JP2012023593A - Content server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content server in which a user can easily find and reproduce desired content and resume point among many contents and resume points using a general purpose content sever device even when a content can be reproduced by a plurality of reproducers via a network.SOLUTION: The content server 1 comprises a virtual content creation unit which creates a virtual content including identification information for identifying a content and interruption position information for every interruption position where reproduction is interrupted in a reproducer with respect to a storage content, a thumbnail creation unit which creates thumbnail information including the interruption position information and device information indicating a device that executed reproduction for every virtual content, and a thumbnail output unit which outputs the thumbnail information about a virtual content for the purpose of display when selection of a virtual content is requested based on a displayed content list including the list of virtual content.

Description

  The present invention relates to a content server apparatus, and more particularly, to a content server apparatus such as a home server that can reproduce content stored therein from a content reproduction apparatus via a network.

  Some content playback devices such as conventional television devices are configured to be able to play media content from a content server device connected to a network. As a technology for reproducing content from a server on a network, for example, there is a technology for performing reproduction while performing communication in accordance with a procedure described in a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) guideline.

  Furthermore, in a content playback device that is a network player, when a content is played back and terminated halfway, a device that records the playback end position as a resume point and can play back from the resume point at the next playback is also widespread. ing. Such a resume point may be managed on the content reproduction device side, but a single user does not always view only on one content reproduction device.

  Therefore, a technique for collectively managing resume points on the content server device has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the technique described in Patent Document 1, in the situation where resume points are collectively managed by the media server device in a situation where the digital content held by the media server device can be played by the content playback device, the media server device It is stored as temporary content in a data format that can be played back. The media server device also stores association information associated with the provisional content and the reproduction time as the interruption position. This association information is link information for reproducing the content from the interruption position, and can be reproduced from the resume point by this link information. Also, in this technology, an extension tag that is not a DLNA standard is used to provide the user with information such as where the resume point is in the content playback time and when it was created.

  Further, in the technique described in Patent Literature 2, when the resume points are collectively managed by the server device under the same situation, the resume points for each content are managed for each content reproduction device.

JP 2007-66471 A JP 2007-180818 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, an extension tag that is not a DLNA standard is used to provide the user with information such as where the resume point is in the content playback time and when it was created. Therefore, a content reproduction apparatus that does not understand expansion tags cannot understand these pieces of information and cannot provide appropriate information to the user. Therefore, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult for a user who uses a content playback device that does not understand an expansion tag to select a desired content for playback from a desired resume point.

  Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, when a certain content is noticed, the resume point is managed for each content reproduction device and only the resume point is displayed as a list. If the user plays back the content from the first playback device, interrupts it, moves to another room, and then tries to play the rest of the content on the second playback device, the first playback device It is not easy to find an interrupted resume point. As described above, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, an operation for reproducing desired content from a desired resume point is complicated and takes time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described actual situation, and the purpose of the present invention is, even when content stored in a content server device can be played back from a plurality of content playback devices via a network, Provided is a content server device that can easily find and play a content desired by a user from among a large number of contents and a large number of resume points, can play back the content, and can be supported by a general-purpose content playback device. There is.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a first technical means of the present invention is a content server device connected to a plurality of content reproduction devices via a network.
When the content stored in the content server device is interrupted by the content playback device, the identification information for identifying the content and the position where the playback is interrupted are indicated for each position where the playback is interrupted. A virtual content creation unit that creates virtual content including suspension position information, and a thumbnail creation unit that creates, for each virtual content, thumbnail information that includes the suspension position information and device information indicating the device that has performed the playback; A list output unit for outputting a content list including a list of the virtual content for display; and when there is a request for selecting the virtual content based on the displayed content list, the virtual content for which the selection request is made A thumbnail output unit for outputting the thumbnail information for display; A content output unit configured to reproduce and output content corresponding to the virtual content from a position indicated by the interruption position information of the virtual content requested to be played when the virtual content is requested to be played based on a content list; It is characterized by having provided.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the virtual content creating unit creates the virtual content even when the content server device is played back and interrupted. is there.

