that takes priority into consideration.

  With the recent development of multimedia systems, users can easily store moving images such as television programs in a personal computer. Also, when storing a program in a personal computer, it has been possible to use random access characteristics of a hard disk as a storage medium on the personal computer, or to use digitized electronic program information data. Various programs that could not be realized were stored.

In addition, there is known one that controls a content recording apparatus from a remote location using electronic mail.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-247345 discloses a recording / reproducing apparatus remote operation system for remotely operating a recording / reproducing apparatus that records and reproduces video and / or audio.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing this conventional recording / reproducing apparatus remote operation system, in which an e-mail including operation information 64 for operating the recording / reproducing apparatus 62 is recorded by the e-mail transmitting / receiving apparatus 61 via the communication line 63. The recording / reproducing device 62 generates an operation signal of the recording / reproducing device 62 from the operation information 64 included in the received electronic mail, and controls the recording / reproducing operation of the recording / reproducing device 62 according to the signal. To do. In addition, the recording / reproducing apparatus 62 transmits an e-mail including the operation information 65 of the recording / reproducing apparatus to the e-mail transmitting / receiving apparatus 61, thereby completing the reservation for storing the content or the completion of the storage. In addition, the status of the reservation can be notified to the e-mail transmission / reception device 61.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-247345

  However, in the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-247345, not only the storage / reproduction device 62 is controlled from a remote place, but also the user directly operates the recording / reproduction device 62 at home at a certain time. It is also possible to set to store contents. Therefore, there is a possibility that the storage reservation time performed from a remote location and the storage reservation time performed by the user at home overlap, and in such a case, which storage should be prioritized using e-mail etc. The recording / reproducing device 62 needs to make an inquiry to the user. In addition, there may be a case where the recording time overlapped with the remote recording reservation process using e-mail before, and in this case also, which recording is prioritized is used from the recording / playback device 62 using e-mail or the like. I had to contact the person.

  However, since it takes time to deliver the e-mail or the user may not read the e-mail immediately, it takes time to make an inquiry, and the recording / reproducing apparatus 62 eventually decides which reservation There is a possibility that it becomes impossible to judge whether or not to give priority to a memory error, or neither memory is performed.

  Further, since the recording / reproducing device 62 has an e-mail transmission function, it is possible to inquire the e-mail transmission / reception device 61 to change the storage reservation time even if the reservation times overlap. However, if the storage / reproduction device 62 does not have an e-mail transmission function, an e-mail cannot be transmitted in the first place, and an inquiry cannot be made.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the problem of what is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-247345, that is, even if the time for making a recording reservation by remote operation overlaps the time for making a recording reservation at home. Another object of the present invention is to provide a content storage device that supports remote operation of a recording reservation for performing processing so that the recording reservation times do not overlap by automatically changing the recording reservation time by a recording / reproducing apparatus.

  The first technical means comprises broadcast information storage means for storing broadcast information, broadcast information storage reservation processing means, and e-mail reception means, wherein the storage reservation processing means is used to input broadcast information storage reservation. Correspondingly, a content storage device that registers at least a storage start time and a storage end time in the storage reservation as storage reservation information, and stores the program related to the broadcast reserved broadcast information input according to the registration in the broadcast information storage means Further, the storage reservation processing means is configured to store a storage time from a storage start time to a storage end time in the storage reservation in the input of the broadcast reservation of the broadcast information included in the electronic mail received by the electronic mail receiving means. If all of the bands overlap with the time slot of the stored reservation information that has already been registered, the input of the storage reservation related to the e-mail will be used as the stored reservation information. Characterized in that it does not record.

