JP2011259187A - Recording/playback apparatus and recording/playback method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content recording/playback apparatus, which precisely determines whether to interrupt automatic recording execution and use a receiving resource, being used, as a function different from the automatic recording from the value of an automatic recording content.SOLUTION: A content recording/playback device 10 having an automatic recording function after selecting a content without an user's explicit designation and receiving the selected content by a receiving resource includes: an automatic recording control part 301 to interrupt automatic recording when it is determined that the user's convenience can be improved by using the receiving resource as a function different from the automatic recording more than the disadvantage that the user takes from the interruption of the automatic recording; and a content determination part 303 to calculate that the disadvantage of the user by the interruption is smaller when there is a content similar to the content being interrupted among contents to be obtainable in future.

Description

The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method for recording / reproducing received content.

  In recent years, terrestrial digital broadcasting and satellite digital broadcasting have been started, and receivers for these broadcasts have been released.

  In Patent Document 1, in order to reliably record a high-frequency viewing program preferred by the user, if there is a program that is viewed more than a certain frequency from the contents of the selected program history memory, the program is received and recorded. A receiving apparatus capable of automatic recording by means is disclosed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a problem that it takes a long time to perform a channel selection operation from the beginning every time a channel is changed. In response to this problem, when one of the two tuners selects the current viewing channel and the other tuner selects the channel to be predicted next, the other channel is selected. A receiving apparatus that performs a channel selection operation at a high speed by using a channel selection switching function for switching to a tuner is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 3925654 Patent No. 3007068

  Here, when a tuner or a decoder (hereinafter referred to as a reception resource) used in the automatic recording function as in Patent Document 1 is also used in a channel switching function as in Patent Document 2, for example, channel switching is performed. In order to make the function effective, the automatic recording function has to be stopped, and the user is disadvantaged.

  Other examples of the channel selection switching function include a function of acquiring program information in the background and a function of displaying a program different from the program being viewed in a small size.

  Considering the above problems, for example, the configuration described in the claims is adopted.

When receiving resources used in the automatic recording function are also used in other functions, a program similar to a recorded program by the automatic recording function can be acquired in the future, and even if the current automatic recording is stopped, there are few problems for the user. In some cases, other functions can be enabled and the automatic recording function can be stopped.

1 is a functional configuration diagram of an entire system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an example of an acquirable content list according to the first embodiment. 6 is an example of an alternative content list according to the first embodiment. 3 is an example of the usefulness of a channel selection switching function according to the first embodiment. 6 is an example of a loss degree due to automatic recording stop according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for creating a usefulness of a channel selection switching function according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of creating an acquirable content list according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for adding content data to an alternative content list according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for updating an acquirable content list and an alternative content list according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of specifying alternative content of a content according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of creating a loss degree due to automatic recording stop according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart of automatic recording stop and channel selection switching function validation according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of the automatic recording stop and channel selection switching function validation according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of the entire system according to a third embodiment. 14 is a flowchart of creating an acquirable content list according to the third embodiment. 12 is a flowchart of updating an acquirable content list and an alternative content list according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of the entire system according to a fourth embodiment.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below. Here, a channel selection switching function will be described as an example of another function using reception resources used in the automatic recording function.

  Other functions include a program information acquisition function for acquiring program information in the background, and a two-screen display function for displaying a program different from the program being viewed in a small size.

  FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration diagram of the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, if the content that can be acquired in the future is sufficiently similar to the content that is being automatically recorded in the content recording / playback apparatus 10, it is determined that the loss experienced by the user due to the automatic recording stop is small. (Similarity includes the same, and it is determined that there is no loss if the content is the same.) Further, if the user's usefulness by the channel selection switching function is greater than the above loss level, automatic recording is stopped and the channel selection switching function Enable

  In FIG. 1, the entire system includes a content recording / playback apparatus 10 and a broadcast station 20.

  The content recording / playback apparatus 10 includes tuners 101 and 102 that receive program contents and program schedules from the broadcasting station 20 and program schedule information that describes detailed information such as titles, genres, and details, and received program contents. Decoders 201 and 202 for decoding, a control unit 300 for performing various calculations and controls, an input unit 400 for accepting user operations via a remote controller, keyboard, mouse, etc., decoded video, audio, image, text data, etc. An output unit 500 for outputting and a recording unit 600 for storing the received program content, program guide information, control information, and the like are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 300 includes an automatic recording control unit 301, a high-speed switching control unit 302, a content determination unit 303, and an operation mode management unit 304 as functional modules.