  According to a third technical means, in the first or second technical means, the virtual content creation unit always creates a new virtual content each time reproduction of the content is interrupted. It is.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the first or second technical means, the virtual content creating unit determines whether or not the virtual content has been created each time reproduction of the content is interrupted, and has been created. If it is, the created virtual content is updated.

  According to a fifth technical means, in the first or second technical means, the virtual content creation unit receives the virtual content from the same device as the device related to the current interruption every time the reproduction of the content is interrupted. It is determined whether or not it has been created by interruption, and when it has been created, the created virtual content is updated.

  A sixth technical means is that in the first or second technical means, the virtual content creating unit updates the instructed virtual content when reproduction is instructed from the created virtual content and interrupted. It is characterized by.

  A seventh technical means is any one of the first to sixth technical means, wherein the virtual content creating unit creates the virtual content only when the content is reproduced and interrupted less than a predetermined ratio. It is characterized by that.

  An eighth technical means is the technical means according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising an erasing unit that erases the virtual content when a predetermined period has passed since creation. is there.

  According to the content server device of the present invention, even when content stored in the content server device can be played back from a plurality of content playback devices via a network, the user desires from a large number of content and a large number of resume points. Content and resume points can be easily found and played back, and a general-purpose content playback device can be used.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the content reproduction system containing the content server apparatus and content reproduction apparatus which concern on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the virtual content managed with the content server apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the thumbnail information produced about each of the virtual content of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process example which produces the virtual content of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a storage of the virtual content produced with the content server apparatus based on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the list for making a user select the virtual content of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of a virtual content produced with the content server apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the list for making a user select the virtual content of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the inquiry screen displayed with the content server apparatus in the content reproduction system of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example which produces the virtual content of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example which produces the virtual content of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example which produces the virtual content of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process example which produces the virtual content of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen which sets the resume period displayed on the content server apparatus in the content reproduction system of FIG. 1, and the update time of resume information. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the erasure | elimination process based on the resume period set from the setting screen of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example which produces the virtual content of FIG.

  The content server device according to the present invention is a device that can provide content to a client device, such as a PC, a recorder, a network HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a home server, and can be connected to a plurality of client devices via a network. It has become. In addition, the content playback device as a client device may be a device including a display unit and an audio output unit and capable of playing back content, and can be applied to, for example, a PC, a television, an STB, a mobile phone, and the like. Note that this content includes video data and audio data, and the compression format, file format, and the like are not limited.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a content reproduction system including a content server device and a content reproduction device according to the present invention.
In the content reproduction system illustrated in FIG. 1, a content server device (hereinafter simply referred to as a content server 1) and a network player 4 as an example of a content reproduction device that reproduces content recorded in the content recording unit 11 of the content server 1. It has. Although not shown, a plurality of network players 4 can be connected. A general combination includes a case where the content server 1 is a DMS (Digital Media Server) and a network player is a DLNA player (that is, DMP: Digital Media Player), but is not limited thereto.

  The content server 1 includes a control unit 1a that controls the whole, a content recording unit 11 that includes an HDD, a portable recording medium, and a driving device thereof, and a playback control unit 10 that controls playback of content recorded in the content recording unit 11. , A content information management unit 12 to be described later, and a network interface unit 13 and a network terminal 14 for connecting to the network player 4 through a network.

  The content server 1 also includes a memory 15 for temporarily storing video data and audio data, a video decoding unit 16 that decodes video data of content, a video output unit 17 that outputs the decoded video data to the television 3, and a video output The terminal 18 includes an audio decoding unit 19 that decodes audio data, and an audio output unit 20 and an audio output terminal 21 that output the decoded audio data to the television 3. The television 3 is a device that reproduces content by the content server 1 alone, and is connected to the main body of the content server 1 by a video output terminal 18 and an audio output terminal 21.

  The content server 1 also includes a user interface unit 22 and a user input terminal 23, and a user operation unit 2 such as a remote controller, a keyboard, and a pointing device is connected to the user input terminal 23 wirelessly or by wire. Thereby, it is possible to operate the content server 1 by transmitting the operation content from the user operation unit 2 to the control unit 1 a via the user input terminal 23 and the user interface unit 22.