  The second technical means comprises broadcast information storage means for storing broadcast information, broadcast information storage reservation processing means, and e-mail receiving means, wherein the storage reservation processing means is used to input broadcast information storage reservation. Correspondingly, a content storage device that registers at least a storage start time and a storage end time in the storage reservation as storage reservation information, and stores the program related to the broadcast reserved broadcast information input according to the registration in the broadcast information storage means The storage reservation processing means further includes a storage time from a storage start time to a storage end time in the storage reservation in the input of the broadcast reservation of the broadcast information included in the e-mail received by the e-mail receiving means. If a part of the band overlaps with the time slot of the storage reservation information that has already been registered, the time slot of the storage reservation related to the e-mail is duplicated. And registers as a time storage opinions on excluding the time zone of the part are.

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a recording reservation operation from a remote location by sending an e-mail to the content storage device, and the recording reservation time made at home overlaps with the recording reservation time made at home. However, by automatically changing the recording reservation time by the recording / reproducing apparatus, it is possible to perform processing so that the recording reservation time does not overlap.
In addition, even if the content storage device cannot send an e-mail and the user cannot be inquired about which storage reservation should be prioritized, the storage process can be performed accurately. Even if it is not possible to send an email asking whether to prioritize the storage reservation to the user, the storage process can be performed accurately.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the content storage apparatus remote control system by the Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an electronic mail transmission / reception apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of mail transmission of an electronic mail transmission / reception apparatus. It is a figure which shows the format of an email. It is a figure which shows the example of the email produced according to the format of an email. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a content storage device. It is a flowchart which shows a process when the storage reservation of a content storage device is performed at home. It is a figure which shows a mode that the reservation information is memorize | stored in the reservation information storage means (the 1). It is a figure which shows a mode that the reservation information is memorize | stored in the reservation information storage means (the 2). It is a figure which shows a mode that the reservation information is memorize | stored in the reservation information storage means (the 3). It is a figure which shows a mode that the reservation information is memorize | stored in the reservation information storage means (the 4). It is a flowchart which shows a process when a content storage device receives the electronic mail containing a storage reservation process command. It is a flowchart which shows a memory reservation process. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus remote control system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples shown in FIGS. This is an example in which the user selects a content to be stored by remote operation from a remote location away from the program storage device using a communication means such as an electronic mail and makes a storage reservation. The content is a program of broadcast information such as TV video and audio, radio broadcast, etc. sent by music / terrestrial broadcasting such as cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, CS broadcasting, cable broadcasting, etc. Is an example when the content is implemented as a terrestrial television program.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a content storage device remote control system according to an embodiment.
The content storage device remote operation system 10 includes a content storage device 12 connected to an electronic mail transmission / reception device 11 through a communication line 13.
The electronic mail transmission / reception device 11 can be realized by a personal computer having at least an electronic mail transmission function.
If it is assumed that the content is a television program, the content storage device 12 can be realized by a tuner that receives television broadcast waves and a personal computer having an e-mail receiving function.
Further, the communication line 13 can be realized most generally in the current state of the Internet.
The e-mail transmission / reception device 11 transmits an e-mail including operation information 14 for content storage reservation to the content storage device 12 via the communication line 13.

First, an electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic mail transmission / reception device 11 that can give a storage reservation command to the content storage device 12 by electronic mail when operated by a user from a remote location. This is an example realized by a computer system represented by PC).
The constituent elements of the e-mail transmission / reception device 11 are a central processing unit 20 that controls the operation of each component and the entire e-mail transmission / reception device 11, and data such as a modem is stored in the content storage device 12 as an electrical signal. It comprises a communication means 17 for transmitting, a display means 18 represented by a display, an input means 19 represented by a keyboard and a mouse, a storage means 16 represented by a hard disk, a ROM, an OS loader 15 and the like.
The storage unit 16 includes an OS (Operating System) 161, an e-mail transmission unit 162 that performs a process of transmitting the generated e-mail to the content storage device 12, and an e-mail generation unit 163 that performs a process of generating an e-mail. It is configured.

