JP2015106788A - Content reproducer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the labor or temporal loss, required for continuing to view the same content, by automating the switching of a server in the transmission source of the content.SOLUTION: A player receives transmission of a content, desired by a user, from a first server, and even if reception of the content from the first server is disabled due to communication fault while reproducing the content, begins to receive transmission of the same content from other server before reproduction of the content is stopped, and is switched automatically to reproduction of the same content received from the other server, when reproduction of the content received from the first server stops.

Description

  The present invention relates to a content reproduction apparatus.

  A playback device capable of playing back content including video and audio can connect to a server that stores such content via a network to receive the content transmitted from the server and play back the content (streaming playback, etc.). .

  When converted content of the same program is stored in a plurality of home servers, a transmission quality rate is requested to be sent to the plurality of home servers and converted to a home server selected based on the transmitted distribution quality rate. A client terminal that requests transmission of content is known (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-328443 A

  In the relationship between the server and the playback device described above, if any failure or malfunction (failure, etc.) occurs in content communication while the playback device receives and plays back the content transmitted from the server, the content Cannot be continued, and the content playback is interrupted. When such an interruption occurs, the user needs to perform an operation for solving the obstacle or the like on the server or the like in order to view the continuation of the content. Even if the same content is stored on a server other than the server on which the failure or the like has occurred, the content transmission source can be set to be switched to the other server, or the desired content can be set from the switched server. The trouble of searching and selecting is very complicated.

  As described above, when the above-described failure or the like occurs in content communication, the user has to spend a great deal of effort in order to continue viewing the interrupted content. The document 1 does not eliminate the above-described user effort caused by the failure or the like.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve at least the above-described problems, and provides a content playback apparatus that realizes convenience and comfort in which content playback is continued even if a failure occurs in content communication.

  One aspect of the present invention is a content reproduction apparatus capable of receiving content transmitted from a server connected to a network and reproducing the content, and the first server connected to the network A content search unit for searching whether or not the same content as the content is stored in a server connected to the network different from the first server during a period of reproducing the content transmitted from When the search specifies that the same content is stored in the other server, the storage unit stores access destination information indicating the storage location of the same content, and is transmitted from the first server The stored access destination information when a predetermined deterioration occurs in the reception state of the content to be stored A transmission request unit that requests the other server to transmit the same content stored in the storage location indicated by and a content reception that receives the same content transmitted from the other server in response to the request Based on the predetermined degradation, a stop determination unit for determining stop of playback of the content transmitted from the first server, and when the stop is determined, received from the other server A playback control unit that starts playback of the same content.

According to this configuration, the content playback apparatus specifies that the same content as the content is stored in another server during the playback period of the content transmitted from the first server, and this same Access destination information indicating the storage location of the content is stored. When a predetermined deterioration occurs in the reception state of the content transmitted from the first server, the transmission of the same content stored in the storage location indicated by the access destination information is received from the other server. Then, when it is determined to stop the playback of the content transmitted from the first server based on the predetermined deterioration, the playback of the same content that has already started to be received from the other server is performed. Start.
That is, according to the present invention, when a predetermined deterioration occurs in the reception state of the content transmitted from the first server and the reproduction of the content is stopped, the reproduction of the same content received from another server is automatically performed. Therefore, the user can continue to view the content without any effort.

In one aspect of the present invention, the content search unit can execute the search for a plurality of servers connected to the network different from the first server, and the storage unit When it is determined that the same content is stored in a plurality of servers to be searched, a plurality of pieces of access destination information indicating different storage positions of the same content are associated with a predetermined priority. And the transmission requesting unit may request transmission of the same content stored in the storage location indicated by the access destination information having a higher associated priority.
According to this configuration, the content reproduction device transmits a plurality of the same content acquisition destinations (storage locations indicated by the access destination information) separately from the first server, thereby transmitting from the first server. The same content can be reliably obtained when a predetermined deterioration occurs in the reception state of the content to be processed. Further, since the same content is obtained from the storage position indicated by the access destination information having a higher priority, for example, the same content with higher image quality at the time of recording can be obtained.