  The control unit 1a, the reproduction control unit 10, and the content information management unit 12 serve as, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program is recorded, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes the program, and a work area for executing the program. A rewritable memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) can be used. This program is mainly a program for executing content reproduction and selection processing, creation of resume virtual content and thumbnail information, which will be described later, and details of the processing will be described later in the description of the content information management unit 12. To do. Further, this memory is a storage area for virtual content, thumbnail information thereof, and management information thereof.

  The content information management unit 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining virtual content managed by the content server apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of thumbnail information created for each virtual content in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example for creating the virtual content in FIG. 2;

  The content information management unit 12 includes an integrated resume management unit 12a, a thumbnail creation unit 12b, a main body resume management unit 12c, a network resume management unit 12d, a resume content creation unit (virtual content creation unit) 12e, and a resume content creation unit (virtual content). Creation section) 12f. First, components other than the thumbnail creation unit 12b will be described.

  The resume content creation units 12e and 12f, for the content stored in the content server 1, for each position where playback is interrupted, includes virtual identification information that identifies the content and interrupted position information that indicates the position where playback is interrupted. Create content. This virtual content is only a content for resume, does not include video and audio data, and may be a text file in which a file name is simply described, for example. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, if there are four resume points A to D in the content 11a that are played back or interrupted by the network player 4 or the main body, the virtual contents a to d is created.

  The resume content creation unit 12e creates virtual content when the content server 1 is played back or interrupted alone. The main body resume management unit 12c instructs creation of the virtual content in the resume content creation unit 12e and manages the created virtual content. On the other hand, the resume content creation unit 12f creates virtual content when the network player 4 plays back / suspends. The network resume management unit 12d instructs the virtual content creation by the resume content creation unit 12f and manages the created virtual content.

  As exemplified by the resume content creation unit 12e and the main body resume management unit 12c, the content server 1 preferably creates virtual content even when the content server 1 is played back and interrupted. The management for the main body and the client is integrated by an integrated resume management unit 12a, which will be described later, and it is discriminated whether the content is the virtual content that has been reproduced independently by the content server 1 or whether the reproduction output from the content server 1 has been reproduced by the network player 4. It can also be presented. However, the content server 1 may be configured so that virtual content is created / managed only for reproduction / interruption from a client device such as the network player 4.

  The integrated resume management unit 12a includes a list output unit that outputs a content list including a virtual content list to the network player 4 or the television 3 for display. This content list only needs to be displayed so that virtual content can be selected, such as virtual content for content other than the virtual content a to d and the content 11a in FIG. In particular, user selection can be facilitated by displaying a list of virtual contents in the same format as normal contents. The content list may be provided as information for displaying a list of each content for the client device, or output as an image representing the content list for the main body. When the content server 1 is configured so that virtual content is created and managed only for the client device, this list output unit may be provided in the network resume management unit 12d.

  The network terminal 14 and the network interface unit 13 described above are an example of a reception unit that receives an operation on the virtual content from the network player 4 on the list. Moreover, this reception part can be illustrated also by the user operation part 2, the user input terminal 23, and the user interface part 22 which were mentioned above, By this, a content server 1 can reproduce | regenerate or interrupt a virtual content.

  And each component 13-21 in the content server 1 and the reproduction | regeneration control part 10 are examples of a content output part. This content output unit, when there is a playback request for virtual content based on the displayed content list, such as when the operation received by the reception unit is a playback request operation, interrupts the virtual content for which the playback request has been made The content corresponding to the virtual content is reproduced and output from the interruption position indicated by the position information.

  Further, this content output unit may reproduce and output the content from the beginning when the reception unit makes a reproduction request to the normal content. With respect to content that has been played back and interrupted by the content server 1 alone, the user can resume playback by performing an operation of playing back the virtual content created for the content. Therefore, the user can perform an operation by distinguishing between such resume playback and playback from the beginning.

