JP2012015958A - Content reproduction system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content reproduction system giving information whose content changes in association with time progress to a main content.SOLUTION: In a synchronous reproduction processing, a user of terminal equipment 20 selects one reproduced information file from a plurality of reproduced information files and auxiliary contents, which a user of the content reproduction system 1 previously generates (S110). The selected reproduced information file is acquired (S130) and the content of the reproduced information file is analyzed (S140). The main content and the auxiliary content, which are decided in accordance with the reproduced information file, are acquired (S150 and S160). The acquired main content and auxiliary content are time-synchronized and reproduced in accordance with timing information in the reproduced information file (S170).

Description

  The present invention relates to a content playback system for playing back recorded or recorded content.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an information display device that is used together with a broadcast receiving device that receives content broadcast from a broadcast station (referred to as main content) and displays the content on a main display screen (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this information display device, information set by a user or the like (for example, a popular TV program, hereinafter referred to as setting information) is searched from a server connected to a communication network, and the search result is referred to as a main display screen. It is displayed on the sub display screen prepared separately.

  Therefore, the user of the information display device described in Patent Literature 1 can recognize the search result related to the setting information while viewing the main content.

JP 2009-77299 A

  However, in the information display device described in Patent Document 1, the search result is obtained, for example, by recommending viewing of a popular TV program (that is, the main content itself) different from the main content viewed by the user. Therefore, it is not information (hereinafter referred to as additional information) that adds new enjoyment to the main content viewed by the user.

  For this reason, information linked to the time progress of the main content (for example, a subtitle in a language different from the language subtitle added to the main content at the broadcasting station) is used as additional information, and the main content is viewed together with this additional information. Even if the user of the information display device described in Patent Document 1 desires this, the information display device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the request cannot be met.

  That is, the information display device described in Patent Document 1 cannot add additional information to the main content, and there is a problem that the user of the information display device cannot enjoy greater enjoyment with respect to the main content. .

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a content reproduction system capable of giving information linked to time progress to main content.

  In the content reproduction system of the present invention made to achieve the above object, recorded or recorded content (hereinafter referred to as main content) is stored in the main content storage means, and the main content is stored in the sub content storage means. Is created separately and stores redistributable content (hereinafter referred to as sub-content).

  The information file acquisition means includes at least information indicating sub-contents associated with any main content and used for synchronous reproduction with the main content, and information indicating the reproduction timing of the designated sub-content. Get the playback information file. Then, the acquisition control unit acquires the main content represented by the reproduction information file acquired by the information file acquisition unit as the target content from the main content storage unit, and sets the sub content specified by the reproduction information file as the sub content. Obtain from storage means.

  Then, the synchronous reproduction means reproduces the target content acquired by the acquisition control means, and at the reproduction timing specified by the reproduction information file acquired by the information file acquisition means, the sub-acquisition acquired by the acquisition control means. Play content.

According to such a content reproduction system of the present invention, the sub-content can be reproduced in time synchronization with the reproduction of the main content.
Since the sub-content is created separately from the main content, even when a digital television broadcast program is used as the main content, the main content itself is not altered.

  Information whose contents are changed in conjunction with the time progress of the main content (hereinafter referred to as additional information), for example, subtitles in a language different from the language subtitles added to the main content, or main content By creating and using subtitles of conversation content that is different from the content of the conversation being spoken, music that is not originally included in the main content, the user of the content reproduction system of the present invention can use A new way of enjoying the main content can be enjoyed.

  In the content reproduction system of the present invention, the composite storage unit may store the composite content composed of the main content and the sub content reproduced by the synchronous reproduction unit as a new single content. .

A user of such a content reproduction system can repeatedly view the newly generated composite content.
Furthermore, in the content reproduction system of the present invention, the reproduction information file may be stored in a server connected to the communication network. In this case, the information file acquisition means may acquire the reproduction information file from the server via the communication network.

  In such a content reproduction system, the information reproduction file stored in the server is an information reproduction file created independently by each user of the content reproduction system. Therefore, the user of the content reproduction system can view the main content and the sub-content according to the information reproduction file created by other users.

In the present invention, the sub-content storage means may be provided in a server connected to the communication network.
In this case, the sub-content stored in the server is sub-content created independently by each user of the content reproduction system. Thereby, even if there is only one main content, there are a plurality of correspondence relationships between the main content and the sub-content, and it is possible to provide more ways to enjoy the main content.

