JP2018019407A - Information output device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a plurality of content reproduction devices from reproducing content simultaneously.SOLUTION: In a content reproduction system 1, a control unit 23 of each of a plurality of digital signage devices 2, alongside content reproduction, causes a non-audible sound output unit 34 to output non-audible sound being reproduction report information indicating that content is being reproduced, and controls so as to avoid content reproduction during reception of the reproduction report information from another digital signage device 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a content reproduction system, a content reproduction device, a content reproduction method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a technique for projecting a content image or the like having a shape matching the outer shape of a human-shaped projection screen (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This technology is used for the production of novel and effective exhibitions at exhibitions, etc., or for explanation of products for human beings such as “virtual mannequins”.

JP 2011-150221 A

  By the way, in the case where a plurality of content reproduction apparatuses as in Patent Document 1 are installed close to each other, when the contents are reproduced simultaneously by the plurality of content reproduction apparatuses, the sound of each apparatus is mixed and each sound is mixed. Problems such as difficulty in hearing may occur.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent content from being simultaneously played back by a plurality of content playback devices.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
A content playback system comprising a plurality of content playback devices,
Each of the plurality of content playback devices includes:
Playback means for playing back content;
In parallel with the reproduction of the content by the reproduction means, output means for outputting reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced;
Receiving means for receiving the reproduction notification information output from another content reproduction device;
Control means for controlling the reproduction means not to reproduce the content while the reception means receives the reproduction notification information from another content reproduction device;
Is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent content from being simultaneously played back by a plurality of content playback devices.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the content reproduction system in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the digital signage apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the reproduction schedule memorize | stored in the reproduction schedule memory | storage part of FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the screen part of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content reproduction process performed by the control part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the reproduction timing of the content in each digital signage apparatus at the time of performing content reproduction processing in each digital signage apparatus of FIG. 1, and the output timing of a non-audible sound. It is a figure which shows the effect of this invention when a delay arises during reproduction | regeneration of a content. It is a flowchart which shows the language switching process performed by the control part of FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

(First embodiment)
First, the first embodiment will be described.
[Configuration of Content Playback System 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a content reproduction system 1 according to the first embodiment. The content reproduction system 1 includes a plurality of digital signage devices 2 (2A, 2B) and a server device 4 that can communicate with the digital signage device 2 via a communication network N. In the present embodiment, the digital signage device 2 is described as two units 2A and 2B, but the number of digital signage devices 2 is not particularly limited as long as it is plural.

[Configuration of Digital Signage Device 2]
The digital signage device 2 is a content reproduction device that is installed in, for example, a store or an exhibition hall and reproduces content such as advertisement video.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main control configuration of the digital signage apparatus 2.
The digital signage apparatus 2 includes a projection unit 21 that emits image light of content, and a screen unit 22 that receives the image light emitted from the projection unit 21 on the back and projects the light on the front.

First, the projection unit 21 will be described.
The projection unit 21 includes a control unit 23, a projector 24, a storage unit 25, and a communication unit 26. The projector 24, the storage unit 25, and the communication unit 26 are connected to the control unit 23 as shown in FIG.

  The control unit 23 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes various programs stored in the storage unit 25 to perform predetermined calculations and control of each unit, and a memory that is a work area when the program is executed. (Both not shown). The control unit 23 functions as control means in cooperation with a program stored in the program storage unit 251. Further, the projector 24 and the audio output unit 33 are controlled to function as a reproducing unit.

  The projector 24 converts the image data of the video data output from the control unit 23 into video light and irradiates the screen unit 22 with the image data.

  The storage unit 25 is configured by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 25 includes a program storage unit 251, a content storage unit 252, a reproduction schedule storage unit 253, a frequency allocation storage unit 254, and the like.

  The program storage unit 251 stores a system program executed by the control unit 23, various processing programs, data necessary for executing these programs, and the like.

  The content storage unit 252 stores video data of content to be projected on the screen unit 22 by the projection unit 21. The video data is composed of image data of a plurality of frame images constituting the moving image data and audio data corresponding to each frame image. The video data previously distributed from the server device 4 is stored in the content storage unit 252.

  The reproduction schedule storage unit 253 stores the content reproduction schedule of the entire digital signage device 2 constituting the content reproduction system 1. FIG. 3 shows an example of a reproduction schedule stored in the reproduction schedule storage unit 253. As shown in FIG. 3, the reproduction schedule includes the content reproduction order in each digital signage device 2 constituting the content reproduction system 1 and information (content name etc.) for specifying the content to be reproduced in each order. A reproduction schedule that is distributed in advance from the server device 4 is stored in the reproduction schedule storage unit 253.

