JP3592210B2 - Recording device and recording method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method, and more particularly, to a video that can calculate a degree of importance for each scene obtained by dividing a program or content and control the recording quality according to the degree of importance for each scene to record. The present invention relates to a voice / data recording device and a recording method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a device for recording video and audio such as a television program, a recording device using not only a tape medium but also a disk medium such as a DVD-R / W or a hard disk has been used.
In order to record programs on these disc recording devices, digital compression standards for video and audio such as MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) are mainly used. In these compression techniques, the image quality and sound quality to be recorded can be controlled by determining the compression ratio.
Therefore, the user can control the recording quality based on information such as the remaining amount of the disk and the importance of the recording target.
On the other hand, as a conventional example relating to a recording apparatus that automatically records a program based on information on the importance of a recording target, a technique of recording according to the priority of the recording target program is known.
[0003]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional video / audio recording apparatus. A data acquisition unit 103 for acquiring program data through a medium 101 such as a broadcast, for example, a recording area for recording a program to be recorded is provided. If it is not possible to secure sufficient recording area, an operation such as erasing the recorded program data to secure a recording area, the priority of the program to be recorded and the priority of the recorded program and the An arithmetic unit 106 performs an operation of determining an area to be deleted in consideration of the degree and the like, and a data recording unit 107 that records program data in a data storage unit 108 according to the operation result of the arithmetic unit 106.
The data in the data recording unit 107 can be viewed on an external output device 102 such as a television or a speaker.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a recording apparatus such as a conventional video / audio recording apparatus that automatically records a program using information on the priority and importance of a recording target, the recording quality is determined in small units such as scenes and segments in the program. Is difficult to control.
As a result, it is not sufficient in consideration of the problem of reducing the recording amount while preventing subjective deterioration of the quality and securing the preservation of the recording data.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and records in units of scenes based on information in fine units such as scenes and segments in a program described by MPEG (content description technology) or the like. By controlling the quality, it is possible to improve the recording quality and reduce the recording capacity.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides means for solving such problems, and is constituted by the following technical means.
The first technical means is a data acquiring means for acquiring a program or content; a scene dividing means for dividing the program or content for each scene; a scene information acquiring means for acquiring scene information of the program or content; The recording apparatus includes an arithmetic unit that calculates the importance of the divided scenes, a recording unit that can control the recording quality for each scene according to the importance, and a data storage unit that stores the recording data. Features.
[0007]
A second technical means is the recording device according to the first technical means, wherein the data acquisition means acquires a plurality of video and audio data, and the scene division means divides each of the video and audio data into scenes. The calculating means calculates the importance of each of the scenes, and the recording means performs recording while changing the recording quality for each scene based on the importance calculated by the calculating means.
[0008]
The third technical means is the recording apparatus of the first technical means, wherein the existing recording data is divided for each scene by existing data dividing means, and the importance is determined for each scene of the divided existing recording data. It is characterized by comprising an existing data importance judging means, and a duplicating means for recording while changing the recording quality for each scene based on the importance judged by the existing data importance judging means.
[0009]
A fourth technical means is the recording device according to the third technical means, wherein the data obtaining means obtains a plurality of video and audio data, and the scene dividing means and the existing data dividing means convert the respective video and audio data. The scene is divided for each scene, the calculating means and the existing data importance determining means calculate the importance of each scene, and the recording means and the duplicating means calculate by the calculating means and the existing data importance determining means. The recording is performed while changing the recording quality for each scene based on the degree of importance.
[0010]
A fifth technical means is characterized in that, in the recording apparatus of the first to fourth technical means, a scene having a low importance is deleted.
[0011]
The sixth technical means is the recording apparatus of the first to fourth technical means, further comprising: a statistical information acquiring means for acquiring a viewing history or preference statistical information; and a means for accumulating the viewing history or preference statistical information; It is characterized in that the statistical information is used when calculating the importance for each.
