JP2010028433A - Video reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To passively view video content on a network in the same procedures as those of performing zapping viewing of the conventional television broadcast. <P>SOLUTION: The video reproducing device 10 includes: a network communication processing part 11 which acquires video content information including a title name, reproduction time length of the video content from a video content distribution site 20; a video content table creation part 12 which divides the video content information into a plurality of video content groups, and arranges the video content information on a time axis corresponding to real time for each video content group to create a video content information management table; and a reproduction processing part 13 which switches the video content groups arranged in the video content information management table according to time when a switching instruction from a remote controller 30 is accepted, and downloads the video content corresponding to the video content information of the video content group from the video content distribution site 20 to perform reproduction processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video playback device, and more particularly to a video playback device that acquires and plays back video content from an external server via a network.

  Conventionally, for example, a general video sharing site such as “Youtube” has a directory structure in which video content is classified by genre, such as drama, sports, and music, and a sub-genre is provided in each genre. Thus, the user can find and view the video content by himself / herself during viewing.

  In addition, keywords are assigned to video content, and the user inputs text information such as keywords and titles to search video content on the site, and select and view video content from the search result list. Some are made possible.

  In addition, there are some that automatically search for related video content based on information of content viewed by the user and present it to the user so that the user can easily select the video content.

  Also, moving image site filter services such as “Rimo” are known. This moving image site filter service automatically picks up video contents from the moving image sharing sites and reproduces them in order. Users simply select the genre they are interested in, and the video content is automatically selected and displayed. Therefore, there is no need to actively perform a selection procedure for viewing, and the TV broadcast is watched (zapped). Passive viewing is possible. The video content selection method by the system includes a selection method based on specific parameters such as the number of viewing times, a random selection method from search results, and the like.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that can realize high-speed zapping with reduced waiting time until reproduction by accumulating video data prepared for zapping viewing in broadcasting over an IP network that performs packet transmission. Are listed.
JP 2003-324711 A

  However, in a conventional video sharing site, when there is no particular program that the user wants to watch, an operation for actively selecting video content must be performed, such as searching for a program while following a directory structure based on a genre. It must be very troublesome for the user. In addition, in the situation where the program that the user wants to watch has not been decided, there is a problem that it is not known what can be entered as a keyword to search for the program.

  In many cases, video content on the network can be viewed from the beginning of the program at any time, unlike real-time viewing of broadcast content. It is not suitable for viewing styles such as discovering interesting scenes that happened to happen and watching videos. Also, when checking the content of video content, it is necessary to move the playback position after channel selection.

  On the other hand, in the conventional video site filter service, it is not necessary to actively select video content, but since new video content is presented one after another, after proceeding with zapping channel selection, the previous program will be displayed. It ’s difficult to go back.

  There are two types of data acquisition methods for viewing video content on the network: the streaming method and the download method, but both methods require downloading from the server and downloading and buffering until video playback starts. Since a waiting time for decoding occurs, viewing cannot be started immediately after selection of video content.

  The method described in Patent Document 1 is effective for broadcast content using packet transmission, but it is necessary to prepare a video for zapping in advance. It cannot be applied to the selected content distribution method.

  As described above, in the related art, there is a problem in zapping viewing of video content on the network, so it is difficult to passively view the television broadcast in the same manner as zapping viewing of the television broadcast. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the user searches the directory by grouping video contents on the network into several groups and arranging them on the time axis corresponding to the actual time. It is an object of the present invention to enable passive viewing of video content on a network in the same procedure as zapping viewing of a conventional television broadcast without active viewing.
It is another object of the present invention to make it possible to select a video content on a network that matches a user's interest from a video content that has been viewed by zapping with a simple operation.
Another object of the present invention is to prepare for playback such as decoding in advance so that the video content selected by the user can be viewed immediately without causing a waiting time during zapping viewing and video content playback viewing. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first technical means of the present invention is a video playback apparatus that can be connected to a video content distribution server via a network. A network communication processing unit for acquiring video content information including a time length, and dividing the acquired video content information into a plurality of video content groups, and for each video content group, the video content information is on a time axis corresponding to real time. A video content table creation unit that arranges and creates a video content information management table, an operation input unit that receives a switching instruction of a video content group by a user, and the video content information management table according to a time at which the switching instruction is received The video content group placed in Both, in which characterized in that a reproduction processing unit for performing download and playback processing video content corresponding to the video content information of the switched video content group from the image content distribution server.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the reproduction processing unit sequentially reproduces the video content by switching the video content groups arranged in the video content information management table, and performs the reproduction processing. The video content reproduction preparation processing is performed on the video content group arranged before and / or after the video content group.

