JP2011193361A - Reproduction device, video recording method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reproduction device such that a user easily performs operations associated with video recording. <P>SOLUTION: A television 100 includes: a user interface section 60 which displays at a display section 80 a video recording confirmation picture, through which the user instructs whether or not a VOD content is recorded through remote control operation, when receiving an instruction to reproduce the VOD content; and a VOD player section 20 which records the VOD content to be reproduced in a storage section 50 when the user interface section 60 receives the instruction to record the VOD content. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a playback apparatus capable of playing back VOD content and a method for recording VOD content in such a playback apparatus.

  In recent years, an increasing number of vendors provide VOD content through video-on-demand (VOD) services.

  The VOD service is a service that allows a user to view various contents when he / she wants to view the contents. The VOD service is a selection of contents to be received and an operation of reproducing the contents being received (for example, which is impossible with a conventional broadcasting service) (Pause, fast forward, rewind).

  Thus, since the VOD service is highly convenient for users and is in high demand, not only a computer but also a television receiver (television) is used as hardware capable of reproducing VOD content. It has become like this. For such a television, for example, a technique disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 is used. That is, it is a technique for playing back stream data of VOD content received from a VOD server recording VOD content on a television by connecting to a network.

Seiji Yamashita, 6 others, “VOD technology in next-generation IPTV”, NTT Technical Journal, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, June 2006, vol.18 No.8, p.15-18

  With the start of providing televisions that can receive and play back VOD content, it is beginning to be required to record the received VOD content.

  However, in the case of recording not only the VOD content but also the recording, not only the operation for starting the playback of the content in the playback device that plays back the VOD content but also the content in the recording device connected to the playback device. There is a problem in that the operability is poor because an operation for starting the video recording must be performed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a playback apparatus that allows a user to easily perform operations related to recording.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the playback device according to the present invention is a playback device capable of playing back VOD content received from a server, and an instruction receiving unit that receives a user instruction from an input unit, and whether to record the VOD content. Display means for displaying on the display unit a user interface that allows the user to instruct whether or not to operate the input unit by operating the input unit, and when the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to record, the VOD content is displayed. And a recording means for recording in the storage unit.

  According to the above configuration, the playback device has a recording function for recording VOD content. Then, the playback apparatus displays on the display unit a user interface that allows the user to instruct whether or not to record the VOD content by operating the input unit.

  Therefore, the playback apparatus according to the present invention has an effect that the user can easily perform an operation related to recording.

  In order to solve the above problems, a recording method according to the present invention is a recording method for a playback apparatus capable of playing back VOD content received from a server. An instruction receiving step of receiving a user instruction from an input unit; When receiving a display step of displaying on the display unit a user interface that allows the user to instruct whether or not to record by operating the input unit, and an instruction to record in the instruction receiving step, And a recording step of recording the VOD content in a storage unit.

  According to said structure, the video recording method concerning this invention has an effect similar to the reproducing | regenerating apparatus concerning this invention.

  In the playback apparatus according to the present invention, when the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to play the VOD content, the display unit displays the user interface, and the instruction receiving unit instructs the recording to be performed. It is desirable that the recording unit records the VOD content in the storage unit.

  According to the above configuration, when the playback apparatus receives an instruction to play back the VOD content, the user interface allows the user to instruct whether to record the VOD content in the storage unit. Is displayed.

  That is, the playback apparatus displays a user interface that allows the user to instruct whether or not to record the VOD content in the storage unit in response to an instruction other than the recording instruction.

  Thereby, the reproducing | regenerating apparatus has the further effect that the troublesomeness by video recording operation can be reduced.

  In the playback apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the display unit displays the user interface on the display unit when the instruction receiving unit receives the instruction to reproduce.

  According to the above configuration, the playback device displays a user interface that allows the user to instruct whether or not to record when receiving an instruction to play back. If instructed, it is possible to record substantially the entire VOD content to be reproduced.

  The playback apparatus according to the present invention further includes determination means for determining whether the VOD content is content that can be recorded in the storage unit, and determines that the VOD content is content that can be recorded by the determination means. It is desirable that the display means displays the user interface only in the case where it is done.

  According to the above configuration, the playback device allows the user to instruct whether or not to record when the VOD content is not determined to be recordable by the determination unit. Is not displayed.

