JP3133691B2 - Video / audio signal playback device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video / audio signal reproducing apparatus characterized by a function of controlling a reproduction state of a video signal recorded on a recording medium, and in particular, a function of shifting from a fast-forward reproduction state to a normal reproduction state. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A period in which a video signal is a black frame (video is a solid black color) and an audio signal is silent (the audio level is zero) is a video / audio signal separation period. Such a break period is sandwiched between advertisements (hereinafter, referred to as CMs) in a television broadcast program, between CMs, or between CMs, a main program (hereinafter, referred to as a main program).
The length of the break period between CMs and the length of the break period between CM and the main program is longer between CM and the main program.

At the time of fast-forward reproduction of a video signal, which is a television signal recorded on a recording medium, the length of the above-described delimiter period is measured, and the period is between CM and CM or between CM and main program based on the length. When the discrimination is made between the CM and the main program, a video / audio signal reproducing apparatus having a function of shifting from the fast-forward reproduction state to the normal reproduction state (hereinafter referred to as a CM skip function) is provided by the present applicant. It has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-34990, Japanese Patent Application No. 8-5761)
7).

This video / audio signal reproducing apparatus has a dedicated operation key for instructing a CM skip function. Also C
A threshold value is set as a threshold value that is shorter than the separation period between M and main parts and longer than the separation period between CM and CM. The video / audio signal reproducing apparatus shifts to a fast-forward playback state by receiving an input of the operation key during normal playback, and shifts from the fast-forward playback state when detecting a break period between CM and main program based on the threshold value. Move to the normal playback state. The user of this video / audio signal reproducing apparatus can quickly forward the CM and immediately resume the main part of the main program by pressing the above-mentioned operation key when the reproduction content becomes the CM during the normal reproduction. it can.

[0005] However, the length of the break period between CM and CM and the length of the break period between CM and main program depend on the broadcasting station that is the source of the television signal, and depending on the program even in the same broadcasting station. There are some differences. Therefore, there is a problem that the threshold value at which the CM skip function can be normally operated in a video signal of a certain program does not always work effectively in another program.

The applicant of the present invention has proposed a video / audio signal reproducing apparatus for avoiding such a problem by finely adjusting the threshold value according to a video signal (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-282384). In this video / audio signal reproducing apparatus, a relatively large value is set as an initial value of the threshold value before receiving a command of the CM skip function. Then, a command for the CM skip function is received, and fast-forward playback is performed. In this fast-forward playback state, when the CM skip function does not work normally and a user operation (for example, a command to stop, rewind, play, etc.) performed for interrupting the CM skip function is received, the current threshold is set. A value slightly smaller than the value is newly set as the threshold.

After setting the threshold value, a reproduction command from the user is received to resume normal reproduction of the video signal, and a command for the CM skip function is received again to perform a CM skip operation based on the threshold value. When this is interrupted by the user's operation, the threshold is set again as described above. Hereinafter, every time the CM skip operation is interrupted by the user's operation, the threshold value is repeatedly reset, so that the threshold value becomes equal to the CM of the video signal being reproduced.
The value gradually approaches a value at which a break period between main programs can be detected. By finely adjusting the threshold value in this manner, a threshold value suitable for each video signal can be set.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned video / audio signal reproducing apparatus does not operate normally even if the CM skip function is instructed until the appropriate threshold value is settled, and this is interrupted each time. It is troublesome because it is necessary to repeat things. Further, since the finally settled threshold value is not always effective for other video signals, when the video signal to be reproduced is changed, the above-described procedure may need to be repeated again. is there.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and measures the length of a break period during normal playback or fast-forward playback, and fine-tunes the threshold value each time the break period is detected. By doing so, it is possible to quickly set a threshold suitable for the video signal being reproduced.
It is intended to provide an audio signal reproducing device. Also, if the CM skip function is instructed shortly after the main part of the program is started, it is erroneously recognized that the reproduction content is a CM, and it is possible to suppress fast-forward reproduction of the main part of the video / audio signal. The purpose is to provide the device.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video / audio signal reproducing apparatus, wherein a length of a break period measured during normal reproduction or fast-forward reproduction does not exceed the threshold value.
Means for calculating the sum of the measured length of the break period and a predetermined value; means for determining whether the sum exceeds a predetermined upper limit; and adding the result if the sum does not exceed the upper limit. Means for setting a threshold value, and means for setting the upper limit value as a threshold value when the sum exceeds the upper limit value, wherein the length of the break period measured during fast-forward playback exceeds the specified threshold value In this case, a transition from the fast forward reproduction state to the normal reproduction state is made.