In the frequency assignment storage unit 254, the identification number of each digital signage device 2 constituting the content reproduction system 1 and the frequency of the inaudible sound uniquely assigned to the digital signage device 2 are stored in association with each other. Yes. Further, the frequency assignment storage unit 254 stores the frequency of the non-audible sound for reproduction instruction, which is a non-audible sound for instructing the other digital signage apparatus 2 (other device) to reproduce the content. The frequency of the reproduction instruction non-audible sound is different from the frequency assigned to each digital signage device 2.
Here, the non-audible sound means a sound having a frequency that cannot be heard by human ears (frequency in a non-audible range).

  The communication unit 26 includes a modem, a router, a network card, and the like, and performs communication with an external device such as the server device 4 on the communication network N.

Next, the screen unit 22 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the screen unit 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the screen unit 22 includes an image forming unit 27 and a pedestal 28 that supports the image forming unit 27.

  The image forming unit 27 is for rear projection in which a film-shaped Fresnel lens is laminated on a single translucent plate 29 such as an acrylic plate, which is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the irradiation direction of the image light. It is a screen configured by attaching a film screen. The image forming unit 27 is formed in a shape corresponding to the content projection target.

The pedestal 28 includes a button-type operation unit 32, a sound output unit 33 such as a speaker that converts sound data into sound and outputs, a non-audible sound output unit 34 that outputs non-audible sound, and a sound such as a microphone. An input unit 35 is provided. The operation unit 32 includes a playback button for instructing playback of content.
The operation unit 32, the sound output unit 33, the non-audible sound output unit 34, and the sound input unit 35 are connected to the control unit 23 as shown in FIG. The operation unit 32 and the voice input unit 35 function as an operation unit and an output unit, respectively.

  The server 4 generates and distributes a content reproduction schedule in each digital signage device 2 constituting the content reproduction system 1 and distributes video data of the content reproduced by each digital signage device 2 via the communication network N. A computer device.

[Operation of Digital Signage Device 2]
Next, the operation of each digital signage device 2 in the content reproduction system 1 will be described.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of content reproduction processing executed in each digital signage device 2 constituting the content reproduction system 1. The content reproduction process is executed in cooperation with the program stored in the control unit 23 and the program storage unit 251 when the digital signage device 2 is powered on.

  First, the control unit 23 determines whether or not a reproduction operation has been detected, or whether or not a non-audible sound for reproduction instruction has been received by the audio input unit 35 (step S1). Specifically, whether or not a reproduction operation has been detected is determined by whether or not the reproduction button of the operation unit 32 has been pressed.

  If it is determined that a playback operation has not been detected and a playback instruction non-audible sound has not been received (step S1; NO), has the control unit 23 received a non-audible sound from another device via the voice input unit 35? It is determined whether or not (step S2). If it is determined that a non-audible sound from another device has not been received (step S2; NO), the control unit 23 returns to the process of step S1. If it is determined that a non-audible sound from another device has been received (step S2; YES), the control unit 23 proceeds to the process of step S8.

  When it is determined in step S1 that a playback operation has been detected or that a playback instruction non-audible sound has been received (step S1; YES), the control unit 23 stores the playback schedule stored in the playback schedule storage unit 253. In step S3, it is determined whether or not the content reproduction is started from the own device.

  When it is determined that the content reproduction is not started from the own device (step S3; NO), the control unit 23 outputs a non-audible sound for reproduction instruction by the non-audible sound output unit 34 (step S4). Transition to processing.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the reproduction of the content is started from its own device (step S3; YES), the control unit 23 reproduces the content according to the reproduction schedule stored in the reproduction schedule storage unit 253, and is reproducing the content As non-audible reproduction notification information indicating the presence, a non-audible sound having a frequency assigned to the own device is output by the non-audible sound output unit 34 (step S5). When playing back the content, the control unit 23 transmits the image data of the content to be played back stored in the content storage unit 252 to the projector 24, and causes the image forming unit 27 to project the image by the projector 24. . Also, audio data corresponding to the projected image is transmitted to the audio output unit 33, converted into an audio signal, and output.
The control unit 23 repeatedly executes the operation of step S5 until the reproduction of one content is completed (step S6; NO).