  Therefore, the reproducing apparatus has an additional effect that it is possible to reliably prevent a user's useless operation of giving a recording instruction for VOD content that cannot be recorded.

  The playback apparatus according to the present invention further includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the VOD content is a content that can be recorded in the storage unit, and the display unit cannot record the VOD content by the determination unit. When it is determined that the content is correct, it is desirable to display on the display unit that recording is impossible.

  According to the above configuration, the playback device displays on the display unit that VOD content that cannot be recorded cannot be recorded.

  Therefore, there is an additional effect that it is possible to substantially prevent a user's useless operation of giving a recording instruction for VOD content that cannot be recorded.

  The playback apparatus according to the present invention preferably further includes automatic recording means for simultaneously starting playback and recording of the VOD content when the instruction receiving means receives the instruction to play.

  According to the above configuration, when receiving an instruction to play back VOD content, the playback device starts playback and recording of the VOD content at the same time.

  Therefore, the reproducing apparatus has an additional effect that the VOD content can be recorded without taking the trouble of giving the user a recording instruction every time the VOD content is reproduced.

  In the playback apparatus according to the present invention, the instruction receiving unit can receive an instruction to automatically start recording the VOD content at the time when the playback of the VOD content is started. Only when the instruction receiving unit has already received the instruction and the instruction receiving unit has received an instruction to reproduce, it is desirable to start playback and recording of the VOD content at the same time.

  According to the above configuration, when the playback apparatus receives an instruction to play back VOD content while receiving an instruction to automatically start recording, playback of the VOD content and recording simultaneously start. To do.

  Therefore, the reproducing apparatus has an additional effect that the user can select whether to start recording simultaneously with the reproduction of the VOD content.

  In the playback apparatus according to the present invention, the user interface is a user interface for allowing the user to select whether or not to start recording of the VOD content at a specified recording reservation date and time, and the instruction receiving unit specifies the recording When receiving an instruction to start recording at the reserved date and time, it is preferable that the recording unit starts recording the VOD content from the time when the scheduled recording date and time is reached.

  According to the above configuration, the reproducing apparatus has an additional effect that it is possible to make a recording reservation for the VOD content.

  In the playback apparatus according to the present invention, playback of the VOD content is started when the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to play back the VOD content, and the instruction receiving unit instructs to record. Instructing the recording means to start recording from the beginning of the VOD content or to start recording the VOD content from the playback position at the time when the instruction is received by the recording means It is desirable that the instruction accepting means can accept.

  According to the above configuration, the playback apparatus can allow the user to select whether to record from the beginning of the VOD content or to record the VOD content from the current playback position.

  Therefore, if the user wants to record the entire VOD content or only the interested portion of the entire VOD content, if the appropriate selection instruction corresponding to that is issued in advance, the playback device Has the further effect of efficiently generating the recording data desired by the user.

  In the reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the instruction receiving unit can receive an instruction to select whether or not to display the user interface.

  According to the above configuration, the playback apparatus can cause the user to select whether or not to display a user interface that allows the user to instruct whether or not to record VOD content.

  Thereby, the reproducing apparatus can further eliminate the annoyance felt by the user who does not intend to record the VOD content, that is, the annoyance that the user interface has to be confirmed every time the VOD content is reproduced. There is an effect.

  Further, a program for operating the playback apparatus according to the present invention, which causes a computer to function as each of the above-described means, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded are also included in the present invention. Included in the category.

  As described above, the playback apparatus according to the present invention has an effect that the user can easily perform operations related to recording.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the television which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface for selecting whether the content to reproduce | regenerate is recorded. It is a figure which shows the other example of the said user interface. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the television which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen (reproduction | regeneration selection screen) for selecting whether the content which cannot be recorded is reproduced | regenerated. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of the operation | movement of the television which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows another modification of the operation | movement of the television which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the menu screen for performing each setting of the television which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the menu screen for setting whether the recording process of a VOD content is performed. It is a flowchart which shows another modification of the television operation | movement which concerns on the said embodiment.

  A VOD reproducing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows with reference to FIGS. In addition, since the VOD reproducing | regenerating apparatus concerning this embodiment is implement | achieved by the television receiver (television), this is hereafter called a television.

  First, the configuration of the television 100 (VOD playback device) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the television 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface for recording. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of a user interface for recording.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the television 100 includes a communication unit 10, a VOD player unit 20, a copyright management unit 30, a recording control unit 40, a recording unit 50, a user interface unit 60, a content navigation unit 70, and a display unit 80. It has.