One of the aspects of the present invention is that the content playback apparatus temporarily stores the content transmitted from the first server and the same content transmitted from the other server in response to the request. The playback control unit plays back the content transmitted from the first server stored in the buffer unit until the stop is determined, and the stop is determined. Thereafter, the same content stored in the buffer unit and transmitted from the other server may be reproduced.
According to this configuration, the content playback apparatus has already stored the first content stored in the buffer unit during the period from when the predetermined deterioration occurs until it is determined to stop playback of the content transmitted from the first server. After the content transmitted from the other server is reproduced and the stop is determined, the same content stored in the buffer unit and transmitted from the other server can be reproduced. For this reason, switching from the reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server to the reproduction of the same content transmitted from the other server becomes very smooth, which gives stress and discomfort to the user who is viewing the content. Absent.

In one aspect of the present invention, the transmission request unit stores time information indicating a reproduction position of the content transmitted from the first server at the time of determining that the predetermined deterioration has occurred, The transmission of data after the reproduction position indicated by the time information in the same content may be requested.
According to this configuration, the content reproduction apparatus can efficiently obtain data necessary for the user to view the continuation of the content from the another server. In addition, after the stop is determined, it is possible to reliably reproduce the continuation of the content that has been viewed by the user.

In one aspect of the present invention, when the stop determination unit determines that the predetermined deterioration does not recover, the stop determination unit determines stop of the reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server, and When it is determined that the deterioration has been recovered, the continuation of the reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server is determined, and the reproduction control unit determines that the continuation is determined from the first server when the continuation is determined. The reproduction of the content to be transmitted may be continued.
According to the configuration, when the predetermined deterioration is recovered, that is, when the deterioration is temporary, the content reproduction device can continue the reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server. .

There are various specific examples of the predetermined deterioration. As an example, the predetermined deterioration is a stop of reception of the content from the first server. That is, the content reproduction apparatus determines that a predetermined deterioration has occurred when the content cannot be received from the first server. Further, the content reproduction apparatus may determine that a predetermined deterioration has occurred when a bit rate when receiving the content from the first server is reduced. Alternatively, the content reproduction device may determine that the predetermined deterioration has occurred when there is discontinuity in the data related to the content received from the first server.
As described above, according to the present invention, when various deteriorations occur in the reception state of the content transmitted from the first server, the playback is automatically switched to the reproduction of the same content transmitted from the other server. Therefore, the user can continue to view the content without any effort.

  The technical idea of the present invention may be realized by an object or method different from the content reproduction apparatus described above. For example, the invention of the method having the processing steps executed by the above-described content playback device, the invention of the program for causing the hardware (computer installed in the content playback device) to execute the processing steps, or the computer readable recording the program The present invention may be realized by a simple recording medium. In addition, the above-described system including the first server or another server and the content reproduction apparatus, the invention of the method corresponding to the system, and each server included in the system can also be regarded as inventions. Is possible.

It is a figure which illustrates the outline of the system configuration concerning this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows each function which a control part implement | achieves. It is a flowchart which shows the reproduction | regeneration control processing concerning 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the search process of the same content. It is a figure explaining the timing of reception and reproduction | regeneration of a content. It is a flowchart which shows the reproduction | regeneration control processing concerning 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the reproduction | regeneration control processing concerning 3rd embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
1. 1. Outline of system configuration First embodiment Second Embodiment 4. Third embodiment

1. Overview of System Configuration FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a system configuration according to the present embodiment. The system includes a player 10 and a plurality of servers 30, 40, 50. The player 10 is a digital media player capable of reproducing digital content including video and audio (hereinafter simply referred to as content), and corresponds to a “content reproduction device” in the claims. Each of the plurality of servers 30, 40, 50... Is a digital media server, one of which corresponds to the “first server” in the claims, and servers other than the one server are patents. Corresponds to “another server” in the claims.