  When the reproduction of one content is finished (step S6; YES), the control unit 23 temporarily stops the reproduction of the content and the output of the non-audible sound (step S7), and proceeds to the process of step S8. Here, the output of the non-audible sound is stopped, so that the content can be played back on the other device.

  In step S8, the control unit 23 determines whether or not a non-audible sound from another device is being received by the voice input unit 35 (step S8), and playback is performed while the non-audible sound is received from the other device. Wait for. Here, whether or not a non-audible sound from another device has been received is determined by referring to the frequency assignment storage unit 254 based on whether or not the frequency of the received non-audible sound is a frequency assigned to the other device. . The period during which the non-audible sound is received from the other apparatus is a period in which the content is being reproduced in steps S5 to S6 in the other apparatus.

  When it is determined that the non-audible sound of the other device is not being received (step S8; NO), the control unit 23 refers to the reproduction schedule storage unit 253 to determine whether or not the own device is in the order of reproduction. (Step S9) When it is determined that the order is not the order of reproduction by the own device (Step S9; NO), the process returns to Step S8 and waits again. When it is determined that the own device is in the order of reproduction (step S9; YES), the control unit 23 returns to step S5 and repeatedly executes the processing of steps S5 to S9.

  When the digital signage device 2 is turned off, the content reproduction process ends.

  According to the above-described content reproduction process, as shown in FIG. 6, while the content is being reproduced by the digital signage device 2A, a non-audible sound having a frequency assigned to the digital signage device 2A is output in parallel. The In the digital signage device 2B, while receiving the non-audible sound from the digital signage device 2A, the reproduction is waited as shown in FIG. 6, and when the non-audible sound is not received, the content is reproduced and the digital signage device 2B A non-audible sound with the assigned frequency is output. In the digital signage device 2A, during reception of the non-audible sound from the digital signage device 2B, reproduction is waited as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to prevent content from being played back simultaneously between the digital signage devices 2A and 2B and audio from colliding.

  Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a playback schedule in which the playback time and playback standby time of each digital signage device 2 are defined. When playback is performed according to this playback schedule, playback is being performed on the digital signage device 2A. If some delay d occurs and the reproduction time is extended, the digital signage devices 2A and 2B overlap the reproduction of the content and the audio collides. However, according to the present embodiment, the digital signage device 2B to be reproduced next to the digital signage device 2A in the reproduction schedule starts reproduction after the output of the non-audible sound from the digital signage device 2A is stopped. Even if a delay occurs during reproduction, it is possible to automatically prevent simultaneous reproduction of contents without adjusting the reproduction schedule.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Since the configuration of the content reproduction system 1 in the second embodiment is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

  In the second embodiment, the video data of each content stored in the content storage unit 252 of each digital signage device 2 is in a plurality of languages (eg, Japanese, English, Chinese, Spanish) as audio data. Audio data is prepared, and the language for reproducing the content can be switched.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the playback button, a language selection button corresponding to each of a plurality of languages in which content can be played back is provided as the operation unit 32 in order to select a language for playing back the content. It has been.

  In the second embodiment, the storage unit 25 is provided with a language setting storage unit for storing setting information of a language selected as a language for reproducing content. The language setting storage unit stores a default language, for example, Japanese by default.

Further, in the frequency assignment storage unit 254, language identification information that can be reproduced by the digital signage device 2 and the frequency of the non-audible sound that is uniquely assigned to the language are stored in association with each other. The non-audible sound having the frequency assigned to each language is a non-audible sound for instructing other digital signage apparatus 2 to switch the language to the corresponding language.
Since the configuration of each device constituting the other content reproduction system 1 is the same as that described in the first embodiment, the description is incorporated herein.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.
The content reproduction process executed in the second embodiment is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 5 in the first embodiment. However, when reproducing the content in step S5, the control unit 23 With reference to the language setting storage unit of the storage unit 25, the content is reproduced in the set language.

In the second embodiment, each digital signage device 2 executes language switching processing described below in parallel with the content reproduction processing.
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of language switching processing executed in parallel with the content reproduction processing in each digital signage device 2. The language switching process is executed in cooperation with the program stored in the control unit 23 and the program storage unit 251 when the digital signage device 2 is powered on.

  First, the control unit 23 determines whether or not a language selection operation has been detected (step S101). That is, it is determined whether any language selection button of the operation unit 32 is pressed.

