JP2010073199A - Reproducing apparatus, and method and program of switching reproduction - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily skip content data at least in the three or more operation directions without transition of screen. <P>SOLUTION: A reproducing apparatus 10A for reproducing the content data having a plurality of classifying information includes a globe 14a (a part of operating means) corresponding to a plurality of the directions, and a system microcomputer 12 (control means) for changing a switching unit based on the classifying information of the content data responding to a plurality of the directions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a playback device, a playback switching method, and a playback switching program.

In an audio playback device or the like, a method is known in which characters and images related to music and albums are displayed on a display, and skipping can be performed in units of music, albums, and tracks by selecting those characters and images. Also, as in the audio playback device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a method of providing a two-stage operation key capable of inputting a plurality of different operation inputs according to a user's pressing force, and easily skipping an album or an audio file It has been known.
JP 2007-172761 A

  In the above-described skip operation in the audio playback apparatus, it is necessary to designate the unit to be skipped one by one. Therefore, when changing from the currently selected skip unit to another skip unit, the change operation takes time. For example, in order to change from the setting that the user skips for each album to the setting that skips for each music file, select characters and images on the menu screen displayed on the display, and follow the lower or higher levels. It is necessary to change the screen. Further, even with the audio playback device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it does not take time to change the unit of transition itself due to the strength of the pressing force, but for the same operation key, three or more plural When it is desired to associate the processing, it is necessary to set the strength of the pressing force more finely. If the level of the pressing force is made finer, the user's operability is affected and a malfunction is likely to occur. That is, there is a limit to associating a plurality of processes of three or more depending on the strength of the pressing force.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides a playback apparatus, a playback switching method, and a playback switching program that can easily skip content data in at least three or more operation directions without undergoing screen transition. Objective.

  A playback device according to the present invention is a playback device for playing back content data having a plurality of classification information, corresponding to operation means associated with three or more directions and operations in three or more directions, Control means for changing the switching unit based on the classification information of the content data.

  The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, it has display means for displaying an image related to content data, and the control means rotates the image displayed on the display means around the direction intersecting the operation direction of the operation means, and based on the classification information of the content data The change unit is changed.

  The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, the operating means has a sphere that is mounted on the playback device and is rotatable in any direction, and the control means has a 360-degree azimuth at a predetermined angle on a plane parallel to the display surface of the playback device. In order to change the unit of switching based on the classification information of the content data, the rotation direction of the sphere is compared with the range of a predetermined angle.

  The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. In other words, the operation means has operation buttons corresponding to three or more directions.

  The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, the three or more directions include a substantially vertical direction, a substantially horizontal direction, and a substantially oblique direction.

  The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, in three or more directions, the direction input by the operating means performs skip-up switching based on the content data classification information, and the reverse direction of the input direction performs skip-down switching.

  The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, the image related to content data is an image generated by information including character information related to content data.

  The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, the image related to the content data is an image generated from the content data.

  The reproduction switching method according to the present invention includes an operation means associated with three or more directions, a control means for changing a switching unit based on content data classification information in response to an operation in three or more directions. A playback switching method used in a playback device having an image associated with content data, and rendering the image rotated in a predetermined direction based on a signal input from an operation unit And a step of switching images based on the selected switching unit of content data.

  The reproduction switching method according to the present invention includes an operation means associated with three or more directions and a control means for changing a switching unit based on content data classification information in response to an operation in three or more directions. And a display unit for displaying an image associated with the content data, wherein the control means uses the music data in order of the content data based on the operation direction of the operation means, the album The method includes a step of changing a plurality of switching units including the unit order and the artist unit order, and a step of rotating an image related to the content data on the display unit according to the operation direction of the operation means.

  The program according to the present invention is a playback device that plays back content data having a plurality of classification information, and is an operation means associated with three or more directions, and corresponds to an operation in three or more directions. It is made to function as a control means for changing the switching unit based on the classification information of the content data.