  These players 10 and servers 30, 40, 50, etc. can communicate with each other by connecting to the network NW. That is, the player 10 and the servers 30, 40, 50... Are devices having a network function, for example, devices corresponding to a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) standard. The network NW is a LAN (local area network) configured via a router or the like (not shown), and is constructed at a location desired by a user such as a home or office. Communication between devices via the network NW is performed using an IP address or the like. Communication in the network NW may be wired or wireless.

  Specific examples of the player 10 include a media player specialized in digital content playback, a recorder having a broadcast receiving function and a recording function, a composite media player having the performance of a game machine, a television (TV), a desktop, and the like. This corresponds to a personal computer (PC) of a type, a laptop type, a portable terminal, and the like. The player 10 is connected to a display device 20 that is an output destination of the reproduced signal. The display device 20 is a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL display, or the like. However, when the player 10 is a TV, a PC, a portable terminal, or the like, the player 10 itself includes the display device 20 integrally.

  On the other hand, as specific examples of the servers 30, 40, 50..., A recorder having a broadcast receiving function and a recording function, a PC, a hard disk drive (HDD), and the like are applicable. Each of the servers 30, 40, 50,... Stores a plurality of contents in a storage device such as an HD. More specifically, the servers 30, 40, 50... Store a large number of programs (contents) broadcast on channels such as terrestrial waves, BS, and CS. Therefore, typically, the servers 30, 40, 50... Are recorders having a function of recording a program of a plurality of channels in parallel (multi-channel recording function), for example, each channel for several days or weeks. All the broadcasted programs are recorded on the servers 30, 40, 50. Alternatively, the servers 30, 40, 50... May not have a broadcast receiving function or a recording function, and hold a plurality of programs recorded by other recorders having a multi-channel recording function. It may be a configuration.

  The player 10 includes a control unit 11, buffer areas 15 and 16, a communication interface (IF) 17, and a decoder 18. The control unit 11 includes a CPU 12, a ROM 13, a RAM 14, and the like, and is configured as an IC for controlling the entire player 10. In the control unit 11, the CPU 12 reads out a program stored in the ROM 13 to the RAM 14 and executes it, thereby realizing a predetermined control process (such as a reproduction control process described later). The control unit 11 communicates with other devices connected to the network NW via the IF 17. As will be described later, the buffer areas 15 and 16 are storage areas for temporarily storing contents transmitted from each server, and are configured by HDs or semiconductor memories. The buffer areas 15 and 16 correspond to the “buffer section” in the claims. The buffer areas 15 and 16 may be physically separated storage areas, or may be virtually divided into storage areas within the same storage device or memory.

  The decoder 18 receives a command from the control unit 11, decodes the content stored in the buffer areas 15 and 16, and displays a reproduction signal (video signal or audio signal) obtained by the decoding on the display device 20 or Output to a speaker (not shown). Thereby, the reproduction of the content is realized. The content before decoding is, for example, a moving image file compressed and encoded according to a predetermined standard such as MPEG-2 (Moving Picture Expert Group-2), and the decoder 18 decodes such a file. In addition to the illustrated elements, the player 10 includes the above-described products as specific examples of the player 10 such as a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal and a disk drive for reading / writing on an optical disk. You can have the elements you normally have.

  FIG. 2 shows each function realized by the control unit 11 performing processing according to the program. The control unit 11 includes a content search unit F1, a content information storage unit F2, a content transmission request unit F3, a content reception unit F4, a stop / continuation determination unit F5, a reproduction control unit F6, and the like. Each of these functions will be described later.

Each of the servers 30, 40, 50 (FIG. 1) includes control units 31, 41, 51, communication IFs 32, 42, 52, and storage devices 33, 43, 53. The control units 31, 41, and 51 communicate with other devices connected to the network NW via the IFs 32, 42, and 52. The content stored in the storage device 33 by the server 30 is referred to as content C1, the content stored in the storage device 43 by the server 40 is referred to as content C2, and the content stored in the storage device 53 by the server 50 is referred to as content C3.
A plurality of embodiments will be described below using such a system as an example.