  According to a third technical means, in the second technical means, the reproduction processing unit, as the reproduction preparation process, includes video content information of a video content group arranged before and / or after the video content group being reproduced. The video content corresponding to is downloaded from the video content distribution server, and the downloaded video content is decoded, and the video content being played back is switched to the video content being played back. In some cases, the reproduction processing is performed on the video content being subjected to the reproduction preparation processing.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the third technical means, when the reproduction processing section switches from the video content being reproduced to the video content being reproduced, the reproduction processing and the reproduction preparation processing are performed. It is characterized by carrying out simultaneously.

  According to a fifth technical means, in any one of the first to fourth technical means, the operation input unit is a remote control device including a switching instruction key for accepting a switching instruction of a video content group by a user. It is characterized by.

  A sixth technical means includes a display processing unit that displays the video content reproduced by the reproduction processing unit on a display device in any one of the first to fifth technical means, and the display processing unit includes: When switching a video content group arranged in the video content information management table, identification information for identifying the switched video content group is displayed and output on the display device.

  According to the present invention, video content that can be viewed through a network is classified into a plurality of video content groups, and arranged on a time axis corresponding to real time, so that the user can use zapping viewing of a television broadcast that has been conventionally used. The video content on the network can be passively viewed in the same procedure.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to a video reproduction apparatus of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a system including a video reproduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a network, 10 is a video reproduction device, and 20 (20 ₁ , 20 ₁ , 20 ₃ ,...) Represents a video content distribution site, and 30 represents a display device. The video playback device 10 includes a network communication processing unit 11, a video content table creation unit 12, a playback processing unit 13, a remote control communication unit 14, a display processing unit 15, a table database 16, and a content storage unit 17. The video reproduction apparatus 10 and the video content distribution site 20 are connected via the network 1.

  The video playback device 10 enables zapping viewing of the video content on the network 1, displays the playback-processed video content on the display device 30, and allows the remote control device 18 to perform the zapping operation so that the video content can be switched and played back. To do.

The remote control device 18 is an operation input unit for controlling the video reproduction device 10 to be operated by a user directly to zapping and viewing video content.
The display device 30 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays a video signal of video content output from the video playback device 10.
The video content distribution site 20 is a Web server or video content distribution for distributing information related to video content, video streaming data, file data, etc. to the video playback device 10 via the network 1 based on a request from the video playback device 10. It consists of servers.

Hereinafter, each part with which the video reproduction apparatus 10 is provided is demonstrated.
The network communication processing unit 11 acquires the video content information based on an acquisition request for information related to video content (hereinafter referred to as video content information) from the video content table creation unit 12, and the video content from the reproduction processing unit 13. The process of acquiring video content based on the acquisition request is performed with the video content distribution site 20 via the network 1. Note that the video content information includes the title (name) of the video content, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the video content, the playback time length of the video content, and the like.

The video content table creation unit 12 generates a video content information management table including a video content group and a time table, acquires video content information from the video content distribution site 20 through the network communication processing unit 11, and acquires video content information. The management table is set, and the set video content information management table is stored in the table database 16.
The table database 16 stores the video content information management table created by the video content table creation unit 12.

  The playback processing unit 13 refers to the video content information management table stored in the table database 16 to determine video content to be played back, and acquires the determined video content from the video content distribution site 20 through the network communication processing unit 11. To perform playback processing. Then, the playback processing unit 13 switches the video content to be played back and displayed based on the operation content of the user sent from the remote control communication unit 14 and sends a playback video signal to the display processing unit 15.

The content storage unit 17 caches and stores the video file and streaming data downloaded by the reproduction processing unit 13 as necessary.
The display processing unit 15 converts the video content sent from the reproduction processing unit 13 into a format that can be displayed on the display device 30, and outputs the converted video signal to the display device 30.
The remote control communication unit 14 receives the user's zapping request by infrared rays from the remote control device 18 and notifies the reproduction processing unit 13 of it.

  The main feature of the present invention is that the video content on the network is grouped into several groups and arranged on the time axis corresponding to the real time, so that the user does not actively view and search the directory by himself / herself. In other words, it is possible to passively view video content on a network in the same procedure as when zapping viewing a conventional television broadcast.