  According to the present invention, content data can be easily skipped in at least three operation directions without undergoing screen transition.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a playback apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating an example of the playback device illustrated in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A is a diagram of the playback device viewed from the front, and FIG. 2B is a diagram of the playback device viewed from the bottom. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation direction of an operation unit of the reproduction apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 and a process associated with the operation direction. It is a figure which shows an example of matching of the predetermined range recognized with the operation direction shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptualizing a state of transition of content data realized by an operation unit of the playback apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is the figure which showed the condition which the image displayed on the display part of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus shown in FIG. 1 changes. It is the figure which showed the condition which the image displayed on the display part of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus shown in FIG. 1 changes. It is a figure which shows the reproducing | regenerating apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the reproducing | regenerating apparatus concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the process matched with the operation direction of the spherical body which is an operation part of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention, and the operation direction. It is the figure which showed the condition which the image displayed on the display part of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention changes. It is the figure which showed the condition which the image displayed on the display part of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus concerning the 5th Embodiment of this invention changes.

<First Embodiment>
First, a playback apparatus 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a playback apparatus 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the playback device 10A shown in FIG. 1, (A) is a view of the playback device 10A as viewed from the front, and (B) is a view of the playback device 10A as viewed from the bottom. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the playback device 10A includes a DSP 11, a system microcomputer 12 as a control unit, a display unit 13, an operation unit 14 as an operation means, a storage unit 15, and a DAC (D / A converter). 16, the amplification unit 17, and the output unit 18 are main components.

  The DSP 11 is a microprocessor specializing in processing of voice and images, and based on a control signal from the system microcomputer 12, the DSP 11 receives a voice signal input from the storage unit 15 via a USB controller (not shown) or the like. Decode and output to DAC 16.

  The system microcomputer 12 as a control means is constituted by a CPU (not shown) and the like, and controls the entire playback device 10A. Further, the system microcomputer 12 receives a signal from an encoder (not shown) that can detect the operation direction of the operation unit 14, switches an image (not shown) displayed on the display unit 13, and rotates the image. I will let you. The association between the operation direction of the operation unit 14 and each skip process will be described later.

  The operation unit 14 as an operation unit is an input unit that performs various operations for instructing the operation of the reproduction apparatus 10A. The operation unit 14 is an input device having a sphere 14a as shown in FIG. 2 (A). As shown in FIG. 2 (B), a part of the sphere 14a is projected so as to be parallel to the playback device 10A. Rotating in all directions of 360 degrees on a plane (not shown) perpendicular to the plane parallel to the playback device 10A, centering on a rotation axis (not shown) that can rotate in all directions of 360 degrees It is arranged to be free. When the user rotates the sphere 14a in a predetermined direction, the system microcomputer 12 receives a detection signal from a sensor (not shown) such as each Hall element obtained according to the rotation of the sphere 14a, and operates the sphere 14a. A skip process previously associated with the direction is performed. This operation direction is recognized by the system microcomputer 12 as having been operated in, for example, a substantially vertical direction, a substantially horizontal direction, or a substantially oblique direction when an angle within a predetermined range is detected by a sensor such as a Hall element. . The recognized operation direction may be three or more. Then, skip processing is performed in units of skips associated with the recognized operation direction. Examples of the unit to be skipped include a music piece, an album, an artist, and a track. When the user rotates the sphere 14a of the operation unit 14 in a predetermined direction, the image displayed on the display unit 13 of the reproduction apparatus 10A rotates about the direction intersecting with the predetermined rotation direction. For example, when skipping in units of albums, the jacket image of the currently selected album rotates about the direction intersecting the operation direction, and switches to the jacket image of the next album at a predetermined timing. Details of the transition state of the image displayed on the display unit 13 will be described later.

  The storage unit 15 stores at least content data and images related to the content data. Here, the content data includes a music file and a plurality of information related to the music file. The content data has metadata such as an ID3 tag, for example, and can be divided into a plurality of categories such as album units, artist units, track units, and the like. An image as information related to content data is, for example, a jacket image of an album as described above, and is stored in association with content data belonging to the album. The storage unit 15 may include an external storage medium such as a memory card or a USB memory.

  The DAC 16 includes a circuit that converts a digital signal into an analog signal. The DAC 16 converts the audio signal input from the DSP 11 into an analog signal based on the control of the system microcomputer 12 and outputs the analog signal to the output unit 18. The amplifying unit 17 amplifies or attenuates the volume level of the audio signal input from the DSP 11 and outputs it to the output unit 18.