  The automatic recording control unit 301 in FIG. 1 automatically records a program even when there is no designation of a program from the user. As an automatic recording method, for example, when a program that matches a genre or keyword registered in advance by the user is automatically recorded, or a program having a genre or keyword similar to a program frequently viewed by the user is automatically reserved. In some cases (see Patent Document 1), the program may be automatically recorded by a different method such as automatically recording a program at random.

  Further, when the operation mode management unit 304 is notified of the stop of recording, the automatic recording control unit 301 stops recording.

  Further, the automatic recording control unit 301 notifies the content determination unit 303 of information on the content that has been automatically reserved and recorded.

  The content determination unit 303 in FIG. 1 acquires the program guide information from the recording unit 600 at the first activation, creates an acquirable content list describing detailed information and an acquirable period for the content that can be acquired in the future, Save to 600. FIG. 2 shows an example of an acquirable content list. It contains the content ID and title, acquisition period, acquisition method, and detailed information.

  Further, when the automatic recording control unit 301 is notified of the reservation addition of the automatic recording content, the content determination unit 303 evaluates whether similar content can be acquired instead after the recording of the reserved content is stopped. . First, detailed information on all the contents that can be acquired after the scheduled recording of the reserved content is completed is acquired from the list of available contents on the recording unit 600. Next, the similarity that is an index indicating how much the detailed information of the reserved content is similar to each other is calculated, and the content having the maximum similarity is used as the substitute content. Then, the reserved content, the alternative content, and the similarity are added to the alternative content list. FIG. 3 shows an example of an alternative content list.

  Further, the content determination unit 303 periodically checks the update of the program guide information, and updates the acquirable content list and the alternative content list according to the update of the program guide information.

  The high-speed switching control unit 302 in FIG. 1 predicts a program to be switched next by the user, receives it in advance, and switches to a previously received channel when switching to this channel is instructed. Realizes high-speed switching. As an example of a prediction method of a channel to be switched next, when a channel up button of a remote controller is pressed, a method of predicting a next channel as a channel to be switched next in the same change order (eg, Patent Document 2) However, the prediction may be performed by a different method such as a method of predicting a channel that is frequently selected as a channel to be switched next.

  Furthermore, the high-speed switching control unit 302 inquires the operation mode management unit 304 about permission to enable the channel selection switching function before enabling the channel selection switching function.

  The operation mode management unit 304 in FIG. 1 has a usefulness indicating a degree of improvement in user usability when the channel selection switching function is enabled and a loss degree indicating a degree of loss that the user receives due to the automatic recording stop. Compare. When the usefulness is greater than the loss, the automatic recording control unit 301 is notified to stop automatic recording, and the high-speed switching control unit 302 is notified to enable the channel selection switching function.

  Furthermore, the operation mode management unit 304 creates a useful degree for the channel selection switching function. At this time, the channel switching history of the user is recorded in the recording unit 600, and the channel switching frequency, which is the average number of times of switching for each time zone, is calculated from the history. Then, the usefulness for each time zone is created based on the switching frequency and stored in the recording unit 600. In addition, since the channel switching frequency changes gradually with the passage of the month and day, the usefulness is calculated again and saved in the recording unit 600 after a specific period such as weekly or monthly. Overwrite the degree data.

  Further, the user may be able to set a usefulness value.

  Figure 4 shows an example of usefulness. A time zone with a low frequency of channel switching has a low usefulness, and a time zone with a high frequency of channel switching has a high usefulness. This means that if the channel can hardly be switched, the user will not benefit much from the channel switching function, but if the channel switching frequency is high, the channel switching function is used many times. . In FIG. 4, the calculation of the usefulness is simply “channel switching frequency” × 2 = “usefulness”, but it may be set more finely, for example, by changing the arithmetic expression within the switching frequency range. . If there is a value explicitly set by the user, that value may be used as the usefulness.