  As a configuration for this, the video playback device 10 includes a network communication processing unit 11 that acquires video content information including the title name and playback time length of the video content from the video content distribution site 20, and a plurality of the acquired video content information. A video content table creation unit 12 that creates video content information management tables by arranging video content information on a time axis corresponding to real time for each video content group, and switching of video content groups by a user The video content group arranged in the video content information management table is switched according to the remote control device 18 corresponding to the operation input unit that receives the instruction and the time when the switching instruction is received, and the video content information of the switched video content group is changed. versus Video content to be downloaded from the video content distribution site 20 and a reproduction processing unit 13 which performs a reproduction process.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example in which video content is divided into video content groups and arranged on a time table. In this example, A1 to A7, B1 to B8, C1 to C7, D1 to D18, E1 to E3, F1 to F2, and G1 to G7 indicate video contents obtained from the network 1 and arranged on the timetable. The frame length represents the playback time length of the video content. At this time, the video content itself is not downloaded, and this time table is created based on the video content information acquired from the video content distribution site 20.

  As described above, when the video reproduction device 10 acquires the video content information from the video content distribution site 20, the video reproduction device 10 performs processing for dividing the video content information into a plurality of video content groups and arranging them on the time table. The time table created by this processing corresponds to the video content information management table created by the video content table creation unit 12. Note that the classification method into the video content group and the arrangement method on the time table are not specified here. For example, the video content information is randomly allocated in the acquisition order of the video content information, or is allocated based on the playback time length of the video content. Method, method of classifying and allocating based on genre information set in video content distribution server, storing metadata attached to video content based on user viewing history, and video content based on metadata A method of forming a group can be considered.

  When acquiring video content from a plurality of video content distribution sites 20, a video content group may be assigned to each site. Incidentally, the video content in the video content group may be collected from a single video content distribution site or may be collected from a plurality of video content distribution sites.

  As for the arrangement method on the time table, for example, there are a method of arranging 24 hours in order from 0 o'clock and a method of arranging in consideration of the user's main viewing time zone. Note that the time t corresponds to the actual time. For example, the video content A1 has a playback time length of 20 minutes, and in this example, playback starts at 0:00 and ends at 0:20. Represents.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the user performs a zapping operation at 1:30 while viewing the video content A4 of the video content group A, the video content is A4, B5, C5, D11, E2. , F2, G5, A4 or the reverse order thereof, that is, A4, G5, F2, E2, D11, C5, B5, A4.

  Thus, by dividing the video content into video content groups and arranging them on the time axis, the user can view the video content on the network in the same procedure and trouble as zapping viewing of the broadcast content.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the setting process of the video content information management table by the video playback device 10. The video content information management table is set when the video playback device 10 is activated or when the video content information management table is initialized. The timing for initializing the video content information management table is when a reconfiguration request is received from the user (for example, when the user does not like the channel content to be zapped), or when it is performed at regular time intervals (for example, 24). For example, it may be performed every hour). Here, a case where a table for one day (for 24 hours) is set is described as an example, and in this case, the video content information management table is set once every 24 hours.

  First, the video content table creation unit 12 determines the number of video content groups to be registered in the table (step S1). This number of groups may be set by the user or may be fixed by the system. In the case of the example of FIG. 2 described above, seven groups A to G are set.

  The video content table creation unit 12 designates one video content group (for example, video content group A) among the video content groups determined in step S1 (step S2). The video reproduction device 10 accesses the video content distribution site 20 through the network communication processing unit 11 and acquires video content information from the video content distribution site 20 (step S3). Here, when the video content information is acquired, the video content is first arranged on the time table of the video content group A.

  The video content table creation unit 12 stores the video content title (name), video content URL, video content playback time length, playback start time, playback end time, and the like in the table database 16 as video content information parameters. (Step S4). Then, the video content table creation unit 12 determines whether or not video content information for 24 hours has been collected for one video content group (step S5), and if video content information for 24 hours has not been collected. When it determines (in the case of NO), it returns to step S3 and repeats a process. If it is determined in step S5 that video content information for 24 hours has been collected (in the case of YES), it is determined whether data for all video content groups has been collected (step S6).

  If the video content table creation unit 12 determines in step S6 that the data of all video content groups has not been collected (in the case of NO), the video content table creation unit 12 returns to step S2 and continues in this example the time table of the video content group B. The video content placement processing is performed on the top. If it is determined in step S6 that data of all video content groups has been collected (in the case of YES), the video content information management table setting process is completed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing from the start to the end of playback of video content based on the information stored in the table database 16 by the playback processing unit 13. FIG. 4A is a flowchart for explaining the video content reproduction preparation process, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart for explaining the video content reproduction process.