  If it is determined that a language selection operation has been detected (step S101; YES), the control unit 23 refers to the frequency assignment storage unit 254 of the storage unit 25 and sets the non-audible sound having a frequency corresponding to the selected language to the language. The non-audible sound output unit 34 outputs the non-audible sound for the switching instruction (step S102).

  Next, the control unit 23 rewrites the language setting information stored in the language setting storage unit of the storage unit 25 to the selected language (step S103), and returns to the process of step S101.

  If it is determined in step S101 that no language selection operation has been detected (step S101; NO), the control unit 23 determines whether or not a non-audible sound for language switching instruction is received by the voice input unit 35. (Step S104). If it is determined that the language switching instruction non-audible sound has been received (step S104; YES), the control unit 23 receives the language setting information stored in the language setting storage unit of the storage unit 25 and receives the non-audible sound. The language is rewritten to correspond to the frequency (step S105), and the process returns to step S101. When determining that the non-audible sound for language switching instruction has not been received (step S105; NO), the control unit 23 returns to the process of step S101.

  When the digital signage device 2 is turned off, the language switching process ends.

  In each digital signage device 2 constituting the content reproduction system 1, the language switching operation shown in FIG. 8 is executed in parallel with the content reproduction processing shown in FIG. When performed, the setting information of the language stored in the language setting storage unit of the storage unit 25 in each digital signage device 2 is switched to the selected language.

  Here, when content is reproduced in step S5 of the content reproduction process of FIG. 5, reproduction is performed in the language stored in the language setting storage unit of the storage unit 25 as described above. Accordingly, when a language selection operation is performed on any of the digital signage devices 2, contents can be reproduced in the language selected by each digital signage device 2 thereafter.

  Note that when the language is switched during content playback, the control unit 23 may play back the content being played back from the beginning in the language after switching. Further, it may be replayed in the switched language from the top content of the playback schedule stored in the playback schedule storage unit 253.

  As described above, according to the content reproduction system 1, each control unit 23 of the plurality of digital signage devices 2 is reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced in parallel with the reproduction of the content. The non-audible sound is output by the non-audible sound output unit 34. Control is performed so that the content is not reproduced while the reproduction notification information from the other digital signage device 2 is received.

  Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the content from being simultaneously reproduced by the plurality of digital signage devices 2. For example, when a plurality of digital signage devices 2 are arranged close to each other, it is possible to prevent the content of the content from becoming difficult to hear due to voice collision.

In addition, when each of the digital signage devices 2 reproduces content based on a reproduction schedule in the content reproduction system 1 described above, even if a delay occurs during content reproduction, complicated schedule adjustment between the devices is performed. And simultaneous playback of content can be automatically prevented.
Also, when the playback of the content on one device is completed, the content is played back on the device in the next playback order at that timing, so that the content of the content that is being interrogated between the plurality of digital signage devices 2 is reproduced. Reproduction can be realized without a sense of incongruity.

  Further, in the digital signage device 2, when a language is selected by the operation unit 32, the non-audible sound for language switching instruction of the frequency corresponding to the selected language is output by the non-audible sound output unit 34, and the operation unit When the language is selected by 32, or when the language input instruction non-audible sound is received by the voice input unit 35, the language of the content is switched to the selected language or the language corresponding to the non-audible sound and reproduced. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the languages used when the content is reproduced by the plurality of digital signage devices 2.

Further, by making the playback notification information and the language switching instruction information non-audible sound, it is possible to perform a playback notification and a language switching instruction between a plurality of devices without giving the viewer a sense of incongruity. Further, since it is possible to transmit / receive reproduction notification information and language switching instruction information with non-audible sound without using a communication network, when a plurality of digital signage devices 2 are arranged close to each other, a delay of the communication network Information can be transmitted and received in real time without causing a time lag due to the above.
In addition, by assigning a non-audible sound having a specific frequency to each of the plurality of digital signage devices 2, it is possible to prevent confusion between information output from the own device and information output from the other device. Further, in each device, it is possible to grasp which information is output by which device.