2. First Embodiment FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a reproduction control process according to the first embodiment. As a premise for starting the reproduction control process, the player 10 receives content transmission from any of the servers 30, 40, 50... That can communicate via the network NW, and sequentially receives the data related to the received content in the buffer area 15. It is assumed that the accumulated content is being reproduced while being accumulated. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the player 10 is playing a program (content C1) stored in the server 30 while receiving it from the server 30. Such content C1 is also expressed as content C1 currently being reproduced, content C1 to be reproduced, and the like. The description will be made on the assumption that the server 30 is a “first server” and the servers 40, 50... Are “another server”.

  In step S100, whether the content search unit F1 stores the same content as the content C1 in the servers 40, 50,... Connected to the network NW different from the server 30 during the playback period of the content C1. Search for no.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the process in step S100. In the process of step S100, the content search unit F1 first transmits a command requesting the disclosure of the content list to one of the other servers 40, 50,... (Step S101). The server that has received the command (assumed to be server 40) generates a list (content list) of the content (content C2) stored at that time, and uses the generated content list as the transmission source of the command. Reply to (Player 10). As a result, the content search unit F1 acquires the content list of the server 40 (step S102). The content list is, for example, a list in which attribute information such as a title (program name), date and time information (information such as a recording start time), a channel number, and a broadcasting station name is described for each content. In each server, since each content is stored together with such attribute information, a content list can be easily generated. Further, such attribute information is also attached to the content when the content is transmitted from the server to the player 10.

  Next, the content search unit F1 collates the attribute information of the content C1 currently being reproduced with the attribute information for each content in the content list acquired in step S102. Then, in the content list, whether or not a program (identical program) whose attribute information matches the currently reproduced content C1 is listed, that is, the same program (content C2) as the currently reproduced content C1 is the server. It is determined whether it is stored in 40 (step S103). When it is specified that the same program is listed in the content list (“Yes” in step S103), the content information storage unit (storage unit) F2 determines that the same program (content C2). Is stored in, for example, a predetermined memory in the control unit 11 (step S104). The access destination information includes the server name of the server 40 that stores the same program (content C2), address information (URL) that indicates the storage position of the same program (content C2), and the like. Access destination information is also a kind of the attribute information. On the other hand, if it is determined that the same program (content C2) as the currently reproduced content C1 is not stored in the server 40 ("No" in step S103), step S104 is skipped.

  In step S105, the content search unit F1 determines whether or not the search has been completed based on the attribute information of the content C1 currently being reproduced for all the content in the content list acquired in step S102. If the search for all the contents has not been completed, the process returns to step S103. On the other hand, if the search for all the contents has been completed, the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the content search unit F1 determines whether or not the search for the same content has been completed for all the other servers 40, 50... That can communicate via the network NW, and all the other servers. If the search for 40, 50... Has not been completed, the process returns to step S101. In step S101, the processing in step S101 and subsequent steps is repeated for one of the other servers 40, 50,... That has not yet been searched (for example, server 50). On the other hand, when the search for all the other servers 40, 50... Is completed, the content search unit F1 ends the process of step S100 (the flowchart of FIG. 4). It is assumed that the content search unit F1 recognizes in advance all servers 30, 40, 50,... That can communicate via the network NW.

  In the above-described step S100, a plurality of access destination information related to the same program as the content C1 currently being reproduced can be stored by performing a search for the plurality of other servers 40, 50. . For example, when the contents C2 and C3, which are the same programs as the currently reproduced content C1, are stored in the different servers 40 and 50, the access destination information of the contents C2 and the access destination information of the contents C3 are stored. Stored (step S104). In such a case, the content information storage unit F2 stores a plurality of pieces of access destination information indicating different storage positions of the contents C2 and C3 that are the same program in association with a predetermined priority.