  In FIG. 4A, first, the playback processing unit 13 refers to the video content information stored in the table database 16 and based on the URL information of the video content to be played back, the video content is distributed to the video content distribution site 20. Is requested (step S11). When the distribution of the video content is started from the video content distribution site 20, the reproduction processing unit 13 starts a storage process in the content storage unit 17 and a download process such as a cache (step S12). Then, the reproduction processing unit 13 starts decoding the video content that is being downloaded based on the encoding method (step S13).

  The reproduction processing unit 13 moves the reproduction start position of the video content at any time according to the current time while referring to the current time (step S15). Then, the playback processing unit 13 determines whether or not the playback start position has reached the end of the video content as time passes (step S16), and determines that the playback start position has reached the end of the video content ( In the case of YES), the playback preparation process for the video content is terminated, and the playback preparation process for the next video content in the same video content group is started (step S17). If it is determined in step S16 that the playback start position has not reached the end of the video content (NO), the process returns to step S15 and the process is repeated. In accordance with such a procedure, reproduction preparation processing for video content is performed.

  In FIG. 4B, the playback processing unit 13 performs playback processing of the video content if the video content that has been prepared for playback by the playback preparation processing described in FIG. 4A is video content to be played back and displayed. Start (step S21). Then, the playback processing unit 13 determines whether or not the video content has been played back to the end (step S22). If the video content has not been played back to the end (in the case of NO), whether or not there has been a zapping switching request from the user. Is determined (step S23).

In step S22, the reproduction processing unit 13 starts reproduction preparation processing for the next video content when the video content has been reproduced to the end (in the case of YES) (step S24).
Also, in step S23, when there is a zapping switching request from the user (in the case of YES), the playback processing unit 13 ends the playback processing of the video content, and on the other hand, when there is no zapping switching request from the user (NO) ), The process returns to step S22 and is repeated.

As described above, when the playback of the video content is completed to the end, the playback processing of the content is terminated, and the playback processing is performed after the playback preparation processing of the next video content in the same video content group.
When a zapping switching request is received from the remote control communication unit 14, the current group playback process is terminated, and the video content playback process of the group for which zapping switching has been started is started.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing when video playback processing is first performed when the video playback device 10 is activated. First, the playback processing unit 13 determines a video content group that performs playback and display processing first (step S31). Note that the video content group A may be selected when the video playback device 10 is first activated, and the video content group displayed when the power is turned off may be selected.

  The reproduction processing unit 13 refers to the table database 16 based on the current time, and acquires the video content groups to be reproduced and displayed and the video content information of the groups before and after that (step S32). Then, the playback processing unit 13 performs playback preparation processing of each video content shown in FIG. 4A based on the video content information of each group (step S33), and the video content to be played back and displayed is shown in FIG. The reproduction process of the video content shown in (B) is performed (step S34).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of zapping switching processing in response to a zapping request from the user by the remote control device 18 in the video reproduction device 10. Here, the state of zapping switching will be described based on the example of the table arrangement shown in FIG.

  First, when receiving the infrared zapping request transmitted from the remote control device 18 by the user, the video reproduction device 10 notifies the reproduction processing unit 13 that the remote control communication unit 14 has accepted the zapping request (step S41). The reproduction processing unit 13 switches the video content group to the next (previous) group (step S42). For example, when A4 of the video content group A is displayed when the user performs zapping at 1:30, when the user requests video display of the next video content group by zapping, the video content group B is displayed. Switch. On the other hand, when the user requests display of the previous video content group, the video content group G is switched.

  The reproduction processing unit 13 performs a video content reproduction process on B5 that is the video content of the video content group B (step S43). Then, the playback processing unit 13 performs video content playback preparation processing for C5 that is the video content of the video content group C that is the next group of the video content group B (step S44). Then, the playback processing unit 13 ends the video content playback preparation process for the video content G5 of the video content group G, which is the previous group of the video content group A (step S45).

  As described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 above, the reproduction processing unit 13 reproduces the video content by sequentially switching the video content groups arranged in the video content information management table, and also performs the video content group to be reproduced. The video content reproduction preparation processing is performed on the video content group arranged before and / or after the video content group.

  Note that the playback preparation process is a process of downloading video content corresponding to video content information of the video content group arranged before and / or after the video content group being played from the video content distribution site 20, and a download process. And a process for decoding the video content. The reproduction processing unit 13 performs a reproduction process on the video content being subjected to the reproduction preparation process when the video content being reproduced is switched to the video content being reproduced. At the time of switching the video content, the reproduction processing unit 13 can perform the reproduction process and the reproduction preparation process at the same time.

