JP4168395B2 - Method for creating thumbnail image for recorded program list and video signal recording / reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for creating a thumbnail image for a recorded program list used for searching recorded programs, and a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus equipped with the creation method.

  Conventionally, in order to perform cue playback of a program recorded by a VTR, a hard disk recorder, etc., a thumbnail image of a part of the program is displayed as a small search screen, and the program is recognized and played back based on it. Created and recorded.

The thumbnail image preferably displays a characteristic partial screen of the recorded program. Therefore, a thumbnail image or a thumbnail moving image is created and displayed from a predetermined portion of the recorded video signal, and the recorded video file is cued and reproduced (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-61039 A

  However, when an image portion of a video signal received and recorded is captured and displayed as a thumbnail image, the portion does not necessarily represent a characteristic portion of the recorded program. . For example, when the captured image is an image in a CM broadcast, it is completely different from the recorded program content, and a suitable program cannot be searched based on the thumbnail image.

  Therefore, the present invention assumes a place where a characteristic video of the program exists for a program to be repeatedly reserved and for each program having a common program category, and an image received at the assumed place. A method for creating a thumbnail image for a recorded program list, which is obtained as a representative image, displayed as a thumbnail image, and presenting a thumbnail image for suitable cue playback, and video signal recording The configuration of a playback apparatus is to be provided.

The present invention comprises the following means 1) or 2) in order to solve the above problems.
That is,

1) A plurality of broadcast programs that are repeatedly broadcast and handle a common theme are received and recorded in the order of broadcast, and a still image suitable for cue playback of the program is extracted from each sequentially recorded broadcast program and extracted. A method for creating a thumbnail image for a recorded program list that creates a thumbnail image in which still images are arranged,
Recording is performed when a first predetermined time set in advance as thumbnail capture time information has elapsed from the recording start time related to the broadcast start time of one of the plurality of broadcast programs to be recorded. Acquiring a first image related to the broadcast program, and registering the acquired first image as one image corresponding to the broadcast program among the thumbnail images;
The recorded broadcast program is reproduced, and the broadcast program that has been reproduced at the time when the second predetermined time corresponding to the operation information input from the outside has elapsed from the beginning of the reproduction of the broadcast program. The second image is acquired, and the acquired second image is replaced with the first image and re-registered as one image corresponding to the broadcast program among the thumbnail images, and the still image capturing time information is A second step of resetting the first predetermined time to the second predetermined time;
When recording another broadcast program of the plurality of broadcast programs broadcast after the broadcast program, thumbnail capture time information from the recording start time related to the broadcast start time of the other broadcast program to be recorded get the third image according to the other of the broadcast program that will be recorded at the time when the second predetermined time is re-set has passed as the third image thus acquired among the thumbnail images A third step of registering as one image corresponding to the other broadcast program;
A method for creating a thumbnail image for a recorded program list, characterized by comprising:
2) Receive and record multiple broadcast programs that are repeatedly broadcast and handle a common theme, in order of broadcast, and extract and extract still images suitable for cue playback of each program from the sequentially recorded broadcast programs A video signal recording / playback apparatus for creating thumbnail images in which still images are arranged,
Recording is performed when a first predetermined time set in advance as thumbnail capture time information has elapsed from the recording start time related to the broadcast start time of one of the plurality of broadcast programs to be recorded. Acquiring a first image relating to the broadcast program, and registering the acquired first image as one image corresponding to the broadcast program among the thumbnail images;
The recorded broadcast program is reproduced, and the broadcast program that has been reproduced at the time when the second predetermined time corresponding to the operation information input from the outside has elapsed from the beginning of the reproduction of the broadcast program. The second image is acquired, and the acquired second image is replaced with the first image and re-registered as one image corresponding to the broadcast program among the thumbnail images, and the still image capturing time information is A still image updating means for resetting the first predetermined time to the second predetermined time;
When recording another broadcast program of the plurality of broadcast programs broadcast after the broadcast program, thumbnail capture time information from the recording start time related to the broadcast start time of the other broadcast program to be recorded get the third image according to the recorded Ru said another broadcast program at the time when the second predetermined time is re-set has passed as the third image thus acquired among the thumbnail images Updated still image acquisition means for registering as one image corresponding to another broadcast program;
A video signal recording / reproducing apparatus comprising:

According to the method for creating a thumbnail image for a recorded program list and the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the following effects 1) or 2) can be provided.
That is,