  The communication unit 10 receives data from a content selection screen, which is a screen for selecting content to be played, from an external server (not shown) via the network, and VOD content displayed on the content selection screen. It receives a reproduction control metafile (details will be described later), VOD license, stream data, etc. relating to the selected VOD content (hereinafter referred to as “reproduction target content”). Here, the VOD license includes a content key, which is a content encryption key, and information related to signal output restriction and copy restriction. The information related to copy restriction indicates that the content to be reproduced is “copy free” or “copy once”. ”And“ Copy Never ”.

  The VOD player unit 20 plays back the stream data of the playback target content and records the playback target content on the recording unit 50. Further, the VOD player unit 20 determines whether or not the content to be reproduced is encrypted based on a reproduction control metafile acquired from an external VOD server (not shown).

  The copyright management unit 30 determines whether or not the content to be reproduced is a copy never based on a VOD license acquired from an external license server (not shown).

  The recording control unit 40 determines whether the reproduction target content is a recordable content based on the determination result notified from the VOD player unit 20 and the copyright management unit 30. Specifically, when the recording control unit 40 receives a notification of a determination result that the reproduction target content is not encrypted or a notification of a determination result that the reproduction target content is not a copy never, It is determined that the recording is possible, and it is determined that the recording is impossible when neither is possible.

  The recording unit 50 is a recording medium on which VOD content is recorded by the VOD player unit 20.

  The user interface unit 60 acquires a user instruction (user instruction) input by operating a remote controller (input unit) or the like. Examples of the user instruction include a navigation start instruction for displaying a content selection screen and a recording instruction that is an instruction to record the content to be reproduced.

  In addition, the user interface unit 60 displays a recording confirmation screen for the content to be reproduced on the display unit 80. The recording confirmation screen is a screen for the user to select whether or not to record, and one example is a screen as shown in FIG.

  In addition, the user interface unit 60 displays a menu screen for performing various settings. The menu screen will be described later.

  The content navigation unit 70 displays the content to be played back on the content selection screen and the VOD player unit 30 on the display unit 80. Examples of applications that implement the content navigation unit 70 include an HTML browser, a BML browser, and an ECG.

  The display unit 80 displays a content selection screen, a playback target content, a recording confirmation screen, and the like.

  Although the configuration of the television 100 has been described above, the reproduction control metafile will be described below.

(About playback control metafile)
The playback control metafile includes control resources such as ERI (Entry Resource Information), LLI (License Link Information), and NCI (Communication Content Playback Control Information: Network control Content Information). It is a file.

  The ERI includes a) a reference destination (entry information) of the playback target content body, b) identification information indicating whether or not the playback target content is encrypted content (hereinafter referred to as “encrypted identification information”), c) Detailed information such as the title of the content to be played back, information for the television 100 to perform chapter playback, d) video signal attribute information as advance notification control information, e) advance notification control information and selected audio display information Audio signal attribute information and f) subtitle signal attribute information as display information for the selected subtitle.

  The LLI includes a) information necessary for acquiring the license of the content to be played back, b) information specifying the license server from which the license is acquired, and c) usage condition information of the license of the content to be played back. .

  Furthermore, NCI includes a) identification information of streaming protocol, b) identification information of FEC (forward error correction) method and parameters, and c) variable speed playback methods (fast forward, rewind, etc.) that are possible for the playback target content. ) And double speed value information, d) bit rate information of streaming, and e) parameters specific to HTTP streaming.

(Operation example of VOD playback device)
Next, the operation of the television 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the television 100. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface for confirming with the user whether or not to reproduce the content.
When the user interface unit 60 receives a navigation activation instruction and notifies the content navigation unit 70, the content navigation unit 70 displays a content selection screen on the display unit 80 as shown in FIG. 4 (step S1).

  Next, the user interface unit 60 accepts a user instruction to select a playback target content from the VOD content displayed on the content selection screen, and notifies the content navigation unit 70 (step S2).

  When the content navigation unit 70 requests the VOD player unit 20 to play back the playback target content based on the notification, the VOD player unit 20 sends the playback control metafile related to the playback target content via the communication unit 10 to an external VOD server. (Step S3).