[0012]
A seventh technical means acquires a program or content, divides the acquired program or content into scenes, acquires scene information of the program or content, or extracts and acquires from the divided scenes, The recording method is characterized in that the importance of the divided scenes is calculated, and the program or the content is recorded by controlling the recording quality for each scene according to the importance.
[0013]
An eighth technical means is the recording method according to the seventh technical means, wherein existing recording data is divided for each scene, importance is determined for each scene of the divided existing recording data, and the determined existing recording data is determined. The recording quality is changed and recorded for each scene of the existing recording data based on the importance of each scene of the data, and the newly acquired program or content is recorded while changing and recording the recording quality of the existing recording data. It is characterized by recording.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples shown in FIGS.
(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a video / audio / data recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The video / audio / data recording apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a data acquisition unit 3, a scene division unit 4 for dividing a program or content for each scene, a scene information acquisition unit 5 for acquiring scene information of a program or content, a program And a calculating unit 6 for calculating the importance of each scene of the content, a data recording unit 7 for performing recording with a recording quality according to the importance of each scene, and a data accumulating unit 8 for storing recording data.
[0015]
From the data acquisition unit 3, data to be recorded, such as a broadcast program, Internet content, or a file desired by the user, is acquired via broadcast radio waves, the network cable 1, or the like. In the program or content to be recorded, video and audio data are divided into short units such as scenes and segments in the scene division unit 4.
[0016]
In the scene division unit 4, video and audio data can be divided into short units such as scenes and segments as follows.
(1) As the simplest example of dividing a scene, the scene is divided every certain period (for example, every 5 seconds).
(2) Based on the video data, the amount of change in color histogram information and motion information before and after is measured and analyzed, and a portion where the amount of change is remarkable is divided.
(3) Based on the voice, measure and analyze the amount of change such as volume and range, and divide the part where the amount of change is remarkable.
(4) From the content itself or the metadata for the content itself, determine the correlation between before and after using data such as screen composition, performers, shooting date and time, location, dialogue, subtitles, contents, etc. Divide by low correlation parts. It should be noted that the data of the content itself may be not only the content creator but also data created by a broadcaster, distributor, or other service provider.
[0017]
The scene information acquisition unit 5 provides detailed scene information corresponding to a scene or a segment such as a scene configuration, a name, a situation, a content, a performer of a program or content to be input, or the importance of a scene assigned by a content creator. Is entered. Scene data may be automatically extracted and created from the divided video and audio.
This scene information is sent to the calculation unit 6 as an element for calculating the importance of the scene.
[0018]
Automatic extraction of scene data from the divided video and audio can be performed as follows.
(1) Based on the video and audio data of the entire divided scene, the values that can be measured and analyzed mechanically from the video and audio data, such as the amount of change in the color histogram, the intensity of the movement, the change in volume, and the change in sound quality, Let it be scene data.
(2) A representative frame image in a scene is extracted by the method used at the time of scene division, and a color histogram, a shape, a pattern, and the like of which are converted into numerical values are used as scene data.
(3) In each frame image, its color histogram, shape, pattern, and the like are converted into numerical values, and the representative values and higher values are used as scene data.
(4) The contents of the utterance may be converted into keywords by using speech recognition, or the caption data obtained by mechanically interpreting the caption data by image recognition or the like may be converted into a scene data or a database.
(5) The audience rating data for each scene is set as scene data.
[0019]
The arithmetic unit 6 calculates the importance of the scene based on the acquired scene information and various other information, and determines the recording quality.
Here, the importance of the scene is determined by information (color histogram, shape, motion, color histogram, etc.) that can be used to search for a scene including a reference actor such as video data of a favorite actor or car, or voice data of a singer. Types and contents of programs and content, such as creating directly from video or audio data as patterns, volume, range, tone, etc.), using that data to determine similarity, and determining scenes with high similarity as important Can be determined by determining a determination item and a determination criterion each time.