By the way, in the present invention, it is desirable that the main content and the sub-content include at least an image.
As described above, when the main content and the sub-content include at least an image, the synchronous reproduction means may reproduce the sub-content reproduction image so as to be superimposed on the main content reproduction image. The target content and the sub-content may be reproduced on separate screens (claim 6).

  If the display mode of the main content and the sub-content is set as the former, it can be easily viewed by the user of the content reproduction system. On the other hand, if the display mode of the main content and the sub-content is set to the latter, the main content is kept in the state at the time of creation, so that the impression that the main content has been altered can be made difficult to receive.

In the present invention, one of the main content and the sub-content may be audio content (claim 7).
Thus, according to the content reproduction system of the present invention, it is possible to provide a way of enjoying that audio content such as a radio broadcast is viewed by a user of the content reproduction system by adding an image or the like as sub-contents.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a content reproduction system. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the synchronous reproduction | regeneration process which the process part of a terminal device performs. It is drawing which illustrated the aspect of the display screen of the target content displayed by a synchronous reproduction process, and the display screen of a subcontent. It is drawing which illustrated the aspect of the display screen of the target content displayed by a synchronous reproduction process, and the display screen of a subcontent. It is explanatory drawing explaining the effect acquired by performing the synchronous reproduction | regeneration processing of embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<Configuration of content playback system>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content reproduction system.

  This content reproduction system 1 is a system that reproduces a previously created content (hereinafter referred to as sub-content) when reproducing a recorded / recorded television broadcast program (hereinafter referred to as main content).

  The content playback system 1 includes a server 10 for storing sub-contents and various information related to the sub-contents (hereinafter referred to as playback information files), recording and recording TV broadcast programs to generate main contents, and an Internet network. And a plurality of terminal devices 20 that reproduce the main content and the sub-content based on the sub-content and the reproduction information file acquired from the server 10 via the network 5.

<About server configuration>
The server 10 includes a communication unit 13 that performs communication with the terminal device 20 according to a predetermined protocol, a database 12 that stores sub-contents and reproduction information files to be provided to the terminal device 20, and the communication unit 13 and the database 12 And a control unit 11 that executes various processes using the.

  The database 12 is composed of a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive or a flash memory. The database 12 stores (adds / updates) sub-contents and playback information files created by the user of the content playback system 1 using the terminal device 20.

  Of these, the sub-content includes at least one of video data, image data, audio data, and character data generated in advance so as to be reproduced in conjunction with the time progress of the main content. Among these, the video data is a moving image in which a plurality of images are arranged in accordance with the progress of time, the image data is at least one image, the audio data is data obtained by recording audio, and the character data is This is data (i.e. subtitles) in which characters are imaged.

  Hereinafter, each of video data, image data, audio data, and character data constituting sub-contents is referred to as synchronous reproduction data. Each type of synchronous reproduction data may be one data or at least two or more data.

  On the other hand, the reproduction information file is generated for each sub-content, and each sub-content starts to reproduce the sub-content with respect to the target content information indicating the main content for which synchronous reproduction is designated and the designated main content. Timing information that represents the timing to perform. The reproduction information file may include attached information attached to the reproduction information file in addition to the target content information and timing information.

  The target content information may be associated with the main content identification information for identifying the main content and the sub content identification information for identifying the sub content, or the main content identification information is associated with the sub content itself. It may be a thing (that is, the sub information itself is included in the reproduction information file).

  The timing information is defined for each type of synchronized playback data. The playback timing indicating the timing of starting playback of the synchronized playback data for the main content and the playback of the synchronized playback data are And a reproduction continuation time representing a length of time that continues from the reproduction timing.

Here, the description returns to the configuration of the server 10.
The control unit 11 is configured as a well-known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and executes various processes based on a program stored in the ROM, a program loaded on the RAM, and parameters.

  The processing executed by the control unit 11 includes information storage processing for storing information acquired from the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 13 (and thus the network 5) (for example, sub-contents and reproduction information files) in the database 12, Information provision processing for providing information stored in the database 12 (for example, sub-contents and reproduction information files) to the terminal device 20 in accordance with a request from the terminal device 20 is included.

<Configuration of terminal device>
The terminal device 20 includes a communication unit 22 that performs communication with the server 10 according to a predetermined protocol, a broadcast reception unit 27 that receives television broadcasts, and an operation unit 24 that inputs various commands to the terminal device 20. And a display unit 25 that performs display based on various types of information in addition to the video received by the broadcast receiving unit 27. Further, the terminal device 20 is acquired from the audio output unit 26 that outputs audio based on various information in addition to the audio received by the broadcast receiving unit 27, the television broadcast program received by at least the broadcast receiving unit 27, and the communication unit 22. A storage unit 23 that stores the program as main content, and a processing unit 21 that controls these units 22 to 27 and executes various processes.