  When the reproduction control metafile is acquired, the VOD player unit 20 determines whether or not the reproduction target content is encrypted based on the encryption identification information included in the acquired reproduction control metafile (step S4).

  If it is determined that the playback target content is encrypted (YES in step S4), the VOD player unit 20 instructs the copyright management unit 30 to acquire a VOD license for the encrypted playback target content from the license server. The requested processing (hereinafter referred to as “license acquisition request”) is performed. The copyright management unit 30 that has received the license acquisition request identifies the license server that stores the VOD license to be acquired by referring to the LLI of the reproduction control metafile, and from the identified license server via the communication unit 10. A VOD license is acquired (step S5).

  When the VOD license is acquired, the copyright management unit 30 determines whether the reproduction target content is a copy never based on the license information included in the acquired VOD license (step S6).

  When it is determined that the content to be played is not encrypted (NO in step S4), or when it is determined that the content is not a copy never (NO in step S6), the recording control unit 40 that has received the determination result The user interface unit 60 is requested to display a recording confirmation screen for the content to be played back, and the user interface unit 60 displays the requested recording confirmation screen on the display unit 80 and waits until a user instruction is accepted (step). S7).

  When receiving the user instruction, the user interface unit 60 determines whether the received user instruction is a user instruction for recording (recording instruction) or an instruction for not recording (step S8).

  When it is determined that the instruction is a recording instruction (YES in step S8), the user interface unit 60 supplies the recording instruction to the recording control unit 40, and the recording control unit 40 sends the stream data of the content to be reproduced to the VOD player unit 20. Is recorded in the storage unit 50 to the VOD player unit 20. The VOD player unit 20 starts a process of reproducing the stream data of the content to be played back (playback process) and performs a process of recording in the recording unit 50 (recording process) (step S9).

  When it is determined that the content to be reproduced is a copy never (YES in step S6), when an instruction not to perform recording is received (NO in step S8), or when the reproduction process and the recording process are completed, The content navigation unit 70 ends the content navigation (step S10).

  In addition, although it has been shown that the content navigation is terminated when it is determined that the content is not recordable, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which playback processing is performed without performing recording processing is adopted. May be. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, a configuration is adopted in which a playback selection screen for inquiring whether to perform playback processing for VOD content that cannot be recorded is displayed, and whether to perform playback processing is determined according to a user instruction. Also good.

  In the above configuration, the timing for displaying the recording confirmation screen is before the start of the reproduction of the content, but the timing for displaying is not limited to this. That is, the playback of the content may be started simultaneously with the display of the recording confirmation screen, or after the playback of the content is started, the recording confirmation screen may be displayed during the playback.

  In this case, instead of the recording confirmation screen shown in FIG. 2, a “record” button (hereinafter referred to as “recording start button”) shown in FIG. 3 may be displayed.

  Further, when recording is selected by the user, the playback may be started again from the beginning of the VOD content and the recording may be performed from the beginning, or only the portion that is played back after the time when recording is selected is selected. Recording may be performed. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which can select which recording method is used.

  In addition, although the structure which performs a reproduction | regeneration process and a video recording process in parallel when recording instruction | indication was shown was shown, it is not limited to this, For example, the structure which performs only a video recording process without performing a reproduction process May be adopted.

  Note that the operation of the television 100 described above is merely an example of the operation of the television 100 according to the present embodiment. Other operation examples of the television 100 according to the present embodiment will be described below as modified examples 1 to 3.

[Modification 1]
The television 100 described above displays a recording confirmation screen after selecting VOD content to be reproduced. In this modification, the television 100 receives a setting as to whether or not to automatically record content before selecting VOD content to be played back. When the TV 100 reproduces the VOD content in a state where the automatic recording is set, the TV 100 records the VOD content at the same time.

  An operation according to this modification of the television 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the first modification of the television 100. FIG. 8 shows an example of a menu screen for performing various settings of the television 100. FIG. 9 shows a menu screen (VOD recording setting screen) for setting whether or not to perform automatic recording processing of VOD content. An example is shown.

  When the user interface unit 60 accepts a VOD recording setting selection instruction while the menu screen of FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 80, the user interface unit 60 displays the menu screen of FIG. 9 on the display unit 80. Then, a user instruction as to whether or not to perform automatic recording is accepted (step S11).

  Next, as in the process of step S1, the content navigation unit 70 displays a content selection screen according to the navigation activation instruction (step S12).