  In addition, the operation mode management unit 304 obtains an alternative content list from the recording unit 600, and calculates the degree of loss when automatic recording of a certain content is stopped from the described similarity. Here, if the content that can be acquired in the future as substitute content is sufficiently similar to the content to be stopped from automatic recording, it is assumed that the loss that the user receives due to the automatic recording stop is small. For this reason, if the degree of similarity is large, an operation is employed in which the degree of loss is conversely reduced. A simple example of the calculation of the loss degree is 1 / “similarity” = “loss degree”. The calculated loss degree is stored in the recording unit 600.

  Fig. 5 shows an example of the degree of loss. In this example, the degree of loss is calculated as 1 / “similarity” = “loss degree”.

  Next, an operation example of the first embodiment will be described.

  First, a case where the operation mode management unit 304 in FIG. 1 creates usefulness data will be described with reference to FIG.

  The operation mode management unit 304 acquires the program switching history from the recording unit 600 (FA01), and calculates the channel switching frequency for each time zone (FA02). Next, the usefulness for each time zone is created from the calculated switching frequency for each time zone (FA03). Finally, for the time zone in which the user does not set the usefulness individually, the created usefulness is stored in the recording unit 600 (FA04).

  In step FA02, the time zone for dividing the frequency calculation is, for example, every two hours from 0:00, but may be a shorter interval, a longer interval, or an interval that is not equally spaced. Further, a break such as a day of the week or a holiday may be added.

  Next, a case where the content determination unit 303 in FIG. 1 creates an acquirable content list will be described based on FIG.

  The content determination unit 303 acquires program guide information from the recording unit 600 (FB01). Next, a program that will be broadcast in the future is set as an acquirable content, and an acquirable content list is created from the detailed information of the content and the broadcast period (FB02). Finally, it is stored in the recording unit 600 (FB03).

  Next, the case where the content determination unit 303 adds the item of content A to the alternative content list when the automatic recording control unit 301 is notified of the addition of the automatic recording reserved content A will be described with reference to FIG. .

  When the content determination unit 303 receives a notification about the addition of the automatic recording reservation content A from the automatic recording control unit 301 (FC01), the content determination unit 303 identifies the alternative content of the automatic recording reservation content A from the obtainable content list (FC02, (It will be described later based on FIG. 10). Finally, the identified content is added to the alternative content list as the alternative content of content A (FC03).

  Next, a case where the content determination unit 303 updates the obtainable content list and the alternative content list will be described with reference to FIG.

  The content determination unit 303 deletes content data that can no longer be acquired from the acquirable content list in the recording unit 600 (FD01). Furthermore, the data of the automatically recorded content that has already been recorded is deleted from the alternative content list in the recording unit 600 (FD02). Next, program guide information is acquired from the recording unit 600 (FD03), and if the acquired information has not been changed since the previous update, the update process is terminated (FD04: NO).

  In step FD04, if the information has been changed since the previous acquisition (FD04: YES), the changed information is reflected in the obtainable content list (FD05), and the data of the content changed in step FD04 can be obtained Obtained from the recording unit 600 as a content list (updated) (FD06). Next, one automatic recording reservation content A ′ is selected from the alternative content list (FD07), and the alternative content (update) of content A ′ is specified from the obtainable content list (update) (FD08, FIG. (Based on 10) Next, the similarity between the alternative content (updated) and the alternative content of the alternative content list content A 'is compared (FD09) .If the former is larger (FD10: YES), the alternative content list Is updated with alternative content (updated) (FD11). This calculation (steps FD07, FD08, FD09, FD10, FD11) is repeated for all contents in the alternative content list (FD12).

  Next, the case where the content determination unit 303 specifies an alternative content for the automatic recording reservation content A from the specified obtainable content list in step FC02 and step FD08 will be described based on FIG.

  The content determination unit 303 acquires detailed information such as the title, content details, genre, and performer of the content A from the recording unit 600 (FE01). Then, the content that can be acquired after the recording end time of the content A is acquired from the recording unit 600 as the acquireable content list (for content A) from the specified acquireable content list (FE02). Next, one is selected from the obtainable content list (for content A) (FE03), and the similarity between the detailed information of the selected content and the detailed information of content A is calculated (FE04). This calculation (step FE03 and step FE04) is repeated for all contents in the obtainable content list (for content A) (FE05), and the content with the maximum calculated similarity is specified as an alternative content for content A (FE06) .