[0020]
The data recording unit 7 records a scene that matches the video / audio data acquired from the data acquisition unit 3 with a predetermined recording quality based on the importance determined by the arithmetic unit 6 earlier. It should be noted that scenes with low importance may not be recorded.
The recorded data is stored in the data storage unit 8, and the data stored in the storage unit 8 can be viewed on the external display device 2 such as a television or a speaker.
The arithmetic unit 6 controls the entire apparatus in addition to the above-described calculation of the degree of importance.
[0021]
According to the video / audio / data recording device of the first embodiment as described above, the data acquisition unit 3 acquires programs and contents, and the scene division unit 4 divides the acquired programs and contents into scenes. The scene information acquisition unit 5 acquires the scene information of the program or the content, or extracts and acquires the scene information from the divided scenes, the calculation unit 6 calculates the importance of the divided scenes, and the recording unit 7 A recording method is implemented in which recording quality is controlled for each scene in accordance with the degree of importance for each and recorded in the data storage means.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording mode when a method of recording a program using the video / audio / data recording device of the first embodiment is performed.
One program acquired by the data acquisition unit 3 is divided into scenes 1, 2, 3, 4,... By the scene division unit 4 as shown in FIG. Based on the scene information and the like, the calculation unit 6 calculates the importance of each scene as 5, 3, 2, 1,....
Next, the calculation unit 6 assigns the recording quality of each scene to one of four stages, for example, good, medium, lower, and deletion, based on the importance of each scene. .. Are instructed to be recorded in the recording modes such as good, medium, medium, (deleted),.
As a result, one program is stored in the data storage unit 8 in a recording mode as shown in FIG.
[0023]
Therefore, by using the video / audio / data recording apparatus of the first embodiment, a scene having a high importance such as a goal scene of a soccer program or a reverse baseball scene of a baseball can be recorded with respect to one recording target. Can be recorded with a higher recording quality, and conversely, in a scene such as a commercial, recording can be performed with a lower recording quality, or deleted.
As a result, it is possible to answer the desire to see important scenes firmly. In addition, since the subjective recording quality can be maintained, the effect of reducing the recording amount can be expected without impairing the storability of the recording target.
[0024]
(Example 2)
Next, as a second embodiment, an example in which scene information is already recorded in a recording device together with content and a program will be described.
In the conventional recording / recording method, when a recording area cannot be sufficiently secured for a recording target, a method of erasing an already recorded target is performed in order to secure a necessary recording area for recording. . In this case, there is a possibility that an unviewed recording target is erased, which is not a desirable method.
[0025]
In order to solve this problem, it is only necessary to reduce the recording amount of the recorded object.
As means therefor, compared to the configuration of the recording apparatus of the first embodiment, an existing data division unit for dividing recording data such as existing programs, contents, and data stored in the data storage unit 8 into scenes, It is necessary to add an existing data importance discrimination unit that discriminates the importance of each scene of recorded data, and a duplication unit that records while changing the recording quality for each scene based on the importance determined by the existing data importance discrimination unit. There is.
With the above configuration, it is possible to determine the importance of each recorded scene of recorded data and to perform copying while changing the recording quality in scene units based on the importance. At this time, a scene with low importance may be deleted.
As a result, while reducing and storing the recording amount of the program data, the recording amount of the recorded object can be reduced, and the recording area can be secured.
[0026]
(Example 3)
As a third embodiment, an example will be described in which a content or a program has duplicate video or audio data. In other words, programs and contents are grouped as one program or content, but data from various viewpoints are summarized, and various scenarios are progressing at the same time, and such data is summarized. In such a situation, the recording apparatus determines the importance of each video and audio for each scene using scene information in each video and audio data. Then, based on the importance, each video and audio is recorded while changing the recording quality in scene units. At this time, video and audio scenes with low importance may be deleted.
By using the video / audio / data recording apparatus of the third embodiment, for example, in a sports program, the recording quality is improved from the viewpoint of the whole when there is a melee battle, and the recording quality of the data of the favorite team is improved at other times. It is possible to perform control such as improving.