By doing as described above, the video content on the network that matches the user's interest can be selected from the video content viewed by zapping with a simple operation.
In addition, by preparing for reproduction such as decoding in advance, it is possible to view the video content selected by the user immediately without causing a waiting time during zapping viewing and video content playback viewing.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video content information management table in the video playback device 10. This video content information management table is stored in the table database 16, and is roughly composed of a video content group, video content, and video content information. The video content group corresponds to a channel in broadcasting, and the group is switched in order based on the arrangement order of the video content group in the video content information management table during zapping viewing. In the arrangement example shown in FIG. 2, the video content groups A to G correspond to this. Each video content group is composed of one or more video contents.

  The video content is video content constituting each video content group, and in the case of the video content group A illustrated in FIG. 2, A1 to A7 correspond to this. In the example of the video content information management table setting process shown in FIG. 3 described above, the video content is set and held for 24 hours. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Each video content includes video content information, and the video content information includes a content name, a URL, a content playback time length, a playback start time, and a playback end time.

As the content name, the title of the video content assigned at the video content distribution site 20 is held and displayed together with the video content group name during zapping viewing.
The URL represents an address of the video content in the video content distribution site 20 when accessing the video content. Further, when the cacheable video content is held in the content storage unit 17, the location in the content storage unit 17 is represented.
The content playback time length represents the length of the video content playback time.
The reproduction start time and the reproduction end time represent the time to start and end the reproduction of each video content arranged by the video content table creation unit 12.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the remote control device 18 in the video reproduction device 10 according to the present invention. The remote control device 18 includes an infrared transmission unit 181 for transmitting a user request to the video reproduction device 10 as an infrared signal.

  The remote control device 18 also has a zapping button 183 corresponding to a switching instruction key for instructing to switch the video content group being viewed for zapping viewing to the previous or subsequent group as a user interface, and a plurality of zapping viewing screens. A determination button 184 for selecting video content to be viewed when displayed or a reduced display, and content for reproducing video content from the top when it is desired to view the content determined to be viewed from the top instead of halfway A playback button 182 and a reset button 185 for resetting the video content information management table when the user wants to reconfigure the video content information management table because the user does not like the channel content to be zapped, etc.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the display device 30 when the zapping viewing is actually performed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the video content during the playback preparation process and the video content during the playback process during zapping viewing. In this example, a case where one screen is displayed during zapping viewing will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, when the “next” key of the zapping button 183 is pressed while viewing the video content B5 of the video content group B, the video content C5 of the video content group C shown in FIG. In addition, when the “Previous” key of the zapping button 183 is pressed, the video is switched to the video content A4 of the video content group A shown in FIG. For example, when the display is switched from video content B5 to C5, as shown in FIG. 10, the video content being played back is switched from B5 to C5, and the video content being played back is A4, C5 to B5, and D11. Switch to Similarly, when the “next” key of the zapping button 183 is pressed, the display changes from video content C5 to D11, that is, the video content being played back is changed from C5 to D11 as shown in FIG. The video content inside switches from B5 and D11 to C5 and E2. In FIG. 10, the shaded portion indicates that the playback preparation process is in progress.

  Further, when switching the video content group arranged in the video content information management table, the display processing unit 15 may display and output identification information for identifying the switched video content group on the display device 30. . For example, as shown in FIG. 9, by displaying information (B, B5, etc.) for identifying the video content group on the upper right of the screen of the display device 30, has the user made a complete round of the video content group during zapping viewing? I can know. A to G are in a loop. For example, processing is performed so that A follows G and G before A.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another display example of the display device 30 when actually performing zapping viewing. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another relationship between the video content during the playback preparation process and the video content during the playback process during zapping viewing. Here, a case where three screens are displayed during zapping viewing will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, when the “next” key of the zapping button 183 is pressed while viewing the video contents A4, B5, and C5 of the video content groups A, B, and C, the video that is played back and displayed The content is shifted leftward on the screen, and as shown in FIG. 11C, new video content D11 is reproduced and displayed from the right side of the screen. When the “Previous” key of the zapping button 183 is pressed, the screen is shifted to the right as shown in FIG. 11A, and new video content G5 is reproduced and displayed from the left side of the screen.