When the power of the electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus 11 is turned on, the OS loader existing in the ROM 15 is first activated, and the OS 161 existing on the storage unit 16 is expanded.
Next, the OS 161 developed on the storage unit 16 is activated, and each unit is activated in accordance with a command input by the user using the input unit 19.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the state of processing of each component when the user outputs an e-mail transmission processing command using the input means 19. Hereinafter, this flowchart will be described.
(Step 11) It is monitored whether the input means 19 is selected by the user and a mail creation command is output. If a mail creation command is output, the process proceeds to step 12;
(Step 12) The mail creating means 163 is activated.
(Step 13) The user uses the input means 19 to input the mail format.
(Step 14) The mail transmission means 162 transmits a mail to the content storage device 12. The e-mail transmitted at this time is converted into electrical signals by the communication means 17 such as a modem and transmitted to the content storage device 12 through the communication line 13.
An example of an e-mail format input by the user in step 13 is shown in FIG. The e-mail includes a user ID 21 for identifying the user, a password 22 for determining whether the user is an unauthorized person, a storage start date 23 indicating a date for starting storage, and a time for starting storage. Storage start time 24 indicating the end, storage end time 25 indicating the end time for ending storage, and storage channel 26 indicating the channel for storing.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an e-mail actually created in accordance with the e-mail format shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, items having the same numbers as those in FIG. 4 indicate similar items.
An e-mail address 27 indicating the destination of the content storage device 12 and a title 28 of the e-mail are added to the format of FIG. 4 in the e-mail, and the content storage device 12 has the e-mail title 28 as in this example. If it is “storage reservation mail”, the electronic mail is interpreted as an electronic mail including operation information 14 for storage reservation, and the storage reservation is executed by interpreting the electronic mail. .
In addition, the user ID 21 is “hskei153”, the password 22 is “1234”, the storage start date 23 is “March 21, 2000”, the storage start time 24 is “20:00”. The end time 25 is “21:00” and the storage channel 26 is “4”.

Next, the content storage device 12 will be described.
FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the content storage device 12 capable of executing storage reservation processing by receiving an electronic mail including the operation information 14 transmitted from the electronic mail transmission / reception device 11. This is an example in which this is realized by a computer system represented by a personal computer (PC).
The components of the content storage device 12 are extracted by the antenna unit 40 that receives television broadcast radio waves, the tuner unit 31 that extracts radio waves of a specific channel (frequency) from the television broadcast radio waves received by the antenna 40, and the tuner unit 31. Broadcast video / audio extraction means 32 for extracting broadcast video / audio from television broadcast radio waves, communication means 33 for receiving an electrical signal sent through a communication line 13 typified by a modem, OS, loader 34, etc. A central processing unit 35 that manages the calculation processing, an input means 36 represented by a mouse and a keyboard, a first storage means 37 represented by a RAM, a second storage means 38 represented by a ROM, It is composed of a clock function means 39 for monitoring the passage of time.

The first storage means 37 is a reservation information storage means 371 storing a list of contents currently reserved for storage (FIG. 8), and a user ID of a user permitted to use the content storage device 12. And a user ID storing a password, a password storage unit 372, and a content storage unit 373 that stores content extracted by the broadcast video / audio extraction unit 32.
In the reservation information storage unit 371, as shown in FIG. 8, the contents reserved for storage are arranged in the order of the reservation date and the storage start time, and the reservation date, storage start time, storage of the reserved contents are stored. The end time and broadcast channel are stored.

  The second storage means 38 is a storage reservation processing means 381 for storing a reservation date, a storage start time, a storage end time, and a broadcast channel, which are information on contents to be reserved in the reservation information storage means 371, and a mail reception for receiving mail. Means 382, mail information interpretation means 383 that interprets received mail information, duplicate reservation check means 384 that determines whether or not two or more contents to be stored are duplicated at the same time, and content storage start processing A storage start unit 385, a storage process execution unit 386 that performs processing for storing content in the content storage unit 373, a storage end unit 387 that performs content storage end processing, and an OS (Operating System) 388.