[0027]
(Example 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a video / audio / data recording device according to the fourth embodiment.
The video / audio / data recording device according to the fourth embodiment has a configuration in which a user data creation unit 9 and a user data storage unit 10 are added to the video / audio / data recording device according to the first embodiment. .
The viewing history data, recording history data, preference data, and the like of the user using the recording device and the external viewing device are collected and analyzed in the user data creation unit 9 and stored in the user data storage unit 10. . When calculating the importance of a program or content in the arithmetic unit 6, by adding the viewing history data of the user to the determination element of the determination of the importance, more user-oriented recording becomes possible.
The above-mentioned importance data may be given as scene information by a program / content supplier or a distributor, or may be automatically determined from the content.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention described above has the following effects.
According to the recording apparatus and the recording method of the present invention, recording is performed with recording quality changed according to the importance of each scene of a program or content. The program and the content can be recorded with the total storage amount reduced while the program and the content are secured.
[0029]
According to the recording apparatus and the recording method of the invention according to claims 3, 4 and 8, the importance of each already recorded program or content is determined for each scene, and the recording quality is determined according to the importance for each scene. Make changes to reduce the recording amount of already recorded programs and contents, and record newly acquired programs and contents, so that the recording amount can be reduced and storability without deleting the recorded contents. At the same time.
[0030]
Further, according to the recording apparatus of the invention according to claim 6, when the calculation unit calculates the importance of each scene of a program or content, the user's viewing history data, recording history data, preference data, and the like are used. More user-oriented recording can be performed automatically.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording mode when a program is recorded using the recording device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a conventional recording apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Data acquisition unit, 4 Scene division unit, 5 Scene information acquisition unit, 6 Operation unit, 7 Data recording unit, 8 Data storage unit, 9 User data creation unit, 10 User data storage unit.

Claims (8)

Data acquisition means for acquiring programs and contents;
Scene dividing means for dividing the program or content for each scene,
Scene information acquisition means for acquiring scene information of the program or content,
Calculating means for calculating the importance of the divided scene;
Recording means capable of controlling the recording quality for each scene according to the importance,
Data storage means for storing the recording data;
A recording device comprising: The recording device according to claim 1,
The data acquisition means acquires a plurality of video and audio data,
The scene dividing means divides each of the video and audio data for each scene,
The calculating means calculates the importance of each scene,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit performs recording while changing recording quality for each scene based on the importance calculated by the arithmetic unit. The recording device according to claim 1,
Existing data dividing means for dividing existing recording data for each scene,
Existing data importance determining means for determining the importance for each scene of the divided existing recording data;
Copying means for recording while changing the recording quality for each scene based on the importance determined by the existing data importance determination means,
A recording device comprising: The recording device according to claim 3,
The data acquisition means acquires a plurality of video and audio data,
The scene dividing means and the existing data dividing means divide the respective video and audio data for each scene,
The calculation means and the existing data importance determination means calculate the importance of each of the scenes,
A recording apparatus, wherein the recording means and the duplication means perform recording while changing recording quality for each scene based on the importance calculated by the arithmetic means and the existing data importance determination means. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
A recording device characterized in that scenes with low importance are deleted. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
Statistical information obtaining means for obtaining viewing history or preference statistical information;
Means for accumulating the viewing history or preference statistical information,
A recording apparatus, wherein the statistical information is used in calculating the importance for each scene. Get programs and content,
Dividing the acquired programs and contents for each scene,
Acquire scene information of the program or content or extract and acquire from the divided scenes,
Calculating the importance of the divided scene,
A recording method for recording the program or content by controlling recording quality for each scene in accordance with the degree of importance. The recording method according to claim 7,
Divide existing recording data for each scene,
Determine the importance for each scene of the divided existing recording data,
Changing the recording quality for each scene of the existing recording data based on the determined importance of each scene of the existing recording data and recording,
A recording method characterized by recording a newly acquired program or content while recording while changing the recording quality of existing recording data.

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