JP2012174287A - Content reproduction device and content reproduction method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a content reproduction device to perform resume reproduction even when time from detection of power shutdown to complete power shutdown is short.SOLUTION: A content reproduction device for performing resume reproduction of a content based on information recorded in a nonvolatile memory comprises: a power shutdown detection section (101) for detecting power shutdown of the content reproduction device; a first data control section (102) for saving first information including all information that changes in real time, part of information necessary for the resume reproduction recorded in a volatile memory, to the nonvolatile memory when the power shutdown is detected by the power shutdown detection section (101); and a second data control section (103) for saving second information to the nonvolatile memory upon change of the second information of the information necessary for the resume reproduction recorded in the volatile memory that is not included in the first information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a content reproduction apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for performing resume reproduction.

  In recent years, resume playback functions have been installed in electronic devices such as portable audio players and car navigation systems. The resume playback function is a function that enables playback from the stop position at the next playback even if the content such as a moving image or music is stopped during playback. When playing back classical music or movies with a long playback time, or an electronic book having hundreds of pages on an electronic device without a resume playback function, it is necessary to search for the previous stop position each time playback is performed. Such an operation is troublesome for content viewers and lacks convenience, so the importance of the resume playback function can be seen.

  Hereinafter, a conventional content reproduction apparatus having a resume reproduction function will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional content reproduction apparatus. The content reproduction apparatus receives a notification from the power-off detection unit 801 that detects power-off and a data control unit 802 that saves information recorded in the volatile memory 807 in the nonvolatile memory 808 in response to the notification from the power-off detection unit 801. In response to an instruction from the application 805, one device is selected from a device group 806 such as a TV (Television) tuner or a CD / DVD (Compact Disc / Digital Versatile Disc) drive, and the selected device is put into an operating state. A device control unit 804 that performs migration control and reads information from the device, and an application 805 that writes information acquired via the device control unit 804 and information saved in the nonvolatile memory 808 to the volatile memory 807. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

  The operation of the conventional content reproduction apparatus will be described below. In response to an instruction from the application 805, the device control unit 804 selects one device from the device group 806, and acquires content information from a CD or the like set in the selected device. Thereafter, the application 805 writes content information to the volatile memory 807 and reproduces the content. When the power is cut off during the reproduction, the power cut-off detection unit 801 detects the power cut-off and notifies the data control unit 802. The data control unit 802 saves all information recorded in the volatile memory 807 to the nonvolatile memory 808. After the saving to the nonvolatile memory 808 is completed, power supply to the volatile memory 807, the nonvolatile memory 808, and the device group 806 is cut off.

  Thereafter, when the power is supplied again, the application 805 restores all the information saved in the nonvolatile memory 808 to the volatile memory 807, thereby realizing the resume reproduction function.

JP 2010-140156 A

  In the above configuration, since all information recorded in the volatile memory 807 is saved in the nonvolatile memory 808, a large amount of information is saved when a power-off is detected. Therefore, since it takes time to save all the information, it is necessary to lengthen the time until the power supply is completely shut off after the power supply cut-off is detected. For example, if power is constantly being supplied from a household outlet to a content playback device such as a personal computer or a built-in audio playback device, even if the amount of information to be saved is large, sufficient time is required to save all the information. Can be secured. However, when the power supply from the power supply is suddenly cut off, such as a power failure, the time until the charge stored in the capacitor in the content playback device is completely released, that is, until the power supply is completely shut off. The time is about several tens of milliseconds. In this case, all the information recorded in the volatile memory 807 cannot be saved in the nonvolatile memory 808, and resume reproduction cannot be performed.

  If a backup power source is installed in the content playback device separately from the main power source and the main power source is switched to the backup power source when the main power source is detected to be shut down, the time to save all information is ensured even if the main power source is suddenly shut off. However, other problems such as an increase in the size of the content reproduction apparatus and an increase in cost associated with the addition of the backup power source occur.

  In view of this point, an object of the present invention is to enable resume reproduction even in a content reproduction apparatus even if the time from when a power supply interruption is detected until the power supply is completely cut off is short.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has taken the following solutions. For example, a content playback device that performs resume playback of content based on information recorded in a non-volatile memory is powered by a power cutoff detection unit that detects that the content playback device has been powered off, and a power cutoff detection unit. When blockage is detected, the first information including all the information that changes in real time, which is part of the information necessary for resume reproduction recorded in the volatile memory, is saved in the nonvolatile memory. When the second information not included in the first information among the information necessary for resume reproduction recorded in the volatile memory and the first data control unit is changed, the second information is And a second data control unit that saves in the nonvolatile memory.