  In the present embodiment, the terminal device 20 is specifically configured as a personal computer (PC), a television receiver, a recorder, an in-vehicle navigation device, a mobile phone device, or the like. And each terminal device 20 has the structure (henceforth a function implementation structure) for implement | achieving the function which the terminal device 20 should originally achieve in addition to the structure described in FIG. Since the function implementation configuration is not the main part of the present invention, illustration and description are omitted in the present embodiment.

  The broadcast receiving unit 27 is connected to an antenna that receives a TV broadcast signal, a CATV network that supplies the TV broadcast signal, and the like, and has a function of extracting a signal of a desired TV program from the TV broadcast signal according to an operation on the operation unit 24. It consists of a known tuner.

The operation unit 24 is configured as a user interface that receives an operation from a user such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a remote controller.
The storage unit 23 is configured by a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive or a flash memory, for example. The storage unit 23 has at least a main content storage area for storing main content and a processing result storage area for storing a processing result in the processing unit 21.

  The processing unit 21 is configured as a well-known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and executes a predetermined process based on a program stored in the ROM, a program loaded on the RAM, and parameters.

  The processing executed by the processing unit 21 includes a broadcast program storage process in which the television broadcast program received by the broadcast receiving unit 27 is stored in the storage unit 23 as main content, and a command input via the operation unit 24 in accordance with the server 10. The sub-content from the server 10 is reproduced at least in synchronization with the main content stored in the storage unit 23 based on the reproduction information file obtained from the above.

<About the contents of synchronized playback processing>
Next, the synchronized playback process executed by the processing unit 21 of the terminal device 20 will be described in detail according to the flowchart of FIG.

This synchronized playback process is started when an activation command for starting this synchronized playback process is input via the operation unit 24.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the synchronous playback process is started, first, a file selection image is displayed on the display unit 25, and an instruction input via the operation unit 24 is received (S110). This file selection image is a graphical user interface (GUI) for selecting one reproduction information file from reproduction information files stored in the database 12 of the server 10. Specifically, in the file selection image of the present embodiment, the reproduction information file is displayed in a manner classified for each main content in the target content information in the reproduction information file. The reproduction information files that can be selected by the file selection image may be all reproduction information files stored in the database 12 or correspond to the main content stored in the storage unit 23 of the terminal device 20. Only the playback information file may be used.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a selection command for selecting a reproduction information file is input via the file selection image. If the selection command is not input (S120: NO), the process returns to S110, and the selection command is received. Wait for input. When a selection command is input (S120: YES), the reproduction information file selected by the input selection command is acquired from the database 12 of the server 10 (S130).

  Subsequently, the contents of the reproduction information file acquired in S130 are analyzed, and the sub-content (hereinafter referred to as the target sub-content) represented by the target content information in the reproduction information file and the synchronization of the target sub-content. The main content (hereinafter referred to as target content) that designates reproduction is recognized, and timing information in the reproduction information file is acquired (S140).

  Then, the target content is acquired from the storage unit 23 (S150), and each type of synchronized playback data constituting the target sub-content is acquired from the database 12 of the server 10 (S160). Subsequently, the target content is played back, and each of the various synchronized playback data constituting the target sub-content is played back according to the timing information included in the playback information file (S170). Thus, each type of synchronized playback data constituting the target sub-content is played back in time synchronization with the playback of the target content, video (image) is displayed on the display unit 25, and audio is output from the audio output unit 26. Is done.

  At the same time, in S170, the reproduced target content and the target sub-content reproduced in time synchronization with the target content are temporarily stored (recording (so-called capture), recording).

  The display mode when synchronously reproducing the target content and the target sub-content is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the display screen of the display unit 25 is divided into a plurality of screens, and the characters constituting the target sub-content are displayed. The display screen of each of the data and the video data (or image data) may be provided as a separate screen from the display screen of the target content itself. In addition, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the display mode when the target content and the target sub-content are synchronously reproduced includes character data and video data (or image data) constituting the target sub-content of the target content itself. The display may be superimposed on the display screen, that is, a reproduction image of character data and video data (or image data) may be displayed on the display screen of the target content itself.

  In particular, the display of character data (that is, subtitles) may be realized by a balloon starting from the speaker of the target content to be synchronously reproduced. The display of the character data by the balloon can be realized by a known data format, but may be realized by a new data format.