  The priority is, for example, a difference between recording modes, and the content information storage unit F2 includes the access destination information of the content recorded in the higher image quality recording mode among the plurality of access destination information related to the same content. Give higher priority. Such a recording mode is also a kind of the attribute information. Alternatively, the priority order may be, for example, an order set in advance for each server by the user. In other words, the user can set a priority order between servers serving as content transmission sources. Then, the content information storage unit F2 gives a higher priority to the access destination information of the content stored in the higher-order server among the plurality of access destination information regarding the same content.

  Returning to the description of FIG. In step S110, the content transmission request unit (transmission request unit) F3 determines whether or not reception of data (data transmitted from the server 30, which is the first server) related to the currently reproduced content C1 is stopped. . The determination in step S110 is repeated during the reproduction of the content C1. The reception stop is a kind of predetermined deterioration of the reception state. For example, the content transmission request unit F3 has received data for the content C1 that has been continuously received through the IF 17 until the data input is interrupted. When the server 30 receives an error notification regarding content transmission (notification that content distribution is to be stopped), it is determined that the reception has been stopped. As a cause of stopping the reception, for example, a case where a communication failure occurs in a route (particularly, a wireless communication route) on the network NW from the server 30 to the player 10 can be considered. In addition, the reception may stop as the processing load on the server 30 side increases. In addition to the process of distributing content to the player 10, the server 30 may perform parallel processing of, for example, recording and playback of a television program, data distribution to other devices, and the like. When the load on the control unit 31 reaches a certain level due to such parallel processing, the server 30 may notify the error and forcibly stop data distribution to the player 10.

  Further, the content transmission request unit F3, when the input of the data related to the content C1 from the server 30 is cut off, the total length of the content C1 (the length of the program) and the content that has been reproduced with respect to the content C1 at the present time. May be compared with the sum of the reproduction time obtained from the amount of data related to the content C1 currently stored in the buffer area 15. Then, as a result of the comparison, when it is determined that a part of data necessary for reproducing the entire content C1 has not been received, it may be determined that the reception has been stopped. Note that the entire length of the content C1 (the length of the program) is included in the attribute information regarding the content C1 obtained when the reception of the content C1 is started.

  If it is determined in step S110 that the reception is stopped (“Yes” in step S110), the content transmission request unit F3 reproduces the content C1 at that time (when the predetermined deterioration can be considered) in step S120. Time information indicating the position is acquired from, for example, the decoder 18 and stored in a predetermined memory in the control unit 11. The time information referred to here corresponds to, for example, a time code given for each frame of a moving image file (content). That is, the player 10 has played back at least the playback position indicated by the time information stored in step S120 for a certain content C1 stored in the server 30.

  Next, in step S130, the content transmission request unit F3 reads out the access destination information stored in step S100 (see step S104, FIG. 4), and stores the reproduction in the storage location indicated by the access information. The other server is requested to transmit the same content as the target content C1. For example, when the access destination information indicates the storage position in the another server 40, the content transmission request unit F3 accesses the other server 40 and the content C2 stored in the storage position (the reproduction The transmission of the same content as the target content C1 is requested. When there are a plurality of pieces of access destination information stored regarding the same content as the content C1 to be reproduced, the content transmission request unit F3 is stored at a storage position indicated by the access destination information having a higher priority. Requesting content to be sent. For example, when the access destination information of the content C2 in the other server 40 and the access destination information of the content C3 in the other server 50 are present, and the priority associated with the access destination information of the content C3 is higher The content transmission request unit F3 accesses the other server 50 and requests transmission of the content C3.

  In response to the request by the content transmission request unit F3, transmission of the content related to the request from the other server that has received the request to the player 10 is started, and thus the content reception unit F4 Receive content sent from the server. The content from the other server that has started receiving in step S 130 is stored in the buffer area 16. In step S130, the content transmission request unit F3 may request transmission of the data of the requested content as a whole, but may request only the necessary data. That is, the content transmission request unit F3 requests transmission of data after the reproduction position indicated by the time information stored in the step S120 among the data of the entire content requested. Upon receiving such a request, the other server transmits data after the requested reproduction position to the player 10.