  In step FE04, as a general method of similarity calculation, for example, TF-IDF (Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency) analysis is used to set the weight of each word for words extracted from both using morphological analysis. A method of calculating the cosine by the vector space method as the similarity is known, but different methods may be used as the similarity as long as the similarity between sentences can be evaluated.

  Next, when the operation mode management unit 304 of FIG. 1 receives the update of the alternative content list from the content determination unit 303, the loss indicating how much the user receives a loss by stopping the automatic recording of the content The case of creating the degree data will be described with reference to FIG.

  The operation mode management unit 304 acquires an alternative content list from the recording unit 600 (FF01), creates a loss degree when recording is stopped for each content described in the alternative content list (FF02), and saves it in the recording unit 600. (FF03).

  Next, a case where the operation mode management unit 304 stops execution of automatic recording and enables the channel selection switching function will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the operation mode management unit 304 receives an inquiry from the high-speed switching control unit 302 as to whether the channel selection switching function can be enabled (FG01), if automatic recording is not being executed (FG02: NO), the operation mode management unit 304 selects Returns the permission to execute the station switching function (FG06).

  On the other hand, when automatic recording is being executed (FG02: YES), usefulness data that matches the current time zone and loss data that corresponds to the current automatic recording content are acquired from the recording unit 600. (FG03), compare usefulness and loss (FG04).

  When the usefulness is greater than the loss degree (FG04: YES), the automatic recording control unit 301 is notified of the stop of automatic recording (FG05), and the fast switching control unit 302 is notified that the channel selection switching function can be enabled. Enable the channel selection switching function (FG06). Conversely, when the usefulness is smaller than the loss degree (FG04: NO), the high-speed switching control unit 302 is notified that the channel selection switching function cannot be enabled (FG07). According to the above embodiment, even if the reception resource used by the automatic recording function is used by other functions, the automatic recording is stopped by appropriately determining the value for the user of the currently automatically recorded content. Can be determined.

  In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the amount and quality of the automatically recorded content that the user sees are kept constant by automatically making a recording reservation of the alternative content instead of the stopped automatic recording program.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment, the operations of the operation mode management unit 304 and the automatic recording control unit 302 are different.

  The operation mode management unit 304 instructs the automatic recording control unit 301 to stop the automatic recording, and then requests the recording reservation for the alternative content of the stopped content.

  When the automatic recording control unit 301 receives an alternative content recording reservation request from the operation mode management unit 304, if the requested content recording reservation is possible, the automatic recording control unit 301 executes the alternative content recording reservation.

  Next, an operation example of the second embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the operation when the operation mode management unit 304 stops automatic recording and enables the channel selection switching function is different from that in the first embodiment. This operation will be described with reference to FIG. However, steps other than step FG08 and step FG09 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The operation mode management unit 304 executes automatic recording stop by the processing of steps FG01 to FG06. After that, from the alternative content list of the recording unit 600, the alternative content data of the automatically recorded content whose execution has been stopped in step FG06 is acquired (FG08). Then, the automatic recording control unit 302 is requested to make a recording reservation for this alternative content (FG09).

  According to the present embodiment, even if automatic recording is stopped to release reception resources, it is possible to record content similar to the stopped content again, and to maintain the amount and quality of the automatic recording content. Become.

  In the first embodiment, a broadcast program is assumed as an acquirable content, but content acquirable on a network is also considered.

  FIG. 14 shows a functional configuration diagram of the present embodiment. In addition to the first embodiment, a public network 40, a router 50, and a server 60 are added, and a receiver 800 is added to the content recording / playback apparatus 10.

  The server 60 stores metadata such as contents, detailed information thereof, and provision periods, and provides them when requested through the public network 40.

  The content recording / playback apparatus 10 includes a receiving unit 800 that acquires content and its metadata from the server 60 via the public network 40 and the router 50.

  Other configurations of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  Next, an operation example of the third embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the content determination unit 303 creates and updates the obtainable content list is different from the first embodiment.

  First, a case where an acquirable content list is created will be described with reference to FIG.

  The content determination unit 303 in FIG. 14 acquires program guide information from the recording unit 600 (FB01). Next, detailed information and provision period of contents that can be acquired from the server 60 are acquired via the public network 40, the router 50, and the receiving unit 800 (FB04). In the future, programs that will be broadcast and contents that can be acquired in the future are made available contents, and an acquirable content list is created from the detailed information of the contents, broadcast period, provision period, etc. (FB02) and saved in the recording unit 600 (FB03).