  Next, the user interface unit 60 receives a user instruction to select a playback target content from the VOD content displayed on the content selection screen, and notifies the content navigation unit 70 (step S13).

  Upon receiving the notification, the content navigation unit 70 requests the VOD player unit 20 to play back the playback target content, and the VOD player unit 20 sends the playback control metafile related to the playback target content via the communication unit 10 to the external VOD. Obtained from the server (step S14).

  When the reproduction control metafile is acquired, the VOD player unit 20 determines whether or not the selected VOD content is encrypted based on the encryption identification information included in the acquired reproduction control metafile (step S15). ).

  If it is determined that the selected VOD content is encrypted (YES in step S15), the VOD player unit 20 makes a license acquisition request to the copyright management unit 30, and the copyright management that has received the license acquisition request. The unit 30 acquires the VOD license related to the content to be reproduced from the license server specified by the same method as described in step S5 via the communication unit 10 (step S16).

  When acquiring the VOD license, the copyright management unit 30 determines whether or not the selected content is a copy never based on the license information included in the acquired VOD license (step S17).

  When it is determined that the selected VOD content is not encrypted (NO in step S15), or when it is determined that the selected VOD content is not a copy never (that is, copy free or copy once) (NO in step S17). The recording control unit 40 that has received the determination result confirms whether or not the user interface unit 60 has received a user instruction to perform automatic recording in step S11 (step S18).

  If a user instruction for automatic recording has been received (YES in step S18), the recording control unit 40 instructs the VOD player unit 20 to record the stream data of the content to be played back in the storage unit 50 at the same time. . Upon receiving the instruction, the VOD player unit 20 starts recording processing at the same time as starting playback processing of the playback target content (step S19).

  When it is determined that the content to be reproduced is a copy never (YES in step S17), when the recording instruction is not notified to the recording control unit 40 (NO in step S18), or in the reproduction process and the recording process in step S19 When is finished, the content navigation unit 70 finishes the content navigation (step S20).

[Modification 2]
In the present modification, when the content to be played back is selected, the television 100 receives an instruction on whether or not to make a recording reservation and a setting of a recording start condition (for example, a recording reservation date and time that is the date and time when recording starts). The scheduled recording setting screen is displayed. Then, when the set recording start condition is satisfied, the television 100 starts playback and recording of the content to be played back at the same time.

  The operation according to this modification of the television 100 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the second modification of the television 100.

  Since the operations from S21 to S26 are the same as the operations from S1 to S6 in FIG. 4 already described, the description will be omitted and the operations from S27 will be described.

  When it is determined that the content to be played back is not encrypted (NO in step S24), or when it is determined that the content is not a copy never (NO in step S26), the user interface unit 60 displays on the display unit 80. A reservation recording confirmation screen is displayed, and a user instruction as to whether or not to make a recording reservation, and setting of a recording start condition when recording reservation is accepted. (Step S27).

  When receiving the user instruction, the user interface unit 60 determines whether or not the user instruction is an instruction to make a recording reservation (hereinafter referred to as “recording reservation instruction”) (step S28).

  When it is determined that the instruction is a recording reservation instruction (YES in step S28), the user interface unit 60 makes a recording reservation by notifying the recording control unit 40 of the acquired recording start condition (step S29).

  Thereafter, when the recording control unit 40 notifies the content navigation unit 70 that the recording reservation has been made, the content navigation unit 70 ends the content navigation (step S30).

  The recording control unit 40 requests the VOD player unit 20 to start recording the playback target content when the recording start condition is satisfied after the content navigation is completed (step S31).

  When receiving a request to start recording of the playback target content, the VOD player unit 20 performs a recording process of the playback target content (step S32).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the content to be reproduced is a copy never (YES in step S26), or if it is determined not to be a recording reservation instruction (NO in step S28), the content navigation unit does not perform the recording reservation. 70 ends the content navigation (step S33).

  Note that the content navigation unit 70 may end the content navigation immediately after it is determined in step S26 that it is a copy never. Alternatively, after determining that it is a copy never in step S26, the content navigation unit 70 requests the VOD player unit 20 to play back the content to be played back, and receives a notification that the VOD player unit 20 has finished playing back. After that, the content navigation may be terminated.

  In step S32, the playback target content may be played back at the same time as the playback target content.