  Furthermore, the acquisition of the target sub-content in S160 and the reproduction of the target sub-content time-synchronized with the target content in S170 are known in which the target sub-content is reproduced in real time while receiving the target sub-content from the server 10. May be realized by the above technique (so-called streaming), or after each type of synchronized playback data constituting the target sub-content is downloaded from the server 10 and stored in the storage unit 23, each type of synchronization stored therein is stored. You may implement | achieve by reproducing | regenerating reproduction | regeneration data.

  Here, returning to the description of the synchronized playback process, in the subsequent S180, the data recorded and recorded (hereinafter referred to as the recorded recording data) of the target content and the target sub-contents synchronized and played back in S170 are replaced with a new single content. It is determined whether or not a storage command to be stored as a certain composite content is input via the operation unit 24.

  If the result of determination in S180 is that a storage command has been input (S180: YES), the recorded recording data is stored in the storage unit 23 as composite content (S190). That is, after the composite content is saved, the synchronous playback process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in S180 is that a storage command has not been input (S180: NO), the recorded recording data is erased, and then this synchronized playback process is terminated.
That is, in the synchronous playback process of the present embodiment, the user of the terminal device 20 selects one playback information file from a plurality of playback information files and sub-contents generated in advance by the user of the content playback system 1. Then, the main content and the sub content determined according to the selected reproduction information file are reproduced in time synchronization according to the timing information in the reproduction information file.
[Effect of the embodiment]
As described above, according to the content reproduction system 1 of the present embodiment, the sub-content can be reproduced in time synchronization with the reproduction of the main content.

  The sub-content is created separately from the main content by the user of the content reproduction system 1, and therefore the main content itself is not altered due to the creation of the sub-content.

  According to the content reproduction system 1 of the present embodiment, since the sub-content is created as information (that is, additional information) that is reproduced in conjunction with the time progress of the main content, new enjoyment of the main content is achieved. Can enjoy the better.

  Furthermore, in the content reproduction system 1 of the present embodiment, information reproduction files and sub-contents created independently by individual users are stored in the server 10, and the user of the terminal device 20 is stored in the server 10. Information playback files and sub-contents can be acquired. As a result, the user of the content reproduction system 1 can view and enjoy the main content and the sub-content according to the information reproduction file created by other users, and increase the types and number of ways to enjoy the main content. be able to.

  Moreover, in the content playback system 1 of the present embodiment, the recorded recording data can be stored as composite content, so that the user of the content playback system 1 can repeatedly view the stored composite content.

  For example, as sub-contents, subtitles in a language different from the subtitles in the language added to the main content (that is, character data), music that is not originally included in the main content (that is, audio data), etc. If the user of the reproduction system 1 creates, the main content can be viewed together with the sub-contents.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, the user of the content reproduction system 1 creates subtitles (that is, character data) having a conversation content different from the conversation content spoken in the main content as sub-contents. For example, the main content parody can be viewed.

  As a display mode when synchronously reproducing the target content and the target sub-content, as shown in FIG. 3 described above, the display screens of the character data and the video data constituting the target sub-content are displayed as the display screen of the target content itself. If the main content is provided as a separate screen, the main content itself maintains the state at the time of creation, so that it is difficult to receive the impression that the main content has been altered.

  On the other hand, as a display mode when synchronously reproducing the target content and the target sub-content, as shown in FIG. 4 described above, if a reproduction image of character data and video data is displayed on the display screen of the target content itself, the target content is displayed. The content and the target sub-content are easy for the user of the content reproduction system 1 to view.

In the content reproduction system 1 of the present embodiment, if the display of character data (that is, subtitles) is a mode that uses a balloon, unlike the subtitle display mode according to the current ARIB standard, the reproduced target content (that is, the subtitles) , Video) to clarify who is the speaker. In particular, if the display of the balloon is outside the display screen of the target content as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, it is possible to prevent the video (image) of the target content from becoming difficult to visually recognize.
[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is possible to implement in various aspects.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a TV broadcast program broadcast from a TV broadcasting station is used as the main content. However, the main content in the present invention is not limited to this, and a program (video content or audio content distributed from the Internet). ), Or content that consists of video and audio data shot and collected by the user of the content playback system 1 with a video camera or the like, or a radio broadcast program broadcast from a radio broadcast station is recorded. The audio content may be the same.

  When audio content such as a radio broadcast program is used as the main content, if video data and subtitle data are created as sub-contents, the audio content can be viewed. Radio broadcast based on more information You can enjoy the program.