  Next, a case where the content determination unit 303 updates the obtainable content list will be described with reference to FIG.

  The content determination unit 303 deletes content data that has already become unacquirable from the acquirable content list in the recording unit 600 (FD01). Furthermore, the data of the automatically recorded content that has already been recorded is deleted from the alternative content list in the recording unit 600 (FD02). Next, program guide information is acquired from the recording unit 600 (FD03), and detailed information and provision period of content that can be acquired are acquired from the server 60 via the public network 40, the router 50, and the receiving unit 800 (FD13). ).

  The subsequent processing (step FD14) is the same as the processing from FE04 to FE12 shown in the first embodiment.

  According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to more accurately determine the degree of loss of automatic recording interruption by considering content on the network as acquirable content.

  In the first embodiment, the program content transmitted by the broadcast wave is received using the tuner. However, in this embodiment, the case where the program content is received through the network is also considered.

  FIG. 17 shows a functional configuration diagram of the present embodiment.

  A public network 40 and a router 50 are added to the first embodiment. Further, the tuners 101 and 102 are replaced with receiving units 801 and 802.

  The content recording / playback apparatus 10 includes receiving units 801 and 802 that receive program content from the broadcast station 20 via the router 50 and the public network 40.

  The receiving units 801 and 802 can maintain independent communication with the broadcast station 20, and can receive two different program contents at a data rate that can be normally decoded.

  Other configurations of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the reception resource is simply replaced with the reception unit of the network from the broadcast wave reception tuner, and the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  According to the above embodiment, even when the broadcast program content is distributed via the network instead of the broadcast wave, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

10 ... Content recording / playback device
20 ... Broadcasting station
40 ... Public network
50 ... Router
60 ... Server
101, 102 ... tuner
201, 202 ... Decoder
300 ・ ・ ・ Control unit
301 ・ ・ ・ Automatic recording controller
302 ・ ・ ・ High-speed switching controller
303 ・ ・ ・ Content judgment part
304 ・ ・ ・ Operation mode manager
400 ... Input section
500 ・ ・ ・ Output section
600 ・ ・ ・ Recording part
800, 801, 802 ... Receiver

Claims (10)

A recording / reproducing apparatus having an automatic recording function for automatically selecting and receiving a program and recording,
A tuner for receiving a program for use in the automatic recording function;
Separately from the degree of user loss by stopping the automatic recording function when there is a program most similar to the program recorded by the automatic recording function, which can be acquired in the future, and the automatic recording function using the tuner A recording unit for recording the usefulness of the user by enabling another function when there is a function,
When the usefulness recorded in the recording unit is greater than the loss degree, the control unit that stops the automatic recording function and enables another function;
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: The tuner receives program information together with a program,
2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that identifies, based on the program information, a program that is most similar to a program recorded by the automatic recording function.   2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the loss degree of the user is determined based on a similarity degree of a program most similar to a program recorded by the automatic recording function. A function different from the automatic recording function is a channel selection switching function, a program information acquisition function, or a two-screen display function,
The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usefulness level of the user is determined based on a use frequency of any one of the functions.   The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the automatic recording function is stopped, the control unit sets the most similar program as a reserved program of the automatic recording function. A recording / reproducing method of a recording / reproducing apparatus having an automatic recording function for automatically selecting and receiving a program and recording, and having a tuner for receiving a program for use in the automatic recording function,
Separately from the degree of user loss by stopping the automatic recording function when there is a program most similar to the program recorded by the automatic recording function, which can be acquired in the future, and the automatic recording function using the tuner Recording a user's usefulness by enabling another function when there is a function, and
And a step of stopping the automatic recording function and enabling another function when the recorded usefulness is greater than the loss degree. The tuner receives program information together with a program,
7. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of identifying a program most similar to a program to be recorded by the automatic recording function from the program information.   7. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 6, wherein the loss degree of the user is determined based on a similarity degree of a program most similar to a program recorded by the automatic recording function. A function different from the automatic recording function is a channel selection switching function, a program information acquisition function, or a two-screen display function,
7. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 6, wherein the usefulness level of the user is determined based on a use frequency of any one of the functions.   7. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of setting the most similar program as a reserved program of the automatic recording function when the automatic recording function is stopped.

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