[Modification 3]
In this modification, the television 100 displays a recording confirmation screen before determining whether or not recording is possible. If it is determined that recording is not possible, the recording confirmation screen is immediately switched to display indicating that recording is impossible.

  An operation according to the third modification of the television 100 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example according to the third modification of the television 100.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the content navigation unit 70 displays a content selection screen according to the navigation activation instruction in the same manner as the process of step S1 (step S41).

  Next, the user interface unit 60 accepts a user instruction to select a playback target content from the VOD content displayed on the content selection screen (step S42).

  The user interface unit 60 notifies the received user instruction to the content navigation unit 70 and displays a recording confirmation screen on the display unit 80 (step S43).

  When the content navigation unit 70 requests the VOD player unit 20 to play back the playback target content based on the notification, the VOD player unit 20 acquires a playback control metafile related to the playback target content from the external VOD server via the communication unit 10. (Step S44).

  When the reproduction control metafile is acquired, the VOD player unit 20 determines whether or not the reproduction target content is encrypted based on the encryption identification information included in the acquired reproduction control metafile (step S45).

  If it is determined that the content to be reproduced is encrypted (YES in step S45), the VOD player unit 20 makes a license acquisition request to the copyright management unit 30, and receives the license acquisition request. Obtains the VOD license related to the content to be reproduced from the license server identified by the same method as described in step S5 (step S46).

  When acquiring the VOD license, the copyright management unit 30 determines whether or not the content to be reproduced is a copy never based on the license information included in the acquired VOD license (step S47).

  When it is determined that the content to be played is not encrypted (NO in step S45), or when it is determined that the content is not a copy never (NO in step S47), the recording control unit 40 that has received the determination result It is determined whether the user interface unit 60 has received a recording instruction or an instruction not to record (step S48).

  When it is determined that the recording instruction has been received (YES in step S48), the recording control unit 40 notifies the VOD player unit 20 of a request to start playback and recording of the content to be played back, and the VOD player unit that has received the notification 20 starts reproduction and recording of the content to be reproduced. (Step S49).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the content to be reproduced is a copy never (YES in step S47), the recording control unit 40 that has received the determination result requests the user interface unit 60 to display the reproduction selection screen of FIG. Upon receiving the request, the user interface unit 60 displays a reproduction selection screen on the display unit 80 (step S50).

  When the playback selection screen is displayed, the user interface unit 60 waits until receiving a user instruction as to whether or not to play back the content to be played back. If the user instruction is received, the user instruction is an instruction to play back the user instruction. It is determined whether it is an instruction not to reproduce (step S51).

  When it is determined that the instruction is to reproduce (YES in step S51), the user interface unit 60 notifies the content navigation unit 70 of the reproduction instruction, and the received content navigation unit 70 reproduces the reproduction target content. The VOD player unit 20 requests the VOD player unit 20 to perform the reproduction process (step S52).

  When the reproduction process and the recording process in step S49 are completed, when a recording instruction is not given (NO in step S48), when a reproduction instruction is not given (NO in step S51), or when the reproduction process in step S52 is completed, the content The navigation unit 70 ends the content navigation (step S53).

(Advantages of TV 100)
As described above, in the television 100, when the user interface unit 60 receives a VOD content reproduction instruction by remote control operation, the recording confirmation that allows the user to instruct whether to record VOD content by remote control operation or not. A screen (user interface) is displayed on the display unit 80. Further, the VOD player unit 20 records the VOD content to be reproduced in the storage unit 50 when the user interface unit 60 receives an instruction to record.

  That is, since the television 100 displays a user interface for recording when triggered by an instruction other than the recording instruction, it is possible to reduce the troublesomeness of the recording operation.

(Additional notes)
Although the television 100 which is an embodiment of the VOD playback device according to the present invention has been described, the VOD playback device is not limited to the television 100. In other words, the VOD playback device may be a recorder that does not include the display unit 80 (for example, a hard disk recorder or the like).

  Note that the operation for displaying the recording confirmation screen when it is determined that recording is possible has been described, but whether or not the recording confirmation screen is displayed when it is determined that recording is possible is shown in the menu screen of FIG. It may be settable. That is, it may be possible to instruct selection of whether or not to display the recording confirmation screen by operating the remote controller while the menu screen of FIG. 9 is displayed.