The clock function means 39 includes a date / time storage unit 391 that stores the current date / time and a timer 392 that can count only a certain time.
The input means 36 includes at least a storage reservation instruction selection means 361 that can output an instruction for making a memory reservation when selected by a user, and a numeric keypad 362 that can input numbers. .

When the power of the content storage device 12 is turned on, the OS loader 34 is activated first, and the OS 388 existing on the second storage means 38 is expanded on the first storage means (RAM) 37. Next, the OS developed on the first storage means (RAM) 37 is activated, and activation of each processing means is started.
The content storage device 12 can not only receive an e-mail containing operation information 14 for making a storage reservation and perform a storage reservation process, but also allows a user to operate the content storage device 12 directly at home. Storage reservation processing can be performed.

Hereinafter, processing when the user performs storage reservation processing at home will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
(Step 21) It is determined whether or not the user has selected the storage reservation instruction selection means 361. If it is selected, the process proceeds to step 22. If not selected, the process continues in step 21.
(Step 22) The storage reservation processing means 381 is activated.
(Step 23) Store reservation information (reservation date, storage start time, storage end time, channel) input by the user using the numeric keypad 362 is stored in the reservation information storage means 371. For example, if the user inputs “Store 6 channels from 9:10 to 9:20 on March 22, 2000”, this information is stored as represented by No. 4 in FIG. .

(Step 24) The duplicate reservation check means 384 is activated.
(Step 25) The duplicate reservation check unit 384 activated in Step 24 refers to the reservation information storage unit 371 and determines whether there is an item with an overlapping storage reservation time. If there is no overlap, the process C (storage reservation process) is performed. If all overlap, proceed to Step 26, and if partially overlap, proceed to Step 28.
Here, to explain the concepts of “not overlapping at all”, “all overlapping”, “partly overlapping”
1) As shown in FIG. 8, it is considered that there is no duplication if the storage date and time of each content for which a storage reservation is set are completely different.
2) In FIG. 9, if the storage reservation of No4 is now set, the storage reservation time of No4 is all included in the storage reservation time of No3. .
3) In FIG. 10, if the storage reservation of No4 is now set, the storage reservation time of No4 partially overlaps with the storage reservation time of No3 (from 9:00 to 9:20) ) Therefore, in such a case, it is considered that some overlap.

(Step 26) If all overlap, proceed to Step 27.
(Step 27) The storage reservation processing means 381 deletes the newly set storage reservation information and performs the process C (storage reservation process). Here, the process of deleting the newly set storage reservation information is a process of deleting the No. 4 storage reservation that overlaps with the No. 3 storage reservation time in FIG. 9. By deleting the storage reservation No. 4, the reservation information storage unit 371 stores information as shown in FIG.
(Step 28) If there is some overlap, go to Step 29.
(Step 29) The storage reservation processing means 381 corrects the start time and the end time so as not to overlap, and then performs the process C (storage reservation process).
Here, in the process of correcting the start time and the end time so as not to overlap, the storage reservation time is changed so that the storage reservation time of No4 newly reserved in FIG. 10 does not overlap with the storage reservation time of No3. This is the process.

In FIG. 10, since the storage reservation time of No4 overlaps with the storage reservation time of No3 from 9 o'clock to 9:20, the storage reservation of this time zone is deleted and a new storage reservation time is obtained from 8 o'clock to 9 Make changes by time.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state of the reservation information storage unit 371 after the change. After the change, the reserved time so that the memory reservation time of No3 and the memory reservation time of No4 do not overlap at all, and the time zone in which No4 that has made a memory reservation later does not overlap with other reservation times is reserved for memory. Has been changed.
As described above, the processing in FIG. 7 is an operation when the user performs the storage reservation processing at home.