  If “Yes” is determined in step S110, the stop / continuation determination unit (stop determination unit) F5 executes the process of step S125 substantially in parallel with the processes of steps S120 and S130. In step S125, the stop / continuation determination unit F5 attempts to reconnect to the server 30 that is the first server (reconnection processing). For example, the stop / continuation determination unit F5 requests the server 30 to resume transmission of the content C1 to be played back that has been stopped for a certain period of time, and transmits the content C1 to be played back in response to the request. Wait for the resurrection.

  In step S140, the stop / continuation determination unit F5 is unable to receive the content C1 to be played back based on the stop of reception of the content C1 from the server 30 that is the first server (predetermined deterioration of the reception state). A final decision is made. Specifically, if reception of the content C1 to be played back from the server 30 cannot be resumed as a result of the reconnection process in step S125, the reception stop (predetermined deterioration) is not recovered, and it is determined that reception is impossible. Proceed to S150. On the other hand, if reception of the content C1 to be played back from the server 30 can be resumed as a result of the reconnection process in step S125, the reception stop (predetermined deterioration) has been recovered, and it is determined that reception is possible, and the process proceeds to step S160. When such a stop / continuation determination unit F5 determines that the predetermined deterioration is not recovered, the stop / continuation determination unit F5 determines to stop the reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server, and determines that the predetermined deterioration is recovered. In this case, it can be said that the continuation of the reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server is determined.

  In step S150, the playback control unit F6 starts playback of the same content received from the other server. In other words, the reproduction of the content C1 to be reproduced from the server 30 is stopped, and the reproduction of the same content as the content C1 to be reproduced from the other server from which the content reception unit F4 has started reception in step S130. Start. On the other hand, in step S160, the reception of the content from the other server (process A, see FIG. 3) started by the content receiving unit F4 in step S130 is stopped, and the content C1 to be played back from the server 30 is played back. Continue.

  Thus, the playback control process (FIG. 3) ends. However, this reproduction control process is repeatedly executed during a period in which the player 10 is reproducing content from any server. That is, when one playback control process ends in step S150, the server that is the source of the content that starts playback in step S150 becomes the “first server” in the next playback control process. On the other hand, if one playback control process ends in step S160, the first server up to that point is still the “first server” in the next playback control process.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the reproduction control process (FIG. 3) along the timing of receiving and reproducing each content. In the description according to FIG. 5, the first server is the server 30, the other server is the server 40, and the player 10 is the same program as the content C1 from the reproduction of the content C1 stored by the server 30. It is assumed that the server 40 switches to playback of the content C2 stored. When the player 10 stops receiving the content C1 from the server 30 due to some communication failure or the like during reproduction of the content C1 (step S110), the storage of the content C1 in the buffer area 15 also stops. At substantially the same time, the player 10 starts receiving the content C2 from the server 40 (step S130), and accumulates the content C2 in the buffer area 16.

  Even when reception of the content C1 is stopped, a certain amount of data of the content C1 is accumulated in the buffer area 15. Therefore, even after the reception of the content C1 is stopped, the player 10 can continue the reproduction of the content C1 for a certain period by decoding the data of the content C1 remaining in the buffer area 15. Under such circumstances, the player 10 finally determines that the content C1 cannot be received from the server 30 (step S140), and finishes reproducing all the data of the content C1 remaining in the buffer area 15 (content C1). When the reproduction is stopped), the data of the content C2 that is already stored in the buffer area 16 at that time is decoded and the reproduction of the content C2 is started (step S150). Note that the player 10 (reproduction control unit F6) stores time information indicating the last reproduction position when the reproduction of the content C1 is stopped, and decodes the data of the content C2 accumulated in the buffer area 16. Then, the reproduction of the content C2 is started from the reproduction position indicated by the time information. According to such a configuration, the last scene when the reproduction of the content C1 is stopped and the first scene when the reproduction of the content C2 is started are accurately connected, and the content of the program that the user is viewing is reduced. No bankruptcy.