  According to this, when power-off detection is detected by the power-off detection unit, the first information including not all of the information necessary for resume playback but all of the information that changes in real time is included. Information is saved in the nonvolatile memory, and the second information not included in the first information is saved in the nonvolatile memory when the information is changed. That is, of the information necessary for resume playback, the amount of information saved between the time when the power supply is detected and the time when the power supply is completely shut down is reduced. Therefore, even if the time from when the power supply is detected to the time when the power supply is completely shut down is short, if the first information with a small amount can be saved in the nonvolatile memory, the saved first and first information is saved. Resume reproduction can be performed based on the information of 2.

  In addition, the first data control unit adds a flag indicating whether or not the saving of the first information is completed to the first information, saves the first information to the nonvolatile memory, and the saving is completed. At this time, the flag may be set to the evacuation completion state. When the flag indicates the evacuation completion state, the content reproduction apparatus performs resume reproduction using the first and second information evacuated to the nonvolatile memory, while the flag does not indicate the evacuation completion state. In this case, resume playback is not performed.

  According to this, when the first data control unit can save only a part of the first information in the nonvolatile memory, the resume reproduction is not performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unintended resume reproduction from being performed with incomplete first information.

  Preferably, the content reproduction apparatus uses a recording medium on which content is recorded as a nonvolatile memory.

  According to this, since the content and information necessary for resume reproduction can be recorded in one nonvolatile memory, it is not necessary to separately provide a nonvolatile memory for recording only information necessary for resume reproduction. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the content reproduction apparatus.

  According to the present invention, in the content reproduction apparatus, resume reproduction can be performed even if the time from when the power supply is detected to the time when the power supply is completely interrupted is short.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content reproduction apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information which changes in real time. It is a figure which shows another structural example of the information which changes in real time. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the content reproduction apparatus using the information shown in FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the content reproduction apparatus using the information shown in FIG. 3. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement when a power supply is again supplied to the content reproduction apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows another structure of a content reproduction apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional content reproduction apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content reproduction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 includes a power interruption detection unit 101, a first data control unit 102, a second data control unit 103, a device control unit 104, an application 105, a device group 106, a volatile memory 107, a nonvolatile memory The memory 108 can be configured.

  The power cutoff detection unit 101 detects that the power supplied to the content playback apparatus has been cut off, and notifies the first data control unit 102 of the detection.

  In response to the notification from the power-off detection unit 101, the first data control unit 102 extracts the first information from the information recorded in the volatile memory 107 and saves it in the nonvolatile memory 108. The first information is a part of information necessary for resume reproduction, and includes all information that changes in real time. For example, the first information is reproduction position information indicating the current reproduction position of the content. Note that the first information is not limited to the reproduction position information. For example, it may be information indicating the remaining playback time of the content.

  In response to an instruction from the application 105, the second data control unit 103 determines whether the second information of the information recorded in the volatile memory 107 has changed, and the second information has changed. Sometimes the second information is extracted and saved in the nonvolatile memory 108. The second information is information that is not included in the first information out of the information necessary for resume reproduction, and includes device usage information, disc information, content information, and information indicating the state of the content reproduction device, which will be described later. is there.

  In response to an instruction from the application 105, the device control unit 104 selects a device to be used from the device group 106, and shifts the selected device to an operable state. Further, the device control unit 104 acquires content information from the selected device.

  The application 105 instructs the device controller 104 to use a device to play back the content, and plays back the content based on the content information acquired via the device controller 104. Further, the application 105 writes the content information acquired via the device control unit 104 and the information saved in the nonvolatile memory 108 into the volatile memory 107.

  The device group 106 includes at least one device. For example, an MD (MiniDisc) drive, a TV tuner, a CD / DVD drive, or the like can be used.

  The volatile memory 107 is a volatile data holding device. The nonvolatile memory 108 is a nonvolatile data holding device such as a flash memory. The volatile memory 107 and the non-volatile memory 108 may be provided outside the content reproduction apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration example of first information used in the content reproduction apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the reproduction position information, which is an example of the first information, can be composed of a data array consisting of hours, minutes, and seconds. As an example of the first information, as shown in FIG. 3, a data array in which a data saved flag is added to the data array of FIG. 2 may be used. The data saved flag indicates whether or not the saving of the first information is completed, and has two states, an on state and an off state. The initial value of the data saved flag is set to an off state, that is, a saved incomplete state.

  Next, the operation of the content reproduction apparatus when the data arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is used as the first information will be described with reference to FIG.

  It is assumed that the content reproduction apparatus is in a stopped state in which no processing is performed and a CD is inserted in the CD / DVD drive of the device group 106. An example in which content recorded on a CD is reproduced from this state will be described.

  In step S <b> 401, the application 105 selects “CD / DVD drive” from the device group 106 and records used device information that the currently used device is “CD / DVD drive” in the volatile memory 107.