1) When a still image for searching for a program to be recorded with repeated reservations is designated and acquired as a new time image different from a predetermined time, a still image after the designation is Since a thumbnail image is created based on a new time, it is possible to realize a method for creating a thumbnail image for a recorded program list in which a thumbnail image for suitable cue playback can be viewed.
2) The configuration of the video signal recording / playback apparatus that enables the thumbnail image creation method described in the above item 1) to be mounted on the apparatus so that the thumbnail image for suitable cue playback can be viewed can be realized.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the method for creating a thumbnail image for a recorded program list and a video signal recording / playback apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment, which will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus 4 shown in FIG. 1 includes a recording unit 5 including a television tuner 51, an A / D converter 52, an MPEG (moving picture experts group) -2 encoder 53, and a buffer memory 55, and a hard disk recording / reproducing device. 61, a medium unit 6 comprising a hard disk 63 and a writing / reading controller 65, a reproducing unit comprising a buffer memory 71, an MPEG-2 decoder 72, an OSD (On Screen Display) 73, a D / A converter 74, and a microcomputer 76. 7.

An antenna is connected to the TV tuner 51 of the recording unit 5, a monitor TV 9 is connected to the D / A converter 74 of the playback unit 7, and an operation unit is connected to the microcomputer 76.
Next, the operation of the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus 4 will be described.

  First, the microcomputer 76 is operated to reserve recording of a desired broadcast program. When the reserved time arrives, the TV tuner 51 receives a desired broadcast channel and obtains a video output. The obtained video output is supplied to the A / D converter 52 and converted into a digital video signal. The digital video signal is compression encoded by the MPEG-2 encoder 53 and supplied to the buffer memory 55.

  The digitally compressed and encoded signal temporarily stored in the buffer memory 55 is converted into a format signal for recording on the hard disk 63 by the hard disk recording / reproducing device 61, and the format signal is supplied to the hard disk 63 and recorded.

  The hard disk 63 has an operation capability capable of recording and reproducing a signal of a data rate that is twice or more the bit stream output from the MPEG-2 encoder 53. Therefore, the signal recorded on the hard disk 63 is reproduced at the next time, and the reproduced signal is compressed and encoded by the hard disk recording / reproducing device 61 by the operation complementary to the above format conversion. The obtained signal is supplied to the buffer memory 71 and temporarily stored therein.

  The buffer memory 55 and the buffer memory 71 are buffer circuits for converting signals made intermittent by recording and reproduction operations performed by time division by the hard disk into continuous signals.

  Next, the compressed encoded signal stored in the buffer memory 71 is supplied to the MPEG-2 decoder 72, and the digital video signal is decoded. A part of the decoded video signal is added with information related to the operation state of the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus 4 by the OSD 73 and supplied to the D / A converter 74. There, the video signal converted into the analog signal is supplied to the monitor TV 9 for display, and another part of the video signal decoded by the MPEG-2 decoder 72 is supplied to the microcomputer 76.

  The microcomputer 76 acquires, as a representative image, a signal that has been reserved and started for a predetermined time, and creates a thumbnail image using the acquired representative image. The thumbnail image is used to search for and search for a desired recording among a plurality of video signals recorded on the hard disk 63.

  Here, the images constituting the thumbnail are characteristic for the recorded program. When a representative image is used, the user can easily specify the recorded program from the thumbnail image, and the It is preferable for example to be able to perform cue playback.

  On the other hand, a CM (commercial message) may be inserted into a program. If a CM image is used as a thumbnail image, it is difficult to specify the content of the program from the CM image. is there. However, it is customary that the CM time to be inserted after the program is started is not specified.

  Therefore, the user who recognizes that an appropriate image has not been acquired as a thumbnail image operates the microcomputer 76 and operates the write / read controller 65 to search for a recording portion where a desired video is recorded. Are designated as thumbnail images. Then, the microcomputer 76 captures the designated image portion as a thumbnail image, and stores the time position after the start of the program related to image capture.

  The operations relating to the setting of the recording reservation and the acquisition of thumbnail images are controlled by the microcomputer 76 and executed. In other words, the microcomputer 76 describes in the list which position the specified thumbnail image of the program started from what day of the week is acquired after the start of the program, and the generated thumbnail image acquisition time table is stored. Is done.

  In general, continuous programs that are broadcast repeatedly on the same day of the week are often organized in a similar pattern in the time structure of the program, and are broadcast on other days at the thumbnail image acquisition time set by the above operation. In many cases, a characteristic image for identifying a program is broadcasted.

  Therefore, by using an image at the thumbnail image acquisition time specified by the operation as a thumbnail image, it is highly probable that the image is characteristically showing the program contents, and therefore, it is used as a suitable thumbnail image acquisition method. be able to.