  Thus, the playback device 10A is a playback device that plays back content data having a plurality of classification information, and corresponds to the operation unit 14 associated with three or more directions and operations in three or more directions. And a system microcomputer 12 that changes the switching unit based on the classification information of the content data. Such a playback apparatus 10A can easily skip content data in at least three operation directions without undergoing screen transition.

  Next, a playback switching method of the playback device 10A will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the system microcomputer 12 of the playback apparatus 10A performs a track skip-up process that can skip from the currently selected track to the next track, a track skip-down process that can skip to the previous track, and the next album from the currently selected album. Album skip-up processing that can be skipped to the next artist, album skip-down processing that can be skipped to the previous album, artist skip-up processing that can be skipped from the currently selected artist to the next artist, and artist skip-down processing that can be skipped to the previous artist It shall be possible.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation direction of the operation unit 14 of the reproduction apparatus 10A illustrated in FIG. 1 and a process associated with the operation direction. As shown in FIG. 3, when the sphere 14a is rotated in the direction of the up arrow X1, the track skip-up process is associated with the sphere 14a. On the other hand, when the sphere 14a is rotated in the direction opposite to the up arrow X1 (that is, in the direction of the down arrow X2), the track skip down process is associated. Further, when the sphere 14a is rotated in the direction of the right arrow X3, the album skip-up process is associated. On the other hand, when the sphere 14a is rotated in the direction opposite to the right arrow X3 (that is, the direction of the left arrow X4), the album skip down process is associated. Further, when the sphere 14a is rotated to the left diagonal up arrow X5, the artist skip-up process is associated. On the other hand, when the sphere 14a is rotated in the direction opposite to the left diagonal up arrow X5 (that is, the right diagonal down arrow X6), the artist skip down process is associated. The association shown in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and other combinations are not excluded, and the user may be able to set the association independently.

  That is, the playback device 10A performs skip-up switching based on the content data classification information for the direction input by the operation unit 14 in three or more directions, and performs skip-down switching for the reverse direction of the input direction. It is something that can be done. Such a playback apparatus 10A can easily skip content data in at least three operation directions without undergoing screen transition. Also, consideration is given to making it easier for the user to use the playback device 10A by setting the skip-down direction in the reverse direction of the skip-up.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of correspondence between predetermined ranges A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6 recognized as the operation directions X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, and X6 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the range of association recognized as a predetermined operation is associated so that, for example, an operation direction within ± 10 degrees is recognized as the predetermined operation. For example, the direction of the up arrow X1 is 90 degrees when the direction of the right arrow X3 is set to 0 degrees, so it is 80 degrees (90 degrees-10 degrees) to 100 degrees (90 degrees + 10 degrees). The correspondence is made so that the range A1 is recognized as being in substantially the same direction of the up arrow X1. Similarly, the predetermined ranges A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6 are in substantially the same direction with respect to the down arrow X2, the left arrow X3, the right arrow X4, the left diagonal up arrow X5, and the right diagonal down arrow X6, respectively. The association is made so that it is recognized. The range associated with the predetermined operation may be set as a narrower range than the predetermined ranges A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 shown in FIG. Within 3 degrees). By narrowing the range to be associated, it is possible to perform three or more skip processes. Further, the angle of the range to be associated may be set to the extent that there is no angle that is not associated in all directions (for example, the operation direction ± 22.5 degrees).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram conceptualizing the transition state of content data realized by the operation unit 14 of the reproduction apparatus 10A shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the content data in the present embodiment constructs a virtual switching space by the switching unit. For example, the content data is arranged in the virtual space as a sequence of rotation directions Y1 that skips in units of tracks, a sequence of rotation directions Y2 that skips in units of artists, and a sequence of rotation directions Y3 that skips in units of albums. Can be expressed. As described above, since each rotation direction of the sphere 14a shown in FIG. 3 can be regarded as each rotation direction indicating the arrangement of the content data in the virtual space shown in FIG. 5, the user uses the playback device 10A. Accordingly, the switching operation can be easily performed with a sense, and the switching unit of the content data can be instantaneously changed only by changing the rotation direction of the sphere 14a. Further, if this concept is applied, the user can easily operate even with three or more skip processes.