  Here, the reproduction control unit 10 directly or indirectly controls the constituent elements 11 to 23 to reproduce and output the content. Even when the virtual content is selected, the content corresponding to the virtual content is The virtual content is reproduced and output from the interruption position indicated by the interruption position information of the virtual content.

  As described above, according to such a content reproduction system, even when the content stored in the content server 1 can be reproduced from a plurality of network players 4 via the network, the resume point can be successfully delivered and the user can Playback can be performed from a desired resume point, and as a result, the desired content can be seamlessly viewed among a plurality of network players 4 installed in each room, for example. So, for example, you could watch a movie halfway in the living room and watch the rest while lying down in the bedroom, or watched an animation in the living room, but the housemate came home, so you could watch the rest in your room can do.

  Furthermore, according to such a content playback system, the playback operation from the resume point desired by the user only needs to select the virtual content in the same manner as selecting the content (title) from the normal content (title) list. Therefore, it becomes easy.

  Further, even when a plurality of resume points occur in the same content, for example, by creating virtual contents for each, it is possible to have a plurality of resume points in the same content. Therefore, the user can perform playback from the desired content and the desired resume point with a simple operation of simply selecting and playing back the corresponding virtual content. Furthermore, in the content server 1 of the present invention, the virtual content does not include video / audio data, so that a large storage capacity for resume is not required.

  Next, the thumbnail creation unit 12b provided in the content server 1 will be described. The thumbnail creation unit 12b creates, for each virtual content, thumbnail information including interruption position information and device information indicating a device that has performed playback, for example, in accordance with an instruction from the integrated resume management unit 12a. In the integrated resume management unit 12a, the thumbnail creation unit 12b stores and manages the created thumbnail information in association with the virtual content. The thumbnail information may be managed so as to be included in the virtual content, or may be managed by being added to the virtual content.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the thumbnail information 30 includes a MAC (Media Access Control) address of a playback device (the main body of the content server 1 or the network player 4) as an example of device information, a playback date, a playback time, and an interruption. The reproduction position and the remaining time are included as an example of the position information. The MAC address may be the MAC address as it is, or may be an ID or name for identifying a device that is automatically or replaced by the user in the main body of the content server 1. The thumbnail information 30 further includes a progress bar (time seek bar) 31 that graphically represents the playback position and the remaining time. On the progress bar 31, a mark 31a is displayed at a position corresponding to the reproduction position. The interruption position information may be information indicating the proportion of the reproduced part with respect to the entire content.

  Further, the content server 1 includes a thumbnail output unit together with the thumbnail creation unit 12b. This thumbnail output unit outputs, for display, thumbnail information related to the target virtual content when the operation received by the reception unit is a virtual content selection operation, that is, when there is a virtual content selection request. To do. Examples of the thumbnail output unit include an integrated resume management unit 12a, a network interface unit 13, and a network terminal 14.

  By providing the thumbnail creation unit 12b and the thumbnail output unit, it is possible to provide virtual content as resume information of a plurality of contents together with the respective thumbnail information. For example, if the network player 4 is a general DLNA player having a thumbnail display function, virtual content information corresponding to content resume information can be easily displayed on the screen during DLNA playback from the content server 1. It becomes. Since the thumbnail information includes interruption position information and device information, the user can easily visually recognize and select the virtual content that can be reproduced from the desired resume point by relying on his / her memory. be able to. That is, the thumbnail information provided here is user auxiliary information presented to the user for selection of virtual content.

  As described above, the content server 1 can handle information about resume as virtual content in the same manner as the original content, and can create thumbnail information including interruption position information and device information and provide it to the user. Since thumbnail display of content is possible in the DLNA standard, in the present invention, it is not necessary to use an extension tag that is not a DLNA standard in order to provide interruption position information and device information even when using DMS. Even a general-purpose DLNA player whose expansion tag cannot be understood can be supported. The content name can be provided to the user as the file name of the virtual content, for example, but it may be created so as to be added to a part of the thumbnail information.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible for a user to easily find and play a desired content and a desired resume point from a large number of contents and a large number of resume points even with a general-purpose content playback apparatus.