  And although the main content in the said embodiment was stored in the memory | storage part 23 of the terminal device 20, the main content in this invention may be stored in the database 12 of the server 10. FIG. In this case, the reproduction of the main content itself in the synchronous reproduction process is realized by a well-known technique (so-called streaming) for reproducing the target content in real time while receiving the target content itself from the server 10 as in the reproduction of the target sub-content. Alternatively, the target content may be downloaded from the server 10 and stored in the storage unit 23, and the stored synchronized playback data of each type may be played back.

  In addition, the sub content and the reproduction information file in the above embodiment are stored in the database 12 of the server 10, but the sub content and the reproduction information file in the present invention are stored in the storage unit 23 of the terminal device 20. Also good.

  That is, if the target content and each type of synchronized playback data constituting the target sub-content can be played back in time synchronization according to the timing information, the storage destination of the main content, the sub-content, and the playback information file is Any method may be used, and any method may be used for reproducing the main content itself and the sub-contents in the synchronous reproduction process.

  In the synchronous playback process of the above embodiment, the number of sub-contents that are synchronized and played back with respect to one main content, that is, the number of target sub-contents is one. The number is not limited to one, and may be plural. In this case, a plurality of playback information files in the above embodiment may be read and playback of the synchronized playback data corresponding to the read playback information file may be executed, or one main content information, a plurality of sub content information, It is also possible to generate a reproduction information file having the target content information associated with the reproduction information file, read the reproduction information file, and execute reproduction of the synchronous reproduction data corresponding to the read reproduction information file.

By the way, in the synchronized playback processing of the above embodiment, when the recorded recording data is stored as composite content as a result of the confirmation in S180, the recorded recording data is stored in the storage unit 23 of the terminal device 20 as composite content in S190. However, storing recorded recording data as composite content may be omitted. That is, in the present invention, S180 and S190 of the synchronous reproduction process may be omitted.
[Correspondence between Embodiment and Claims]
Finally, the relationship between the description of the above embodiment and the description of the scope of claims will be described.

  The storage unit 23 in each terminal device 20 of the above embodiment corresponds to the main content storage unit of the present invention, and the database 12 of the server 10 corresponds to the sub content storage unit of the present invention.

  The function obtained by executing S130 in the synchronous reproduction process of the above embodiment corresponds to the information file acquisition means of the present invention, and the function obtained by executing S140 to S160 is the acquisition control of the present invention. The function obtained by executing S170 corresponds to the synchronous reproduction means of the present invention.

  Furthermore, the function obtained by executing S180 and S190 in the synchronized playback process of the above embodiment corresponds to the composite storage means of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Content reproduction system 5 ... Network 10 ... Server 11 ... Control part 12 ... Database 13 ... Communication part 20 ... Terminal device 21 ... Processing part 22 ... Communication part 23 ... Storage part 24 ... Operation part 25 ... Display part 26 ... Audio | voice output Part 27 ... Broadcast receiving part

Claims (7)

Main content storage means for storing main content that is recorded or recorded content;
Sub-content storage means for storing sub-content that is created separately from the main content and is redistributable;
An information file for acquiring a reproduction information file that is associated with any main content and includes at least information representing sub-content used for synchronous reproduction with the main content and information representing reproduction timing of the designated sub-content Acquisition means;
The main content represented by the reproduction information file acquired by the information file acquisition unit is acquired as the target content from the main content storage unit, and the sub content specified by the reproduction information file is acquired from the sub content storage unit. Acquisition control means;
While reproducing the target content acquired by the acquisition control unit, the sub-content acquired by the acquisition control unit at the reproduction timing specified by the reproduction information file acquired by the information file acquisition unit. A content reproduction system comprising a synchronous reproduction means for reproduction.   The content reproduction system according to claim 1, further comprising: a composite storage unit that stores the composite content including the main content and the sub-content reproduced by the synchronous reproduction unit as a new single content. The reproduction information file is stored in a server connected to a communication network,
The information file acquisition means includes
The content reproduction system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reproduction information file is obtained from a server via a communication network. The subsidiary content storage means includes
The content reproduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the content reproduction system is provided in a server connected to a communication network. The main content and the sub-content include at least an image,
The synchronous reproduction means includes
The content reproduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a reproduction image of the sub-content is reproduced so as to be superimposed on a reproduction image of the target content. The main content and the sub-content include at least an image,
The synchronous reproduction means includes
The content reproduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sub-content and the target content are reproduced on separate screens.   The content reproduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of the main content and the sub-content is audio content.