  That is, the operation unit 14 of the playback device 10A has a display surface of the playback device 10A centered on a rotation axis (not shown) that is rotatable in all directions of 360 degrees on a plane parallel to the display surface of the playback device 10A. The system microcomputer 12 includes a sphere 14a that is rotatable in all directions of 360 degrees on a plane (not shown) orthogonal to the parallel plane, and the system microcomputer 12 has a 360-degree total plane on the plane parallel to the display surface of the playback device 10A. The azimuth is divided into predetermined angle ranges A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and correspond to three or more directions, and the rotation direction of the sphere 14a and the predetermined angle ranges A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 , A6 and the change unit is changed based on the classification information of the content data. Such a playback apparatus 10A can easily skip content data in at least three operation directions without undergoing screen transition. In addition, the 360 degree direction is divided into predetermined angle ranges A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6, and is associated with three or more skip processes. In comparison, the skip process can be easily performed without impairing the operability of the user. Note that the display surface of the reproduction apparatus 10 </ b> A here refers to a surface having the display unit 13.

  Further, the three or more directions associated with the operation unit 14 of the playback apparatus 10A include a substantially vertical direction, a substantially horizontal direction, and a substantially oblique direction. Such a playback apparatus 10A can easily skip content data in at least three operation directions without undergoing screen transition. Further, by dividing the three or more directions into a substantially vertical direction, a substantially horizontal direction, and a substantially oblique direction, the skip process can be easily performed without impairing the user operability as the three skip processes.

  Next, a case where the skip process is performed in units of tracks by rotating the operation unit 14 in the vertical direction will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a transition state of the image N displayed on the display unit 13 of the reproduction apparatus 10A illustrated in FIG. As a premise of the following skip processing, albums A and B are recorded in the storage unit 15, tracks 01 to 05 are recorded in album A, and album B selected next to album A is recorded. Assume that track 01 is recorded.

  As shown in FIG. 6, an image N related to the content data is displayed on the display unit 13, and “track number”, “album name”, and “artist name” are displayed below the image. Here, when the sphere 14a which is a part of the operation unit 14 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is rotated in the vertical direction, tracks recorded in the same album are sequentially skipped. In this case, the image transition does not change if the album to be skipped is in the same album, so the image N when changing from the track 04 of the album A to the track 05 of the album A does not change, and the image N1 Remains. On the other hand, when skip processing is performed after track 05, which is the last track of album A, in order to transition to album B, image N1 is rotated in order of image N2, image N3, image N4, and image N5. Transition. Note that the image N rotates around the axis L1 (actually non-display) that intersects the vertical direction of the sphere 14a that is a part of the operation unit 14, and is rotated from the image N3 to the image N4. Switching from track 5 of album A to track 1 of album B is performed. Further, even when skip processing is performed in the same album as in the transition from the image N to the image N1, the vertical rotation operation is performed for each track skip without switching the image. Also good.

  Next, a case where the skip process is performed in units of albums by rotating the operation unit 14 in the horizontal direction will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a transition state of the image M displayed on the display unit 13 of the reproduction apparatus 10A illustrated in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an image M related to the content data is displayed on the display unit 13, and “track number”, “album name”, and “artist name” are displayed below the image. Here, when the sphere 14a which is a part of the operation unit 14 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is rotated in the horizontal direction, the image M rotates while rotating in the order of image M1, image M2, image M3, image M4, and image M5. Transition in order. Note that the image M rotates around the axis L2 (actually not displayed) that intersects the lateral direction of the sphere 14a that is a part of the operation unit 14, and is rotated from the image M2 to the image M3. Switching from album A to album B is performed.

  Note that even when the sphere 14a, which is a part of the operation unit 14, is rotated in an oblique direction and the skip process is performed in units of artists, it is the same as the images N and M shown in FIGS. Is omitted.

  That is, the playback device 10A includes a display unit 13 that displays an image related to content data, and the system microcomputer 12 displays the images N and M displayed on the display unit 13 on a sphere 14a that is a part of the operation unit 14. The switching unit is changed on the basis of the classification information of the content data while rotating around the operation directions L1 and L2. Such a playback apparatus 10A can easily skip content data in at least three operation directions without undergoing screen transition. Further, the user can visually recognize that the skip operation is performed by rotating the images N and M about the operation directions L1 and L2 as axes.