  Further, in order to share the creation of thumbnail information by the thumbnail creation unit 12b with other normal contents, the virtual content itself may include interruption position information, device information, and the like when creating the virtual content. Good. Then, the thumbnail creating unit 12b automatically creates thumbnail information in the same manner as other normal content, and as a result, when outputting thumbnail information for the virtual content, the interruption position information and device information are displayed. Can be included.

  In addition, regarding the virtual content created when the content server 1 is played back and interrupted, the device information included in the thumbnail information is information indicating the content server 1 itself. Regarding virtual content created when played back and interrupted by the network player 4, device information included in the thumbnail information is information indicating the network player 4.

  Separately, a user to be used is specified by providing a function for inputting a user ID or performing biometric authentication such as face recognition for virtual content created when the content server 1 is played back and interrupted. Thus, the thumbnail information may include information indicating the user. Thereby, the user can easily recognize that the virtual content is created based on the reproduction / interruption operation by the user himself / herself.

Next, an example of a virtual content creation process in the content server 1 when playback is interrupted will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, a description will be given of a creation process in which new virtual content is always created each time playback is interrupted.
First, when the playback is interrupted, the integrated resume management unit 12a of the content server 1 determines whether or not the main unit alone is interrupted by the user interface unit 22 or the network interface unit 13. (Step S1).

  If YES in step S1, the main body resume management unit 12c controls the resume content creation unit 12e to create virtual content for the main body (step S2), and the integrated resume management unit 12a controls the thumbnail creation unit 12b to display thumbnails. Information is created (step S3).

  On the other hand, in the case of NO in step S1, whether or not the network resume management unit 12d is the interruption process from the network player (network device) 4 in which the virtual content has been created is determined based on the device information of the network player 4 that has performed the interruption process and the existing The determination is made by comparing with the device information included in the thumbnail information of the virtual content (step S4). If YES in step S4, the network resume management unit 12d controls the resume content creation unit 12f to create virtual content for the network player 4 (step S5), and the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, thumbnail information corresponding to the virtual content is created. If NO in step S4, virtual content for a new network player is created in the same manner (step S6), and the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, thumbnail information corresponding to the virtual content is created.

  Note that the virtual content for the main body, the virtual content for the network player 4 and the virtual content for the new network player differ only in that the management location is allocated, but of course, the device information included in the thumbnail information Will be different.

  As described above, it is preferable that the resume content creation units 12e and 12f always create new virtual content every time content reproduction is interrupted. Here, every time content playback is interrupted, for example, when virtual content is selected and playback is instructed, even when the virtual content is interrupted, new virtual content is created separately from the virtual content at the time of selection. Point to. Here, a new virtual content is always created regardless of which device is interrupted.

  Next, an example of storage of virtual content created by the resume content creation units 12e and 12f and an example of a content list output by the list output unit will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Like the hierarchical structure 50 shown in FIG. 5, the created virtual content can be stored without discrimination for all virtual content regardless of which content is the original. In the hierarchical structure 50, CF1, CF2, CF3,. . . And a container (folder) that follows, and CF11, CF12, CF13,. . . There is a subfolder that follows. The subfolder CF12 includes lower subfolders CF121, CF122, and CF123, and contents I (IT11), II (IT12), and III (IT03) are stored as the respective items.

  In the subfolder CF11, the virtual contents ia (IT01), ib (IT02), and the virtual contents ia (IT01), ib (IT02), which are generated by the reproduction / interruption of the contents I (IT11), II (IT12), and III (IT13), respectively, in the resume content creation units 12e and 12f The files of ii (IT03) are arranged.

  A content list for allowing the user to select such virtual content having a hierarchical structure is displayed on the list screen 60 of FIG. For example, a content list 61 including a list of all virtual contents is displayed on the list screen 60 by operating from the network player 4 or the user operation unit 2. The virtual content in the content list 61 may be displayed, for example, in the order of creation or file name, and more preferably for each network player 4, regardless of which original content it is. If virtual content does not fit in the content list 61, scrolling may be performed. Further, when the user moves the cursor to the virtual content ia (62), the thumbnail information 30 of the virtual content 62 is displayed on the left side.