  In addition, the description content in the said embodiment is a suitable example of the content reproduction | regeneration system of this invention, and is not limited to this.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced is used as a non-audible sound having a frequency uniquely assigned to each of the digital signage devices 2. It is not limited to. For example, a spread signal obtained by modulating a non-audible sound having a predetermined frequency with a signal of a pattern (for example, a pulse pattern) uniquely assigned to each of the digital signage devices 2 may be used. Alternatively, visible light in a band uniquely assigned to each of the digital signage devices 2 may be used. In this case, a visible light output unit is provided as an output unit instead of the audio output unit 33, and a light receiving unit is provided as a reception unit instead of the audio input unit 35.
As described above, even when a spread signal or visible light is used as the reproduction notification information, the same effect as that of the above-described inaudible case can be obtained.

  Similarly, as the language switching instruction information, a spread signal obtained by modulating a non-audible sound having a predetermined frequency with a pattern signal uniquely assigned to each of the languages that can be reproduced by the digital signage device 2 is used. It is good. Or it is good also as using the visible light of the zone | band allocated uniquely with respect to each of the language which can be reproduced | regenerated with the digital signage apparatus 2. FIG.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where content is played back by each digital signage device 2 according to the playback schedule has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where the playback schedule is not determined. Can have a sufficient effect. That is, each digital signage device 2 outputs inaudible playback notification information in parallel during content playback, and does not play back content while receiving playback notification information from other digital signage devices 2. By controlling in this way, it is possible to prevent content from being played back simultaneously on the digital signage devices 2A and 2B and audio from colliding.

  In the above embodiment, the non-audible sound is output by the non-audible sound output unit 34 provided separately from the audio output unit 33 that outputs the audio data of the content. However, the same audio output unit is used. It is good.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each device constituting the content reproduction system can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.
The invention described in the scope of claims attached to the application of this application will be added below.
The item numbers of the claims described in the appendix are as set forth in the claims attached to the application of this application.
[Appendix]
<Claim 1>
A content playback system comprising a plurality of content playback devices,
Each of the plurality of content playback devices includes:
Playback means for playing back content;
In parallel with the reproduction of the content by the reproduction means, output means for outputting reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced;
Receiving means for receiving the reproduction notification information output from another content reproduction device;
Control means for controlling the reproduction means not to reproduce the content while the reception means receives the reproduction notification information from another content reproduction device;
A content reproduction system comprising:
<Claim 2>
Storage means for storing content to be played back by the own device and a playback schedule including information for specifying the playback order of the content among the plurality of content playback devices and the content to be played back;
The content reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction unit reproduces the content stored in the storage unit based on the reproduction schedule.
<Claim 3>
The reproduction notification information is determined in advance by a non-audible sound having a frequency uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of content reproduction devices, and a signal having a pattern uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of content reproduction devices. 3. The content reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction system is a spread signal obtained by modulating a non-audible sound having a predetermined frequency, or visible light having a band uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of content reproduction apparatuses.
<Claim 4>
It has an operation means for selecting a language for content playback from multiple languages,
The output means further outputs language switching instruction information for instructing switching to the language selected by the operation means,
The receiving means further receives the language switching instruction information output from another content playback device,
When the language is selected by the operation means or when the language switching instruction information is received by the receiving means, the control means indicates the language of the content to be reproduced by the reproducing means by the language switching instruction information. The content reproduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the language is switched to the selected language.
<Claim 5>
The language switching instruction information includes a non-audible sound having a frequency uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of languages, and a frequency predetermined by a pattern signal uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of languages. 5. The content reproduction system according to claim 4, wherein the non-audible sound is a spread signal or a visible light having a band uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of languages.
<Claim 6>
A content playback device comprising playback means for playing back content,
In parallel with the reproduction of the content by the reproduction means, output means for outputting reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced;
Receiving means for receiving the reproduction notification information output from another content reproduction device;
Control means for controlling the reproduction means not to reproduce the content while the reception means receives the reproduction notification information from another content reproduction device;
A content playback apparatus comprising:
<Claim 7> A content reproduction method in a content reproduction apparatus including reproduction means for reproducing content,
In parallel with the reproduction of the content by the reproduction means, outputting reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced;
Receiving the playback notification information output from another content playback device;
Controlling not to play back the content by the playback means while receiving the playback notification information from the other content playback device;
Content playback method.
<Claim 8>
A computer used in a content reproduction apparatus including reproduction means for reproducing content,
Output means for outputting reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced in parallel with the reproduction of the content by the reproduction means;
Receiving means for receiving the reproduction notification information output from another content reproduction apparatus;
Control means for controlling the reproduction means not to reproduce the content while the reception means receives the reproduction notification information from the other content reproduction device;
Program to function as.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Content reproduction system 2 Digital signage apparatus 21 Projection part 22 Screen part 23 Control part 24 Projector 25 Storage part 251 Program storage part 252 Content storage part 253 Playback schedule storage part 254 Frequency allocation storage part 26 Communication part 27 Image formation part 28 Base 29 Translucent plate 32 Operation unit 33 Audio output unit 34 Non-audible sound output unit 35 Audio input unit

The present invention is an information output apparatus, and a program.