  In addition, by changing the operation direction of the sphere 14a that is a part of the operation unit 14 in the middle, a desired operation can be continuously performed while changing the unit to be skipped. For example, when the sphere 14a, which is a part of the operation unit 14, is rotated in an oblique direction, a plurality of artists are skipped up and a desired artist can be selected, the rotation direction is changed to the horizontal direction. You can skip up to multiple albums about the artist. That is, since the skip unit can be continuously changed while operating the sphere 14a which is a part of the operation unit 14, the playback device 10A can be used without causing the user to feel stress.

  Such a playback switching method performed by the playback device 10A is based on the operation unit 14 associated with three or more directions and for each classification of content data corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 14 in three or more directions. A reproduction switching method used in a reproduction apparatus 10A having a system microcomputer 12 that performs switching and a display unit 13 that displays images N and M associated with content data, and a signal input from an operation unit 14 A step of rotating the images N and M in a predetermined direction based on the drawing, and a step of switching the images N and M based on the selected content data. That is, by adopting this reproduction switching method, content data can be easily skipped in at least three operation directions without screen transition.

  In addition, the reproduction switching method performed in the reproduction apparatus 10A is switched based on the operation data associated with three or more directions and the content data classification information corresponding to the operation in three or more directions. A playback switching method used in a playback device having a control unit for changing a unit and a display unit for displaying an image associated with content data, wherein the control unit is a content based on an operation direction of the operation unit. A step of changing a plurality of switching units including a song unit order, an album unit order, and an artist unit order of the data, and a step of rotating an image related to the content data on the display unit according to the operation direction of the operation means It is. That is, by adopting this reproduction switching method, content data can be easily skipped in at least three operation directions without screen transition.

  Next, a program used for the playback device 10A will be described. The program used in the playback device 10A is recorded on a recording medium, and the program of this embodiment can be installed using this recording medium. Alternatively, the program of the present embodiment can be directly installed on the information processing apparatus from the server holding the program of the present embodiment via the network. Thereby, the function corresponding to the control function of the system microcomputer 12 in the reproducing apparatus 10A according to the embodiment of the present invention can be realized by using the information processing apparatus.

  The program of this embodiment includes not only a program that can be directly executed by the information processing apparatus but also a program that can be executed by being installed on a hard disk or the like. Also included are those that are compressed or encrypted.

  A program used in such a playback apparatus 10A is a playback apparatus 10A that plays back content data having three or more pieces of classification information, and an operation unit 14 (operation means) associated with three or more directions. And the system microcomputer 12 (control means) that changes the unit for switching the content data in response to the operation of the operation unit 14 in three or more directions. That is, by using this program, content data can be easily skipped in at least three operation directions without screen transition.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a playback apparatus 10B according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a playback apparatus 10B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The playback device 10B according to the second embodiment includes operation buttons 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h, and 14i corresponding to a plurality of directions, instead of the operation unit 14 as operation means. Is different from the playback apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  The operation buttons 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h, and 14i are respectively associated with the eight directions on the left upper left, the left lower left, the lower, the lower right, the right, the upper right, and the upper. It has been. The operation direction can be determined by pressing these eight operation buttons. When the artist skip down process shown in FIG. 3 is desired (corresponding to the operation in the X6 direction in FIG. 3), the artist skip down process is performed by pressing the operation button 14f. That is, when it is desired to select the previous track, artist, or album, the skip process can be performed by pressing the operation buttons 14e, 14f, and 14c.

  As described above, the operation unit 14 of the reproduction apparatus 10B has operation buttons corresponding to three or more directions. Such a playback apparatus 10B can easily skip content data in at least three operation directions without undergoing screen transition.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a playback device 10C according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a playback apparatus 10C according to the third embodiment of the present invention. A playback device 10C according to the third embodiment is different from the playback device 10A according to the first embodiment and the playback device 10B according to the second embodiment in that the images M and N are not used. In addition, since the other structure is the same, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the display unit 13 displays an album display window W1, an artist display window W2, and a track display window W3. In this display method, the window that is the current skip unit is displayed larger than the other windows. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, since the skip processing is currently performed in units of tracks, the track window W3 is displayed large. In such a situation, when it is desired to skip by album, if the sphere 14a of the playback device 10C is rotated in the horizontal direction, the “album2” window W4 indicated by the dotted line is displayed in large size with a solid line. An artist display window (not shown) and a track display window (not shown) are displayed below.