Next, based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, processing when the content storage device 12 receives an e-mail including operation information 44 for making a storage reservation will be described.
(Step 31) The mail receiving means 382 is activated. It should be noted that the activation timing may be controlled by a timer at regular intervals and processed so as to be activated automatically.
(Step 32) The mail receiving means 382 receives mail.
(Step 33) The mail receiving means 382 determines whether there is a mail whose mail title is “storage reserved mail”. If it exists, the process proceeds to step 34, and if not, the process ends.
(Step 34) The mail information interpretation means 383 is activated.
(Step 35) The mail information interpretation unit 383 reads the user ID and password of the received e-mail and determines whether or not it is correct by comparing with the information stored in the user ID and password storage unit 372. If it is correct, the process proceeds to step 36. If it is not correct, it means that an invalid e-mail has been transmitted, and the process ends.

(Step 36) The mail information interpretation means 383 reads the reservation date, storage start time, storage end time, and storage channel of the received electronic mail.
(Step 37) The storage reservation processing means 381 is activated.
(Step 38) The mail information interpretation means 383 that has read the reservation date, storage start time, storage end time, and storage channel of the e-mail received in Step 37 passes these pieces of information to the storage reservation processing means 381. The passed storage reservation processing unit 381 stores the reservation information storage unit 371.

(Step 39) The duplicate reservation check means 394 is activated.
(Step 40) The duplicate reservation check means 394 activated in Step 39 refers to the reservation information storage means 371 and determines whether there is an item having a duplicate storage reservation time. If they do not overlap at all, a process C (storage reservation process) described later is performed. If all overlap, proceed to step 71, and if partially overlap, proceed to step 43.
Here, to explain again the concepts of “not overlapping at all”, “all overlapping” and “partially overlapping”
1) As shown in FIG. 8, it is considered that there is no duplication if the storage date and time of each content for which a storage reservation is set are completely different.
2) If an e-mail is received in FIG. 9 to make a memory reservation for No. 4 and the information is stored, the memory reservation time for No. 4 is all included in the memory reservation time for No. 3 Therefore, it is considered that all such cases overlap.
3) Assuming that an e-mail that makes a storage reservation for No4 in FIG. 10 is received and the information is stored, the storage reservation time for No4 partially overlaps with the storage reservation time for No3. (9:00 to 9:20 are overlapping). In such a case, it is considered that some overlap.

(Step 41) If all overlap, proceed to Step 42.
(Step 42) The storage reservation processing means 381 deletes the newly set storage reservation information and performs the process C (storage reservation process).
Here, the process of deleting the newly set storage reservation information is a process of deleting the No. 4 storage reservation that overlaps with the No. 3 storage reservation time in FIG. 9. By deleting the storage reservation No. 4, the reservation information storage unit 371 stores information as shown in FIG.

(Step 43) If there is a partial overlap, the process proceeds to Step 44.
(Step 44) The storage reservation processing means 381 corrects the start time and the end time so as not to overlap. Thereafter, process C (storage reservation process) is performed.
Here, in the process of correcting the start time and the end time so as not to overlap, the storage reservation time is changed so that the storage reservation time of No. 4 for which the reservation is newly set in FIG. 10 does not overlap with the storage reservation time of No. 3. This is the process. In FIG. 10, since the storage reservation time of No4 overlaps with the storage reservation time of No3 from 9 o'clock to 9:20, the storage reservation of this time zone is deleted and a new storage reservation time is obtained from 8 o'clock to 9 Make changes by time. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state of the reservation information storage unit 371 after the change. After the change, No. 3 storage reservation time and No. 4 storage reservation time do not overlap at all, and No. 4 for which storage reservation has been made later does not overlap with other reservation times.

  As described above, by performing the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, when a storage reservation is made by e-mail, the storage reservation time partially or entirely overlaps with the time slot for which the storage reservation was made first. Even if it is, processing is automatically performed so as not to overlap at all, and it is not necessary to ask the user to change the storage reservation time by e-mail.