Next, another example of storing virtual content and another example of a content list will be described with reference to FIGS.
As in the hierarchical structure 70 shown in FIG. 7, the created virtual content can be stored separately depending on which content is the original, that is, the virtual content can be stored separately for each content. In the hierarchical structure 70, as in the hierarchical structure 50 of FIG. 5, there are the highest folders CF1, CF2, CF3, subfolders CF11, CF12, CF13, and subfolders CF121, CF122, CF123, and content I (IT11) as each item , II (IT12), III (IT03) are stored.

  In the hierarchical structure 70, in the subfolder CF11, subfolders are created for the content for which virtual content has been created, such as the content I subfolder CF111 and the content II subfolder CF112. In this example, the content I (IT11) stores virtual contents Ia (IT01), Ib (IT02), and Ic (IT03) from which the resume position and / or the reproduced network player 4 are different.

  A content list for causing the user to select such virtual content having a hierarchical structure is displayed on the list screen 80 of FIG. For example, by operating from the network player 4 or the user operation unit 2, first, as exemplified by the subfolders CF111 and CF112, an image of a list of subfolders related to content for which virtual content has been created may be displayed. Then, a list of virtual contents in the subfolder selected by the user, that is, a content list 81 including a list of virtual contents created from the contents selected by the user may be displayed with the images of the list displayed. . Note that the virtual content in the content list 81 may be displayed in the order of creation or file name, for example, and more preferably for each network player 4. Further, when the user moves the cursor to the virtual content Ia (82), the thumbnail information 30 of the virtual content 82 is displayed on the left side.

  5 and 7 have been described as examples of virtual content storage, the hierarchical structure 50 and the hierarchical structure 70 shown in this storage example may be presented to the user as a content list. That is, the list output unit may output a list including virtual content and content (title) as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 as the content list. Furthermore, when performing such output, it is preferable to display the virtual content and the content in a tree format (so that the hierarchical structure can be understood).

  Next, another example of the reproduction process and the interruption process in the content reproduction system as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an inquiry screen by the content server 1, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining another processing example for creating the virtual content of FIG.

  In the processing example of FIG. 10, when a playback interruption operation is performed from the main body of the content server 1 or the network player 4, whether or not to resume is inquired as in the inquiry screen 90 of FIG. 9, and the response operation is confirmed ( Step S11). On the screen 90, it may be inquired whether to continue viewing in another room. On the screen 90, a YES button 91 and a NO button 92 are provided so as to be selectable.

  When it is determined that the resume is performed by selecting the YES button 91 (YES in step S11), virtual content is created using the interruption position as a resume point (step S12), and thumbnail information thereof is also created (step S12). Step S13). On the other hand, if it is determined that the resume is not performed when the NO button 92 is selected (NO in step S11), the process ends. In this processing example, new virtual content is always created regardless of the device that performs playback / interruption.

Next, an example of a creation process that replaces the virtual content creation process of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the processing example of FIG. 11, when a playback interruption operation is performed in the same manner, it is determined whether or not the content that has been played has been played back by 95% or more of the time (step S21). First, virtual content is created using the interruption position as a resume point (step S24), and its thumbnail information is also created (step S25). On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S21, the virtual content corresponding to the content being reproduced and the thumbnail information thereof are deleted (steps S22 and S23). Here, all virtual content and thumbnail information corresponding to the content being played back may be deleted, but only the virtual content selected for playback before interruption may be deleted. In this processing example, new virtual content is always created regardless of the device that performs playback / interruption.

  As described above, it is preferable that the resume content creation units 12e and 12f create virtual content only when the content is reproduced and interrupted less than a predetermined ratio. In this example, it is assumed that content that has been viewed by 95% or more has been viewed to the end, new virtual content is not created, and the virtual content is deleted, thereby deleting it from the list.