  Even with such a playback apparatus 10C, content data can be easily skipped in at least three operation directions without screen transition.

<Fourth Embodiment>
Next, a playback apparatus 10D according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Software (such as a photo viewer) for browsing an image taken by a digital camera is installed in the storage unit of the playback device 10D, and the image can be browsed by outputting the image to a display unit. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the playback device 10A of the first embodiment, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation direction of the sphere 14a that is a part of the operation unit of the playback device 10D according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention and a process associated with the operation direction. The content data handled here is a still image such as JPEG.

  In the playback device 10D, for example, when the operation direction of the sphere 14a is the vertical direction (X1 direction or X2 direction in FIG. 10), switching in the time series order based on the file name order of the image and the generation time information of the image To do. Specifically, when the operation direction of the sphere 14a is the X1 direction, the displayed image is skipped up, and when it is in the X2 direction, it is skipped down. Note that the image displayed on the display unit is switched to the next image while rotating in the same direction as the operation direction.

  In the playback device 10D, when the operation direction of the sphere 14a is the left-right direction (X3 direction or X4 direction in FIG. 10), the storage folder unit or the storage medium unit in which the image is stored is switched. Specifically, when the operation direction of the sphere 14a is the X3 direction, the image is skipped up in units of storage folders and storage media (image storage units) in which the images are stored, and is skipped down in the case of the X4 direction.

  In the case of switching by folder, switching is performed in the order of folder names (such as in alphabetical order or alphabetical order) and folder creation date / time. On the other hand, when switching storage media, for example, switching between internal memory and external memory, when multiple storage media are connected (for example, in addition to the built-in memory, multiple memory cards and multiple USB memories are installed) Switch between them in turn).

  Further, in the playback device 10D, when the operation direction of the sphere 14a is an oblique direction (the X5 direction or the X6 direction in FIG. 10), the additional information of the image being viewed and the image display are switched. When the current display is in the image browsing state in both the upper left oblique operation direction (X5 direction) and the lower right oblique operation direction (X6 direction), the image rotates while rotating in the same direction as the operation direction. Additional information such as Exif information is displayed. Similarly, when the current display is the display of the additional information of the image, the display of the additional information is switched to the display of the image while rotating in the same direction as the operation direction. When the playback device 10D manages the genre of an image or a folder, the genre may be switched between an upper right diagonal direction and a lower left diagonal direction.

  Even with such a playback device 10D, content data can be easily skipped in at least three operation directions without undergoing screen transition. Note that the X1 to X5 directions in FIG. 10 and the processing operations associated with them are examples, and combinations other than those described above may be used.

<Fifth Embodiment>
Next, a playback apparatus 10E according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The playback device 10E includes a TV tuner and an antenna (not shown), and can watch a digital TV. The playback apparatus 10E includes a network interface that can be connected to a LAN or the like by wired or wireless communication, and is configured to be connectable to the Web. The playback device 10E stores software that can capture a digital TV video or program information screen and convert it to a still image. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the playback device 10A of the first embodiment, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation direction of the sphere 14a that is a part of the operation unit of the playback device 10E according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention and a process associated with the operation direction.

  In the playback device 10E, for example, when the operation direction of the sphere 14a is the vertical direction (X1 direction or X2 direction in FIG. 11), the reception channel is switched. When switching is performed, the captured image of the program received when the sphere 14a is operated is used as the image that rotates in the same direction as the operation direction. Then, an image of the next program received during the rotation of the captured image is captured and displayed in accordance with the rotation. When the rotation is finished, the display of the captured image is finished and the TV screen being received is displayed.

  Further, in the playback device 10E, when the operation direction of the sphere 14a is the left-right direction (X3 direction or X4 direction in FIG. 11), program information transmitted while being superimposed on the broadcast wave is displayed together with the program data being viewed. Is done. Note that the program information does not have to be transmitted with broadcast data superimposed on the broadcast wave, such as acquired via the Internet.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an image displayed on the display unit of the playback device 10E according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention transitions. As shown in FIG. 12, if a sphere 14 is operated in the upper left direction or the lower right direction (X5 or X6 direction in FIG. 11) while receiving a certain program, the TV image received at that time is captured. The generated still image is displayed and starts rotating in the upper left direction or the lower right direction. Then, while the still image is rotating, the website image of the program is captured, and the program website is finally displayed. Here, the image after rotation in FIG. 12 is not a website image but an image of program information. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the program information is displayed in the X4 or X3 direction as shown in FIG. You may rotate. The program information image displayed on the display unit during rotation in this case is a captured image of the program information.