In this video / audio signal reproducing apparatus, a marginal period is set to a value slightly smaller than a standard value of the difference between the length of the period between CM and the main program and the length of the period between CM and CM. . Further, a value slightly smaller than the standard length of the break period between CM and main program is set as the upper limit value of the threshold value. If the length of the break period measured during normal playback or fast-forward playback does not exceed the threshold,
The sum of the measured length of the break period and a predetermined value representing the length of the margin period is obtained, and when the sum does not exceed the upper limit of the length of the break period between the predetermined CM and the main program, the sum is calculated. Determine the threshold. By determining the threshold value in this manner, a threshold value that can reliably detect the break period between the CM and the main part of the video signal being reproduced is determined.

This video / audio signal reproducing apparatus accepts a CM skip function instructed when the reproduction content becomes CM, and shifts from the normal reproduction state to the fast forward reproduction state. C
If it is determined that the length of the break period measured during fast-forward playback by the M-skip function exceeds the threshold value determined as described above, it is regarded as the break period between the CM of the video signal being played and the main program. A transition is made from the fast-forward playback state to the normal playback state, and the continuation of the main program is played back normally.

A video / audio signal reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a means for measuring the length of a period in which a break period is not detected during fast-forward playback, and a method in which the length of the period in which a break period is not detected is set to a predetermined threshold. Means for shifting from the fast-forward playback state to the normal playback state when the number of times exceeds the limit.

In this video / audio signal reproducing apparatus, the length of the longest CM is determined as a threshold value. Then, the length of the period during which no break period is detected during fast-forward playback is measured, and if the length of the measured period exceeds the threshold value, the playback content is regarded as the main program and the normal playback from the fast-forward playback state is performed. Move to state. Therefore, even if the CM / Skip function is instructed when the playback content is the main part, the video / audio signal playback device determines that the length of the break period measured during fast-forward playback exceeds the longest CM length. When it is detected, it is possible to shift from the fast-forward playback state to the normal playback state, assuming that the playback content is the main program.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a video / audio signal reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1
Is a recording medium on which a video signal is recorded, for example, using a video tape. The drive mechanism 2 is connected to a drive control unit 3 for controlling the drive mechanism, and drives the recording medium 1 in response to the command. The drive control unit 3 is connected to a storage circuit 4 that stores set values such as a break period threshold value and a CM period threshold value necessary for controlling the drive mechanism 2.
Read those set values as needed. Further, it is connected to an input receiving unit 6 for receiving an input from the operation key 5 for instructing the CM skip function, and receives the instruction to start the control operation of the CM skip function. The drive control unit 3 is connected to the output terminal of the content period timer 7 that measures the length from the break period to the next break period, that is, the length of the CM or the main program. Further, the drive control unit 3 converts the length of the period measured during the fast-forward playback into the length during the normal playback based on the ratio between the fast-forward playback speed and the normal playback speed.

The information recorded on the recording medium 1 is read by the magnetic head 8. The magnetic head 8 is connected to a BF extraction circuit 9 for detecting a black frame and a silent section extraction circuit 10 for detecting a silent section, and applies a video signal and an audio signal to each. The output signal of the BF extraction circuit 9 becomes true when the video signal is a black frame. The output signal of the silent section extraction circuit 10 becomes true when the audio signal is silent. Each of the output terminals of the BF extraction circuit 9 and the silent section extraction circuit 10 is connected to each of the two input terminals of the AND circuit 11. The output terminal of the AND circuit 11 is connected to a timing command input terminal of a break period timer 12 for measuring the length of the break period, and the break period timer 12 becomes false after the output signal of the AND circuit 11 becomes true. Measure the length of time until it becomes. The output side terminal of the break period timer 12 is connected to the drive control unit 3,
The length of the period measured by the separation period timer 12 is given to the drive control unit 3.

The output terminal of the AND circuit 11 is NOT
It is connected to the input terminal of the circuit 13. NOT circuit 13
Is connected to the timing command input terminal of the content period timer 7, and the content period timer 7
The length of a period from when the output signal of the circuit 13 becomes true to when it becomes false is measured.

FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the reproduction state of the video / audio signal reproducing apparatus of the present invention. In the state where the recorded information is being reproduced (states 21 and 22), each time the reproduction content enters a break period, the two input signals of the AND circuit 11 both become true, so that the output signal becomes true. The break period timer 12 receives this and measures the length of the break period, and supplies the measured value to the drive control unit 3. The drive control unit 3 stores the length of the given break period in the storage circuit 4. This storage circuit 4 is designed to newly store a delimiter period every time it is given. Each time the playback content becomes a CM or a main program, the AND circuit 11
Becomes false, so that the output signal of the NOT circuit 13 becomes true. The content period timer 7 receives the
Alternatively, the length of the main part is measured, and the measured value is given to the drive control unit 3.