Next, an example of a creation process that replaces the virtual content creation process of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the processing example of FIG. 12, the same determination as step S1 of FIG. 4 is performed (step S31). If YES, the main body resume management unit 12c determines whether there is virtual content as past main body resume information. (Step S32). If NO in step S32, virtual content and thumbnail information for the main body are created as in steps S2 and S3 of FIG. 4 (steps S35 and S34).

  On the other hand, if YES in step S32, the main body resume management unit 12c updates the virtual content (main body resume information) (step S33), and proceeds to step S34 to create thumbnail information. If NO in step S31, the network resume management unit 12d determines whether there is virtual content as past resume information (step S36).

  If YES in step S36, the determined virtual content is updated (step S37), and the process proceeds to step S34 to create thumbnail information. Since the virtual contents created in the past other than the main body are updated here, the same resume information for the network player 4 as that created in the past is updated. Therefore, here, the virtual content is updated for each network player. However, for example, when virtual content is updated, the virtual content created in the past about the original content may be the update target. In the case of NO in step S36, a new virtual content is created in the same manner as in step S6 of FIG. 4 (step S38), the process proceeds to step S3, and its thumbnail information is created.

  As illustrated in FIG. 12, each time the content reproduction is interrupted, the resume content creation units 12e and 12f determine whether or not the virtual content has been created by the interruption from the same device as the device related to the current interruption. However, if it has been created, the created virtual content may be updated. In this processing example, one virtual content is created / updated for each device that performs playback / interruption and for each content.

Next, an example of a creation process that replaces the virtual content creation process of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the processing example of FIG. 13, it is first determined whether or not to resume from the inquiry result of the processing example of FIG. 10 (step S41). If NO, the processing ends, and if YES, the past resume is determined. The main body resume management unit 12c and the network resume management unit 12d determine whether there is information (step S42). If YES in step S42, the resume information is updated (step S43), and if NO, virtual content is newly created (step S45). After the processes in steps S43 and S45, the thumbnail information is created (step S44).

  As illustrated in FIG. 13, each time the content playback is interrupted, the resume content creation units 12e and 12f determine whether or not the virtual content has been created. The created virtual content corresponding to the resume information may be updated. In this processing example, one virtual content is created / updated for one content regardless of a device that performs reproduction / interruption.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for setting the resume period displayed on the content server 1 and the update time of the resume information, and FIG. 15 is an erasure based on the resume period set from the setting screen of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of a process.
The main body resume management unit 12c and the network resume management unit 12d preferably each include the following erasure unit. The erasing unit erases the virtual content when a predetermined period has passed since the creation. The predetermined period may be set in common for each virtual content or may be set individually. This erasure unit may be shared by the integrated resume management unit 12a.

  This predetermined period can be set from the setting screen 140 of FIG. On the setting screen 140, an input field 141 for a storage period for resume information and an input field 142 for a resume information update time are displayed. Upon arrival of the resume information update time set in the input field 142, the following processing is executed for each virtual content (steps S51a and S51b). That is, based on the storage period, the resume information is confirmed (step S52), and it is determined whether or not the period (designated period) set as the storage period in the input field 141 has passed (step S53). Only the virtual content is deleted (step S54).

  As described above, unnecessary virtual resume points can be prevented from being provided by automatically deleting virtual contents having resume information exceeding a predetermined period. In the example of FIG. 14, an example of a screen on which the storage period and the update time can be set at the same time is shown, but the screen may be configured to be set on separate screens. Note that the virtual content storage period may be set even when new virtual content is constantly created as described with reference to FIG.

Next, an example of a creation process that replaces the virtual content creation process of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the processing example of FIG. 16, it is first determined whether or not the content that has been played has been played back over 95% of the time (step S61). If YES, is there any past resume information? It is determined whether or not (step S62). If NO in step S62, the process is terminated as it is. If YES, the virtual content is deleted (step S63), and the thumbnail information is also deleted (step S64). Here, all virtual content and thumbnail information corresponding to the content being played back may be deleted, but only the virtual content selected for playback before interruption may be deleted.