  Note that the player 10 needs some time to decode the data stored in the buffer area. Therefore, in order to eliminate the time loss in the switching due to such time, the following configuration may be adopted. Specifically, the player 10 is configured to be capable of decoding a plurality of contents in parallel (for example, having a plurality of decoders). Then, the data of the content C2 stored in the buffer area 16 is the first in the background of the process of decoding the data of the content C1 stored in the buffer area 15 by the first decoder and outputting the reproduction signal to the display device 20. While being decoded by the second decoder, the reproduction signal is not output to the display device 20 and is set in a pause state. Then, the player 10 decodes the data of the content C1 stored in the buffer area 15 and finishes outputting the data to the display device 20. At the same time, the player 10 outputs the reproduction signal of the content C2 that has been paused until then to the display device 20. To do. According to this configuration, when switching from the content C1 to the content C2, the time loss due to the decoding of the content C2 becomes almost zero, and the user does not (cannot) recognize such switching and continues smooth viewing. Can do.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the player 10 receives a user-desired content from the first server and reproduces the content, the player 10 receives the content from the first server due to a communication failure or the like. Even if it becomes impossible to receive the content, before the reproduction of the content stops, the transmission of the same content as the content starts from another server, and the content received from the first server is reproduced. Is automatically switched to playback of the same content received from the other server. For this reason, the user does not need any effort conventionally required to switch the server that is the source of the content, and there is no time loss required for such switching, and the desired content is extremely comfortable. Can continue watching.

  Further, as described above, when there is a plurality of access destination information for the same content when searching for the same content in the other server (step S100), the access destination information is prioritized. Therefore, the content played back by the switching is higher in image quality according to the priority order, or transmitted from the server that the user wants to prioritize as the content transmission source, and viewing comfort and user satisfaction are further improved. Rise.

  Further, as described above, when the content transmission request unit F3 requests the other server to transmit the content, the reproduction position at the time when the predetermined deterioration occurs in the reception state of the content from the first server. Request transmission of subsequent data. As a result, the amount of communication from the other server to the player 10 can be reduced, and the data necessary for switching the reproduction can be acquired efficiently. Further, the consumption of the buffer area 16 can be saved by reducing the amount of data related to the content transmitted from the other server to the player 10.

3. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. However, in the second embodiment (and the third embodiment described later), the description of the configuration, operation, and effect common to the first embodiment is omitted, and different points from the first embodiment will be described. .

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the playback control process according to the second embodiment.
In step S110, the content transmission request unit F3 detects the bit rate (information amount per unit time) when receiving the content C1 to be played back from the first server, and the detected bit rate is a predetermined threshold value. It is determined whether or not: If the bit rate is equal to or lower than the threshold, it is determined that predetermined deterioration has occurred in the reception state of the content C1, and the process proceeds to step S120 and subsequent steps.

  In step S125, the stop / continuation determination unit F5 continues to monitor the bit rate. In step S140, the stop / continuation determination unit F5 determines whether or not the bit rate has recovered to a value exceeding the predetermined threshold. If not, it is determined to stop the reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server, and the process proceeds to step S150. On the other hand, if the bit rate has recovered to a value exceeding the predetermined threshold value, it is determined to continue playback of the content transmitted from the first server, and the process proceeds to step S160.

  According to such a second embodiment, the player 10 receives transmission of user-desired content from the first server, and reproduces the content transmitted from the first server when reproducing the content. When the bit rate drops below a predetermined threshold and there is a risk that it may be difficult to smoothly view the content, it starts to receive the same content as the content from another server and received from the first server When the reproduction of the content is stopped, the content is automatically switched to the reproduction of the same content received from the other server. For this reason, the user can continue to view comfortable content in which the decrease in the bit rate has been eliminated.

4). Third Embodiment FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a reproduction control process according to the third embodiment.
In step S110, the content transmission request unit F3 determines whether data relating to the content C1 to be reproduced received from the first server has continuity. If the discontinuity can be detected, it is determined that predetermined deterioration has occurred in the reception state of the content C1, and the process proceeds to step S120 and subsequent steps.