In the state 21 where the reproduction state is the normal reproduction, the state does not change until an input is made from the operation key 5. When the drive control unit 3 detects that the user has pressed the operation key 5 based on a signal given from the input reception unit 6, the drive control unit 3 gives a command to shift the playback state to the fast-forward playback state to the drive mechanism 2, and Transitions from the state 21 to the state 22. In addition, the length of the latest delimiter period is read from the storage circuit 4, and a threshold value of the delimiter period is set based on a processing procedure S10 described later. In addition, monitoring of the respective measurement values by the content period timer 7 and the break period timer 12 is started.

In the state 22 (fast-forward playback state), if the result of converting the value measured by the break period timer 12 into the length during normal playback exceeds a predetermined break period threshold,
The drive control unit 3 determines that the break period between the CM and the main program has been detected, and sends the playback state to the drive mechanism 2 in the normal playback state (state 2).
An instruction to shift to 1) is given. Also, when the result of converting the value measured by the content period timer 7 into the length during normal playback exceeds a predetermined CM period threshold, the drive mechanism 2 is similarly switched from the playback state to the normal playback state (state 21). Give a command to shift.

On the other hand, as long as the value measured by the content period timer 7 in the state 22 does not exceed the predetermined CM period threshold value, no state transition occurs. If the length of the detected break period does not exceed the break period threshold value, no state transition occurs, but the break period threshold value is reset based on the processing procedure S20 described later.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure S10 for setting the threshold value of the separation period. Drive control unit 3
When detecting that the user has pressed the operation key 5, the latest reading of the measurement value of the break period is read from the storage circuit 4 (S1).
1). A predetermined margin period is added to the read separation period measurement value (S12). Then, it is determined whether or not the addition result exceeds a predetermined limit period upper limit value (S13), and if so, the limit period upper limit value is set as a break period threshold value (S14). In S13, if it is determined that the sum does not exceed the threshold, the addition result is set as a threshold value of the separation period (S15).

The length of the margin period is set to be slightly smaller based on a standard difference between the length of the break period between CM and CM and the length of the break period between CM and the main program.
By defining the sum of such a margin period and the measured break period as a break period threshold, the break period threshold value is determined according to the length of the break period between CM and CM of the video signal being reproduced. Is set appropriately.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure S20 for resetting the threshold value of the separation period. If the drive control unit 3 determines that the break period measurement value does not exceed the break period threshold value, it adds a predetermined margin period to the break period measurement value (S12). Thereafter, the threshold value of the separation period is set as described above. By resetting the break period threshold value based on the above processing procedure, the length of the break period threshold value is set according to the length of the break period between CM and CM.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the actually measured C
By setting a break period threshold value according to the length of the break period between M and CM, a break period threshold suitable for detecting the break period between CM and the main program of the video signal being reproduced. You can set a value.

In the second invention, when the length of the period during which the delimiter period cannot be detected during fast-forward reproduction exceeds a predetermined threshold value, this can be detected and a transition can be made to the normal reproduction state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video / audio signal reproducing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram showing a transition of a reproduction state of the video / audio signal reproduction device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for setting a break period threshold value.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Drive Control Unit 7 Content Period Timer 9 BF Extraction Circuit 10 Silence Part Extraction Circuit 11 AND Circuit 12 Separation Period Timer

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fast-forward playback function for playing back a video / audio signal recorded on a recording medium at a faster playback speed than during normal playback, and a video signal to be played back is a black frame.
Moreover, it has a function of detecting a break period in which the audio signal is silent and measuring the length thereof. If the length of the break period measured during fast-forward playback exceeds a predetermined threshold, the fast-forward playback state is started. In the video / audio signal reproducing apparatus adapted to shift to the normal reproduction state, if the length of the separation period measured at the time of normal reproduction or fast-forward reproduction does not exceed the threshold value, the measured length of the separation period and a predetermined value Means for determining the sum of the above, means for determining whether or not the sum exceeds a predetermined upper limit, means for determining the added result as a threshold if the sum does not exceed the upper limit, Means for determining the upper limit as a threshold value when the sum exceeds the upper limit value, and when the length of the break period measured during fast forward reproduction exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the normal playback from the fast forward playback state is performed. Move to state A video / audio signal reproducing device characterized by what it has done. 2. A fast-forward playback function for playing back a video / audio signal recorded on a recording medium at a playback speed higher than a normal playback speed, and a video signal to be played back is a black frame,
In addition, in a video / audio signal reproducing apparatus having a function of detecting a delimiter period in which an audio signal is silent and measuring the length, a means for measuring the length of a period in which a delimiter period is not detected during fast forward reproduction; Means for shifting from a fast-forward playback state to a normal playback state when the length of a period in which a period is not detected exceeds a predetermined threshold value.