  If NO in step S61, the same determination as in step S62 is performed (step S65). If YES, the resume information is updated based on the interruption position (step S66), and the thumbnail information is created (step S67). . If NO in step S65, a new virtual content is created based on the interruption position (step S68), and the process proceeds to step S67 to create thumbnail information thereof.

  In this processing example, one virtual content is created / updated for each device that performs playback / interruption and for each content. Also in the example of FIG. 16, before step S61, it is inquired whether or not to resume as in step S41 of FIG. 13, and the processing after step S61 may be executed only when the resume is performed.

  As another example of the creation process instead of the virtual content creation process of FIG. 4, the resume content creation units 12e and 12f are instructed to reproduce from the created virtual content, and when the reproduction is interrupted, The instructed virtual content may be updated. In other words, the virtual content instructed to be reproduced is updated when the reproduction is interrupted. If the reproduction of the content related to the virtual content is completed to the end (or 95% or more, for example) without interruption, the virtual content may be deleted. Also in this example, an inquiry as to whether or not to resume may be made as in step S41 in FIG. 13, and the process may be executed in accordance with an answer from the user.

  In the foregoing, various processing examples have been described for the present invention. Although the content server 1 can collectively manage the resume by the various resume methods described above, the network player 4 may also manage the resume individually. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the network player 4 may be provided with a content information management unit 40 having a resume management unit 41. In this case, when the original content on the content server 1 is selected and reproduced on the network player 4 side, the reproduction may be performed from the reproduction position according to the resume managed by the resume management unit 41. On the other hand, when virtual content on the content server 1 is selected and reproduced, the corresponding content may be reproduced from the reproduction position indicated by the virtual content.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Content server, 1a ... Control part, 2 ... User operation part, 3 ... Television, 4 ... Network player, 10 ... Reproduction control part, 11 ... Content recording part, 12 ... Content information management part, 12a ... Integrated resume management part , 12b ... Thumbnail creation unit, 12c ... Main body resume management unit, 12d ... Network resume management unit, 12e, 12f ... Resume content creation unit, 13 ... Network interface unit, 14 ... Network terminal, 15 ... Memory, 16 ... Video decoding unit , 17 ... Video output unit, 18 ... Video output terminal, 19 ... Audio decoding unit, 20 ... Audio output unit, 21 ... Audio output terminal, 22 ... User interface unit, 23 ... User input terminal, 40 ... Content information management unit, 41 ... Resume management department.

Claims (8)

In a content server device connected to a plurality of content playback devices via a network,
When the content stored in the content server device is interrupted by the content playback device, the identification information for identifying the content and the position where the playback is interrupted are indicated for each position where the playback is interrupted. A virtual content creation unit that creates virtual content including suspension position information, and a thumbnail creation unit that creates, for each virtual content, thumbnail information that includes the suspension position information and device information indicating the device that has performed the playback; A list output unit for outputting a content list including a list of the virtual content for display; and when there is a request for selecting the virtual content based on the displayed content list, the virtual content for which the selection request is made A thumbnail output unit for outputting the thumbnail information for display; A content output unit configured to reproduce and output content corresponding to the virtual content from a position indicated by the interruption position information of the virtual content requested to be played when the virtual content is requested to be played based on a content list; A content server apparatus comprising:   2. The content server device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual content creation unit creates the virtual content even when the content server device is played back and interrupted.   3. The content server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the virtual content creating unit always creates a new virtual content every time reproduction of the content is interrupted.   3. The content server device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual content creation unit determines whether or not the virtual content has been created each time reproduction of the content is interrupted, and has been created. The content server apparatus updates the created virtual content.   3. The content server device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual content creation unit is created by interruption from the same device as the device related to the current interruption every time reproduction of the content is interrupted. The content server device is characterized in that, if it has been created, the created virtual content is updated.   3. The content server device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual content creating unit updates the instructed virtual content when reproduction is instructed and interrupted from the created virtual content. Content server device.   The content server device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual content creation unit creates the virtual content only when the content is reproduced and interrupted less than a predetermined ratio. A content server device.   8. The content server apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an erasing unit that erases the virtual content when a predetermined period has passed since creation.

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