  In S <b> 402, when the used device information is changed from “no used drive” to “CD / DVD drive”, the second data control unit 103 stores the used device information recorded in the volatile memory 107 in the nonvolatile memory 108. evacuate.

  In S403, the application 105 acquires disc information from the CD. The disc information is information relating to the content stored on the CD, such as the amount of disc used, the total number of content, the name of each content, and the start position and end position of each content. Disc information is recorded in the volatile memory 107.

  In S <b> 404, since the disk information in the volatile memory 107 has changed due to the disk information being recorded in the volatile memory 107, the second data control unit 103 saves the disk information in the nonvolatile memory 108.

  In step S405, the application 105 specifies content information for reproducing the content. The content information includes, for example, a content number, a playback mode, and a playback start time. The content number is information indicating what piece of content is to be reproduced. The reproduction mode is information indicating whether all contents are reproduced or only one contents is reproduced. The reproduction start time is information indicating that content having a reproduction time of 5 minutes is reproduced from a position of 3 minutes. Then, the state of the content playback device changes from the stopped state to the playback state, and playback of the content is started. Further, the content information and information indicating the state of the content reproduction device are recorded in the volatile memory 107. When the reproduction position information is saved in the nonvolatile memory 108, the application 105 records the time indicated by the reproduction position information in the volatile memory 107 as the reproduction start time.

  In S <b> 406, when the content information recorded in the volatile memory 107 and the information indicating the state of the content playback apparatus have changed, the second data control unit 103 saves the information in the nonvolatile memory 108. . Thereafter, the content reproduction apparatus is in a reproduction state, and the reproduction of the content is continued.

  In step S <b> 407, the application 105 continues to acquire the reproduction position information of the content at a constant cycle while reproducing the content, and records the acquired reproduction position information in the volatile memory 107.

  In step S408, the application 105 compares the reproduction position information with the end position of the content included in the disc information acquired in step S403, and determines whether they match. If they match, it is determined that the song is at the end of the song (Yes in S408), and the process proceeds to S409. On the other hand, if they do not match, that is, if the end of the music is not reached (No in S408), the reproduction position information acquired sequentially and the end position are compared, and S407 and S408 are repeated until it is determined that the end of the music.

  In step S409, the application 105 stops the content reproduction. As a result, the state of the content playback apparatus changes from the playback state to the stop state. Then, the application 105 updates information indicating the state of the content playback device recorded in the volatile memory 107.

  In S410, when the information indicating the state of the content reproduction device recorded in the volatile memory 107 changes, the second data control unit 103 saves the information indicating the state of the content reproduction device in the nonvolatile memory 108. To do.

  In step S411, the application 105 releases the “CD / DVD drive” that is the currently used device. Then, the application 105 updates the used device information recorded in the volatile memory 107 from “CD / DVD drive” to “no used drive”.

  In S412, the second data control unit saves the used device information in the non-volatile memory 108 because the used device information recorded in the volatile memory 107 has changed. Thereafter, the content reproduction apparatus remains in a stopped state.

  Next, a description will be given of the operation in the case where the power interruption occurs in S408 before the end of the song is detected, that is, during the reproduction of the content.

  When the power cut-off occurs, the power cut-off detection unit 101 detects the power cut-off and notifies the first data control unit 102 in S413.

  In step S414, the first data control unit 102 that has received the notification from the power-off detection unit 101 extracts reproduction position information, which is the first information, from the information recorded in the volatile memory 107. 2 is generated.

  In S415, the first data control unit 102 saves the data array illustrated in FIG. 2 to the nonvolatile memory 108 in order from the top. Since the content playback position information is information that changes with the passage of time, it is saved in the nonvolatile memory 108 by the first data control unit 102 that has received the power-off notification. Then, the content reproduction apparatus waits until the power is completely shut off.

  Then, when power is supplied again to the content playback apparatus after the power is shut off, the application 105 confirms information indicating the state of the content playback apparatus saved in the nonvolatile memory 108. If the content playback apparatus is in the playback state, S401 to S406 are automatically performed. At this time, in step S405, the application 105 can resume playback by recording the time indicated by the playback position information acquired from the nonvolatile memory 108 in the volatile memory 107 as the playback start time.

  According to the above, when the power-off is detected, only the first information needs to be saved in the nonvolatile memory 108 as information necessary for resume reproduction, so that the time required for saving can be shortened. Also, since the second information is saved in the nonvolatile memory 108 every time it changes, the saved second information is always in the latest state. Therefore, even if the time from when the power supply is detected to the time when the power supply is completely shut down is short, resume reproduction can be performed based on the first and second information saved in the nonvolatile memory 108. .