Next, based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, the process C when the storage process is actually performed based on the storage reservation information stored in the reservation information storage unit 371 will be described.
(Step 51) The storage start means 385 is activated.
(Step 52) The storage start means 385 refers to the reservation information storage means 371 and calculates the time from the current time to the earliest reservation start time.
(Step 53) The storage start means 385 sets the time from the current time obtained in Step 52 to the earliest reservation start time in the timer 392.
(Step 54) The timer 392 counts the time set in Step 53, and proceeds to Step 55 when the time has been counted.

(Step 55) The storage processing execution means 386 is activated.
(Step 56) The storage processing execution means 386 stores the content in the content storage unit 373.
(Step 57) The storage end means 387 is activated.
(Step 58) The storage end unit 387 refers to the reservation information storage unit 371 and calculates the time until the content currently stored in the content storage unit 373 ends.
(Step 59) The storage end means 387 sets the time until the end of the content currently stored in the content storage unit 373, obtained in Step 58, in the timer 392.
(Step 60) The timer 392 counts the time set in Step 59, and proceeds to Step 61 when the time has been counted.
(Step 61) The storage process execution means 386 ends the process of storing the content in the content storage unit 373, and returns to Step 51 to perform the next storage.

As explained in the above description, when a storage reservation for a broadcast program or the like is made by sending an e-mail to the content storage device, the content storage device can automatically eliminate reservation overlap.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Content storage apparatus remote operation system, 11 ... E-mail transmission / reception apparatus, 12 ... Content storage apparatus, 13 ... Communication line, 14 ... Operation information of content storage reservation, 15 ... ROM, OS (Operating System) loader, 16 ... Storage Means 161 ... OS 162 ... E-mail transmission means 163 ... E-mail creation means 17 ... Communication means 18 ... Display means 19 ... Input means 20 ... Central processing unit 31 ... Tuner unit 32 ... Broadcast video Voice extraction means, 33 ... communication means, 34 ... OS (Operating System), loader, 35 ... central processing unit, 36 ... input means, 361 ... storage reservation instruction selection means, 362 ... tenkey, 37 ... first storage means, 371 ... Reservation information storage means, 372 ... User ID, password storage means, 373 ... Content storage section, 38 ... Second storage means, 381 ... Reservation reservation processing means, 382... Mail reception means, 383... Mail information interpretation means, 384... Duplicate reservation check means, 385... Storage start means, 386... Storage processing execution means, 387. Clock function means, 391... Date / time storage unit, 392... Timer, 40.

Claims (2)

Broadcast information storage means for storing broadcast information; broadcast information storage reservation processing means;
E-mail receiving means, wherein the storage reservation processing means corresponds to the input of the broadcast reservation storage reservation, registers at least the storage start time and the storage end time in the storage reservation as storage reservation information, and inputs in accordance with the registration A content storage device for storing a program related to broadcast information reserved for storage in the broadcast information storage means,
Further, the storage reservation processing means, in the input of the broadcast reservation of the broadcast information included in the e-mail received by the e-mail receiving means, all of the storage time zone from the storage start time to the storage end time in the storage reservation A content storage device characterized by not registering an input of a storage reservation related to the electronic mail as storage reservation information when it overlaps with a time slot of storage reservation information already registered. Broadcast information storage means for storing broadcast information; broadcast information storage reservation processing means;
E-mail receiving means, wherein the storage reservation processing means corresponds to the input of the broadcast reservation storage reservation, registers at least the storage start time and the storage end time in the storage reservation as storage reservation information, and inputs in accordance with the registration A content storage device for storing a program related to broadcast information reserved for storage in the broadcast information storage means,
The storage reservation processing means further includes a part of a storage time zone from a storage start time to a storage end time in the storage reservation in the input of the storage reservation of the broadcast information included in the email received by the email receiving means. If it overlaps with the time slot of the already registered storage reservation information, register the storage reservation time zone related to the e-mail as the storage reservation information at the time excluding the overlapping time zone. A content storage device.

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