  Even with such a playback device 10E, content data can be easily skipped in at least three operation directions without undergoing screen transition.

  In the above-described playback devices 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E, the playback switching method and program described for the playback device 10A can be similarly realized.

  The playback devices 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E have been described as exemplary embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It can be changed.

  For example, in addition to the skip operation associated with the playback device 10A, definition may be made. For example, you may make it match | combine so that it can skip with respect to the music contained in the play list which the user registered previously.

  Further, the image used in the playback apparatus 10A is the album jacket image, but other images may be used. For example, it may be an image related to music, an image related to an artist, or other character strings.

  In addition, the operation buttons 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h, and 14i used in the playback device 10B are physically independent operation buttons, but are realized by a single button such as a cross key, for example. May be. Further, the operation buttons 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h, and 14i used in the playback device 10B may be employed in the playback devices 10A, 10C, 10D, and 10E that are other embodiments.

  Further, the number of the spheres 14a as a part of the operation unit 14 of the playback devices 10A, 10C, 10D, and 10E is one, but a playback device including a plurality of the spheres 14a may be used. By providing a plurality of spheres 14a, it is possible to skip in units of albums and to skip in units of tracks almost simultaneously. Further, by defining, for example, skipping in units of minutes or seconds for each sphere 14a, the unit to be skipped can be set more finely.

10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E Playback device, 11 DSP, 12 system microcomputer, 13 display unit, 14 operation unit, 14a sphere (part of operation means), 14b to i operation buttons, 15 storage unit, 16 DAC, 17 Amplification section, 18 output section

Claims (11)

A playback device for playing back content data having a plurality of classification information,
Operating means associated with three or more directions;
Control means for changing the switching unit based on the classification information of the content data in response to the operation in the three or more directions;
A playback apparatus comprising: Display means for displaying an image relating to the content data;
The control means rotates the image displayed on the display means around the direction intersecting the operation direction of the operation means, and changes the switching unit based on the classification information of the content data. The playback apparatus according to claim 1. The operation means includes
A sphere that is mounted on the playback device and is rotatable in any direction,
The control means includes
Divide 360 degrees of all directions into a predetermined angle range on a plane parallel to the display surface of the playback device, and correspond to the three or more directions,
The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation unit of the sphere is compared with the range of the predetermined angle and the switching unit is changed based on the classification information of the content data.   The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit includes operation buttons corresponding to the three or more directions.   The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the three or more directions include a substantially vertical direction, a substantially horizontal direction, and a substantially oblique direction.   Of the three or more directions, the direction input by the operation means performs skip-up switching based on the classification information of the content data, and the reverse direction of the input direction performs skip-down switching. The playback apparatus according to claim 1.   The playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image related to the content data is an image generated by information including character information related to the content data.   The playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image related to the content data is an image generated from the content data. Operation means associated with three or more directions, control means for changing the switching unit based on content data classification information corresponding to operations in the three or more directions, and associated with the content data A playback switching method used in a playback device having a display unit for displaying an image,
Drawing the image by rotating the image in a predetermined direction based on a signal input from the operation means;
Switching the image based on the switching unit of the selected content data;
A reproduction switching method characterized by comprising: Operation means associated with three or more directions, control means for changing the switching unit based on content data classification information in response to operations in the three or more directions, and the content data. A playback switching method used in a playback device having a display unit for displaying a captured image,
The control means changes a plurality of switching units including a song unit order, an album unit order, and an artist unit order of content data based on the operation direction of the operation means;
Rotating the image related to the content data on the display unit according to the operation direction of the operation means;
A reproduction switching method characterized by comprising: A playback device for playing back content data having a plurality of classification information on a computer,
Operating means associated with three or more directions;
Control means for changing a switching unit based on the classification information of the content data in response to the operation in the three or more directions;
Program to function as.

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