An object of the present invention is to perform output control of each information under appropriate control when information is output by a plurality of devices.

請 Motomeko 1 is an information output apparatus for outputting a predetermined information, a judging means for judging whether the output of information in the external device, according to the determination result by the determining means, the predetermined in the information output device and control means for controlling the output of information, characterized by comprising a.
Claim 4 is an information output device for outputting predetermined information, and when outputting the predetermined information, first control means for controlling the output of suppression information for suppressing information output in an external device, and an external And second control means for controlling suppression of output of the predetermined information when the suppression information is acquired from the apparatus.
Claim 6 is an information output device that outputs predetermined information, and when there is an instruction to output the predetermined information, a determination unit that determines whether the information output device has a priority output right; and And control means for controlling whether the predetermined information is output from the information output device or output from an external device in accordance with a determination result by the determination means.
9. An information output apparatus for outputting predetermined information, wherein the determination means determines whether or not there is a setting change for outputting the predetermined information, and the determination means sets the output of the predetermined information. Control means for controlling an external device that outputs information similar to the predetermined information to output information by a setting change similar to the setting change in the information output device when there is a change; It is characterized by comprising.

According to the present invention, when information is output by a plurality of devices , each information can be output and controlled under appropriate control .

Claims (8)

A content playback system comprising a plurality of content playback devices,
Each of the plurality of content playback devices includes:
Playback means for playing back content;
In parallel with the reproduction of the content by the reproduction means, output means for outputting reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced;
Receiving means for receiving the reproduction notification information output from another content reproduction device;
Control means for controlling the reproduction means not to reproduce the content while the reception means receives the reproduction notification information from another content reproduction device;
A content reproduction system comprising: Storage means for storing content to be played back by the own device and a playback schedule including information for specifying the playback order of the content among the plurality of content playback devices and the content to be played back;
The content reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction unit reproduces the content stored in the storage unit based on the reproduction schedule.   The reproduction notification information is determined in advance by a non-audible sound having a frequency uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of content reproduction devices, and a signal having a pattern uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of content reproduction devices. 3. The content reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction system is a spread signal obtained by modulating a non-audible sound having a predetermined frequency, or visible light having a band uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of content reproduction apparatuses. It has an operation means for selecting a language for content playback from multiple languages,
The output means further outputs language switching instruction information for instructing switching to the language selected by the operation means,
The receiving means further receives the language switching instruction information output from another content playback device,
When the language is selected by the operation means or when the language switching instruction information is received by the receiving means, the control means indicates the language of the content to be reproduced by the reproducing means by the language switching instruction information. The content reproduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the language is switched to the selected language.   The language switching instruction information includes a non-audible sound having a frequency uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of languages, and a frequency predetermined by a pattern signal uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of languages. 5. The content reproduction system according to claim 4, wherein the non-audible sound is a spread signal or a visible light having a band uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of languages. A content playback device comprising playback means for playing back content,
In parallel with the reproduction of the content by the reproduction means, output means for outputting reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced;
Receiving means for receiving the reproduction notification information output from another content reproduction device;
Control means for controlling the reproduction means not to reproduce the content while the reception means receives the reproduction notification information from another content reproduction device;
A content playback apparatus comprising: A content playback method in a content playback device comprising playback means for playing back content, the step of outputting playback notification information indicating that the content is being played back in parallel with the playback of the content by the playback means;
Receiving the playback notification information output from another content playback device;
Controlling not to play back the content by the playback means while receiving the playback notification information from the other content playback device;
Content playback method. A computer used in a content reproduction apparatus including reproduction means for reproducing content,
Output means for outputting reproduction notification information indicating that the content is being reproduced in parallel with the reproduction of the content by the reproduction means;
Receiving means for receiving the reproduction notification information output from another content reproduction apparatus;
Control means for controlling the reproduction means not to reproduce the content while the reception means receives the reproduction notification information from the other content reproduction device;
Program to function as.

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