  When the determination button 184 of the remote control device 18 is pressed during zapping viewing, the video content at the center of the screen, B5 in this example, is displayed on the full screen. This state is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the content during the playback preparation process and the content during the playback process. For example, when the display is switched from video content A4, B5, C5 to B5, C5, D11, the video content being reproduced is switched from A4, B5, C5 to B5, C5, D11 as shown in FIG. The video content that is being reproduced is switched from G5 and D11 to A4 and E2. Similarly, when the “next” key of the zapping button 183 is pressed, the display is the video contents B5, C5, D11 to C5, D11, E2, that is, the video content being reproduced is B5 as shown in FIG. In addition to switching from C5, D11 to C5, D11, E2, the video content being played back is switched from A4 and E2 to B5 and F2.

In the above embodiment, the video content group is selected in order. However, the video content group may be selected at random.
Further, the video content is downloaded and the video content is decoded as the playback preparation process. However, the download process may be performed in advance, and the playback preparation process may be performed from the decoding process.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the video content that can be viewed through the network is classified into a plurality of video content groups and arranged on the time axis corresponding to the actual time, so that the television broadcast that the user has been accustomed to using conventionally is classified. The video content on the network can be passively viewed in the same procedure as the zapping viewing.

  Further, since it is possible to determine the content that needs to be prepared for playback in advance according to the order of the video content group, when the user performs zapping viewing and video selection, it is possible to immediately start playback of the content.

  In addition, since the playback position of the video content displayed during the zapping viewing is determined based on the time, not from the top, the user can grasp in a short time whether the video content is of interest.

  In addition, unlike zapping viewing during viewing of a television broadcast, when a video content of interest is found during zapping viewing, viewing can be started from the top of the video content.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the system containing the video reproduction apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example at the time of dividing | segmenting video content into a video content group, and arrange | positioning on a time table. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the setting process of the video content information management table by a video reproduction apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of a process from the reproduction | regeneration processing part starting from the reproduction | regeneration of video content based on the information preserve | saved in the table database until it complete | finishes. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process at the time of performing video reproduction processing first at the time of starting of a video reproduction apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the zapping switching process according to the zapping request | requirement by the remote control apparatus from a user in a video reproduction apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the video content information management table in a video reproduction apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the remote control apparatus in the video reproduction apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a display apparatus when actually performing zapping viewing. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between video content being subjected to playback preparation processing and video content being played back during zapping viewing. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display of a display apparatus when actually performing zapping viewing. It is the figure which showed the other relationship of the video content in the playback preparation process at the time of zapping viewing, and the video content in the playback process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network, 10 ... Video reproduction apparatus, 11 ... Network communication process part, 12 ... Video content table preparation part, 13 ... Reproduction process part, 14 ... Remote control communication part, 15 ... Display process part, 16 ... Table database, 17 ... Content storage unit, 18 ... remote control device, 20 ... video content distribution site, 30 ... display device.

Claims (6)

A video playback device connectable to a video content distribution server via a network,
A network communication processing unit that acquires video content information including the title name and playback time length of the video content from the video content distribution server, and divides the acquired video content information into a plurality of video content groups. A video content table creation unit that creates video content information management tables by arranging video content information on a time axis corresponding to real time, an operation input unit that receives a video content group switching instruction from a user, and the switching instruction Depending on the received time, the video content group arranged in the video content information management table is switched, and the video content corresponding to the video content information of the switched video content group is downloaded from the video content distribution server. Video reproducing apparatus characterized by comprising a reproduction process section for performing reproduction processing with.   2. The video playback device according to claim 1, wherein the playback processing unit sequentially switches the video content groups arranged in the video content information management table to playback the video content, and the video content group to be played back. And a video content group arranged before and / or after the video content playback preparation process.   3. The video playback device according to claim 2, wherein the playback processing unit corresponds to video content information of a video content group arranged before and / or after the video content group being played back as the playback preparation processing. When a process of downloading video content from the video content distribution server and a process of decoding the downloaded video content are performed, and switching from the video content being played back to the video content being played back, A video playback apparatus characterized in that playback processing is performed on video content being played back.   4. The video playback apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the playback processing unit simultaneously performs the playback processing and the playback preparation processing when switching from the video content being played back to the video content being played back. An image display device characterized in that it performs.   5. The video playback device according to claim 1, wherein the operation input unit is a remote control device including a switching instruction key for receiving a switching instruction of a video content group by a user. Video playback device. The video playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a display processing unit that displays and outputs the video content played back by the playback processing unit on a display device,
The display processing unit displays and outputs identification information for identifying the switched video content group on the display device when switching the video content group arranged in the video content information management table. Video playback device.

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