  Also, an operation for automatically starting recording simultaneously with the reproduction of content when it is determined in advance that recording is possible on the menu screen of FIG. 9 and recording is possible (Modification 1) However, this is not necessarily the case. That is, without providing the menu screen of FIG. 9, the VOD player unit 20 may always automatically record the playback target content.

(Program and recording medium)
Finally, each block of the television 100 may be configured by hardware logic. Alternatively, it may be realized by software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as follows.

  That is, the television 100 includes a CPU that executes instructions of a program that realizes each function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that expands the program into an executable format, and A storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data is provided. With this configuration, the object of the present invention can be achieved by a predetermined recording medium.

  The recording medium only needs to record the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program that realizes each function described above so that it can be read by a computer. Thereby, the television 100 (or CPU or MPU) may read and execute the program code recorded on the supplied recording medium.

  The recording medium for supplying the program code to the television 100 is not limited to a specific structure or type. That is, the recording medium includes, for example, a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. System, a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card, or a semiconductor memory system such as a mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  In addition, since the television 100 is configured to be connectable to a communication network, the program code can be supplied to the television 100 via the communication network. This communication network is not limited to a specific type or form as long as it can supply program codes to the television 100. For example, it may be the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication network, and the like.

  The transmission medium constituting the communication network may be any medium that can transmit the program code, and is not limited to a specific configuration or type. For example, wired communication such as IEEE 1394, USB (Universal Serial Bus), power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line, infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth (registered trademark), 802.11 It can also be used by radio such as radio, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  The playback apparatus according to the present invention can be suitably applied to a television, a recorder, and the like.

10 communication unit 20 VOD player unit (recording means, automatic recording means)
30 Copyright Management Section 40 Recording Control Section (Judgment Unit)
50 Recording unit (storage unit)
60 User interface unit (display means, instruction receiving means)
70 Content Navigation Unit 80 Display Unit 100 Television (Playback Device)

Claims (13)

In a playback device capable of playing back VOD content received from a server,
An instruction receiving means for receiving a user instruction from the input unit;
Display means for displaying on the display unit a user interface that allows a user to instruct whether or not to record the VOD content by operating the input unit;
And a recording unit configured to record the VOD content in a storage unit when the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to record. The display means displays the user interface when the instruction accepting means accepts an instruction to reproduce the VOD content,
2. The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to record, the recording unit records the VOD content in the storage unit.   3. The playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display unit displays the user interface on the display unit when the instruction receiving unit receives the instruction to reproduce. Determination means for determining whether or not the VOD content is content that can be recorded in the storage unit;
3. The playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display unit displays the user interface only when the VOD content is determined to be a recordable content by the determination unit. Determination means for determining whether or not the VOD content is content that can be recorded in the storage unit;
The display means displays on the display section that the recording is impossible when the determining means determines that the VOD content is a non-recordable content. Or the reproducing apparatus of 3.   6. The automatic recording unit according to claim 2, further comprising an automatic recording unit that starts playback and recording of the VOD content at the same time when the instruction receiving unit receives the instruction to reproduce. The playback device according to item. The instruction accepting unit can accept an instruction to automatically start recording of the VOD content at the time of starting playback of the VOD content,
The automatic recording means starts playback and recording of the VOD content at the same time only when the instruction receiving means has already received the instruction, and the instruction receiving means has received an instruction to reproduce. The playback apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: The user interface is a user interface for allowing the user to select whether or not to start recording of the VOD content at a designated recording reservation date and time,
When the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to start recording at the designated recording reservation date and time, the recording unit starts recording the VOD content from the time when the recording reservation date and time is reached. The playback apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7. Playback of the VOD content is started when the instruction receiving means receives an instruction to play the VOD content,
When the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to record, the recording unit starts recording from the beginning of the VOD content, or the VOD content from the playback position when the recording unit receives the instruction. 9. The playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the instruction receiving unit can receive an instruction to select whether to start recording.   10. The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction receiving unit can receive a selection instruction as to whether to display the user interface. In a recording method of a playback apparatus capable of playing back VOD content received from a server,
An instruction receiving process for receiving a user instruction from the input unit;
A display step of displaying on the display unit a user interface that allows a user to instruct whether or not to record the VOD content by operating the input unit;
A recording method comprising: a recording step of recording the VOD content in a storage unit when an instruction to record is received in the instruction receiving step.   A program for operating a computer included in the playback apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the program causes the computer to function as each unit.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 12 is recorded.

Images