  Data discontinuity means an unstable state in which data input does not stop completely, but continues or is interrupted. For example, if the input of data (reception of data related to the content C1) is interrupted and there is no input for P seconds or more, it is determined that reception has stopped (step S110 in the first embodiment). In the embodiment, if the data input is interrupted for Q seconds or more and the next input is within R seconds (Q <R <P), it is determined that there is a kind of failure in communication, although reception is not stopped. For example, when such a failure occurs more than a predetermined number of times within a certain period, it is assumed that there is no continuity (discontinuity detection).

  In step S125, the stop / continuation determination unit F5 continues to monitor the continuity (or discontinuity). In step S140, the stop / continuation determination unit F5 determines whether or not the continuity has been recovered (discontinuity is eliminated). If it has not been recovered (resolved), it is determined to stop playback of the content transmitted from the first server, and the process proceeds to step S150. On the other hand, when the continuity is restored (discontinuity is eliminated), it is determined to continue the reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server, and the process proceeds to step S160.

  According to such a third embodiment, the player 10 receives the content desired by the user from the first server, and plays the content received from the first server when reproducing the content. If there is a discontinuity in the data and there is a risk that smooth viewing of the content may occur, the transmission of the same content as the content starts from another server, and playback of the content received from the first server begins. When stopped, it automatically switches to playback of the same content received from the other server. Therefore, the user can continue to view comfortable content from which discontinuities are eliminated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Player, 11 ... Control part, 15, 16 ... Buffer area, 17 ... IF, 18 ... Decoder, 20 ... Display apparatus, 30, 40, 50 ... Server, C1, C2, C3 ... Content, F1 ... Content search part , F2 ... content information storage unit, F3 ... content transmission request unit, F4 ... content reception unit, F5 ... stop / continuation determination unit, F6 ... playback control unit, NW ... network

Claims (8)

A content playback apparatus capable of receiving content transmitted from a server connected via a network and reproducing the content from the server,
Whether the same content as the content is stored in a server connected to the network different from the first server during a period of reproducing content transmitted from the first server connected to the network A content search unit for searching whether or not,
A storage unit that stores access destination information indicating a storage position of the same content when the search specifies that the same content is stored in the another server;
When a predetermined deterioration occurs in the reception state of the content transmitted from the first server, the transmission of the same content stored in the storage location indicated by the stored access destination information is A transmission request part for requesting to the server of
A content receiver that receives the same content transmitted from the another server in response to the request;
A stop determination unit that determines stop of reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server based on the predetermined degradation;
And a playback control unit that starts playback of the same content received from the another server when the stop is determined. The content search unit can execute the search for a plurality of servers connected to the network different from the first server,
The storage unit predetermines a plurality of pieces of access destination information indicating different storage positions of the same content when it is specified that the same content is stored in a plurality of servers to be searched. Associated with the priority of
2. The content according to claim 1, wherein the transmission request unit requests transmission of the same content stored in a storage position indicated by the access destination information having a higher associated priority. Playback device. A buffer unit for temporarily storing the content transmitted from the first server and the same content transmitted from the other server in response to the request;
The playback control unit plays back the content transmitted from the first server stored in the buffer unit until the stop is determined, and stores the content in the buffer unit after the stop is determined. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the same content transmitted from the another server is reproduced.   The transmission request unit stores time information indicating a reproduction position of the content transmitted from the first server at the time of determining that the predetermined deterioration has occurred, and the time information in the same content is stored in the time information. 4. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction apparatus requests transmission of data after the reproduction position shown. If the stop determination unit determines that the predetermined deterioration is not recovered, determines to stop playback of the content transmitted from the first server, and determines that the predetermined deterioration is recovered , Determine to continue playing the content transmitted from the first server,
5. The content reproduction according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction control unit continues the reproduction of the content transmitted from the first server when the continuation is determined. apparatus.   The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined deterioration is a stop of reception of the content from the first server.   The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined deterioration is a reduction in a bit rate when the content is received from the first server.   6. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined deterioration is discontinuity of data concerning the content received from the first server.

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