  Next, the operation of the content reproduction apparatus when the data arrangement shown in FIG. 3 is used as the first information will be described with reference to FIG. In the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the same reference numerals indicate the same processing, and different parts will be described.

  In step S416, the first data control unit 102 that has received the notification from the power shutdown detection unit 101 extracts the reproduction position information from the information recorded in the volatile memory 107, and converts the data array shown in FIG. Generate.

  In S417, the first data control unit 102 adds a data saved flag to the end of the data array shown in FIG. Thus, the first information becomes a data array shown in FIG.

  In S418, the first data control unit 102 saves the data array shown in FIG. 3 to the nonvolatile memory 108 in order from the beginning, and when the saving is completed, the last data saved flag is turned on, that is, saved. Set to completed state.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when power is supplied again to the content reproduction apparatus using the data arrangement shown in FIG. 3 as the first information.

  When power is supplied again to the content reproduction apparatus, in step S601, the application 105 acquires a data saved flag from the data array saved in the nonvolatile memory 108 by the first data control unit 102.

  In step S602, the application 105 checks the state of the data saved flag. When the data saved flag is on (Yes in S602), it is determined that the reproduction position information has been saved in the nonvolatile memory 108, and the process proceeds to S603. On the other hand, when the data saved flag is off (No in S602), it is determined that the playback position information has not been saved in the nonvolatile memory 108, and the content playback device shifts to a stopped state.

  In step S <b> 603, the application 105 sets the data saved flag saved in the nonvolatile memory 108 to an off state.

  In step S <b> 604, the application 105 acquires the used device information, disk information, content information, and information indicating the state of the content playback device saved by the second data control unit 103 from the nonvolatile memory 108, and stores them in the volatile memory 107. Write.

  In step S <b> 605, the application 105 acquires the reproduction position information saved by the first data control unit 102 from the nonvolatile memory 108 and writes it in the volatile memory 107.

  In step S606, the application 105 resumes content playback based on the information acquired in steps S604 and S605.

  As described above, according to the content playback apparatus using the data array shown in FIG. 3 as the first information, when a part of the playback position information is saved in the nonvolatile memory 108, the data saved flag is in the off state. Resume playback is not performed. That is, it is possible to prevent resume playback from being performed from an unintended playback position based on incomplete playback position information.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the device group 106 includes recording media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a secure digital (SD) card, and a universal serial bus (USB) memory in which content is recorded. These recording media on which content to be reproduced is recorded may be used as the nonvolatile memory 108. As a result, it is not necessary to separately provide a non-volatile memory for saving only the information necessary for resume reproduction, so that the content reproduction apparatus can be reduced in size and cost.

  The content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention is useful for various electronic devices and the like that require implementation of a content resume reproduction function.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Power-off detection part 102 1st data control part 103 2nd data control part 107 Volatile memory 108 Non-volatile memory

Claims (6)

A content playback apparatus that resumes playback of content based on information recorded in a nonvolatile memory,
A power-off detection unit that detects that the power of the content playback device has been cut off;
First information including all information that changes in real time, which is a part of information necessary for resume reproduction recorded in the volatile memory, when the power cutoff detection unit detects the power cutoff. A first data control unit for saving to the nonvolatile memory;
Of the information necessary for resume reproduction recorded in the volatile memory, when the second information not included in the first information changes, the second information is saved in the nonvolatile memory. And a second data control unit. The content playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The first data control unit adds a flag indicating whether or not the saving of the first information is completed to the first information, saves the first information in the nonvolatile memory, and saves it Is completed, the flag is set to the evacuation completion state.
When the flag indicates the save completion state, the content playback apparatus performs resume playback using the first and second information saved in the nonvolatile memory, while the flag indicates the save completion state. A content playback apparatus characterized by not performing resume playback when there is no such content. The content playback apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
A content reproduction apparatus using the recording medium on which the content is recorded as the nonvolatile memory. The content playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The volatile memory;
A content reproduction apparatus comprising the nonvolatile memory. A content playback method for performing resume playback of content based on information recorded in a nonvolatile memory,
Detecting that the power of the playback device for playing back the content is shut off;
The first information including all the information that changes in real time, which is a part of the information necessary for resume reproduction recorded in the volatile memory, when the power supply of the reproduction device is detected. Saving to the non-volatile memory;
Of the information necessary for resume reproduction recorded in the volatile memory, when the second information not included in the first information changes, the second information is saved in the nonvolatile memory. A content reproducing method comprising the steps of: The content reproduction method according to claim 5, wherein
Adding a flag to the first information indicating whether or not the saving of the first information is completed;
When the saving of the first information is completed, setting the flag to a saving complete state;
Determining whether or not to perform resume reproduction using the first and second information saved in the non-volatile memory according to whether or not the flag indicates a saving completion state. The content reproduction method characterized by this.

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