The configuration and operation of the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus 4 have been outlined above.
Next, the recording reservation and thumbnail image acquisition operation of the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus will be further described.
FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the capture positions of thumbnail images captured over time of a recorded program, and will be described with reference to FIG.

The figure shows the relationship between the CM broadcast position and the thumbnail image capture position for the elapsed time from the time t0 when the recording reservation is set and the recording is started.
In the figure, the positions of t1 to t2 and t3 to t4 to which halftone dots are attached are time zones in which CM broadcasting is performed.

  In the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus 4, for example, the acquisition position set at the time of factory shipment is a time ta as a default value for capturing a thumbnail image. However, a CM broadcast is made at this time, and a suitable thumbnail image is not acquired. Therefore, the user operates and changes so as to select the image at time tb as the thumbnail image acquisition position by the operation.

  Here, in the case of a program whose repeat type is weekly and started from that time t0, the thumbnail image acquisition position of the program recorded after the next week is ta because it is often broadcast in the same time organization. There is a higher probability that an image using tb is preferable than using tb.

FIG. 3 shows a reservation table described in connection with a recording reservation made by the microcomputer 73, and will be described with reference to FIG.
In the reservation table shown in the figure, for each program to be recorded, date and start / end time recording date / time information, reception channel, recording speed, repetition type related to single, weekly and daily, and thumbnail capture time are recorded. is described.

  Regarding the thumbnail capture time, the default value thumbnail capture time ta is described on the side shown in FIG. Then, when the operation for changing the position of the thumbnail capture time is performed as shown in FIG. 2, the time of the reservation table is changed to tb as shown in (b). Thereafter, for the program that is repeatedly received, the thumbnail image is captured using the changed time tb.

  Note that either the method of designating the thumbnail capture time shown here by the time that has elapsed since the program started or the method of designating the day by an absolute time of 24 hours may be used. In addition, when an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is used to make a recording reservation, a thumbnail image is captured according to the elapsed time from the program start time.

  Furthermore, since the information obtained as EPG information includes series information or classification code information related to the type of program, programs that are similarly organized based on the description information are grouped into the same group. As for programs belonging to, the thumbnail image capture time information set by the operation may be used.

  As described above, for a program whose time structure is determined to be the same in accordance with the type of the recorded program, the image signal at the capture time set by the operation is captured and recorded using the captured image. The configuration and operation of a video signal recording / playback apparatus equipped with a method for creating a thumbnail image for searching and playing back an image has been described.

Next, the above-described thumbnail image creation operation will be further described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing thumbnail image capturing and creation operations during recording, and will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, when a desired program is reserved and recorded, it is detected in S (step) 21 whether the program is a single-recorded program or a repetitive type program that is recorded every week every week. . As a detection method, there is a method of detecting whether a recording reservation setting is repeatedly reserved, or a character string described in an electronic program guide is analyzed to detect whether it is a repetition type program.

  If it is a repetitive type program, it is detected in S22 whether the repetitive type program has been recorded in the past and a thumbnail image of the program has been taken in. When the thumbnail image capturing process has been performed in the past, the thumbnail image capturing time information operated in the past is loaded into a predetermined storage area of the microcomputer 76 in S23.

  If it is not a repetitive type program, and if it is a repetitive type program and the thumbnail image acquisition operation has not been performed in the past, the default thumbnail image capturing time information is loaded into the predetermined storage area of the microcomputer 76 in S24. To do.

  Next, in S25, the time from the start time of the program whose recording has been started is detected, and it is checked whether the thumbnail image capture time has come. When that time arrives, the I-frame image (intra-frame encoded image) encoded by the MPEG-2 encoder 53 in S26 or the hard-disk 63 recorded and reproduced is decoded by the MPEG-2 decoder 72. Image data is acquired and created as a thumbnail image.

The creation of thumbnail images during recording has been described above.
Next, the flow of operations related to the change of the created thumbnail image will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the reproduction processing operation of the recorded program, and will be described with reference to FIG.

  When a recorded program desired to be viewed is identified and reproduced based on the thumbnail image, the reproduction is performed as it is when the thumbnail image is an appropriate image. That is, it is detected in S31 that the thumbnail image changing process is not performed. On the other hand, if the thumbnail image created at the time of recording is not suitable, it is detected in S31 that the thumbnail image changing process is performed.

  Next, a new thumbnail image capturing process is performed in S32, and the thumbnail image acquisition time information processed in S33 is obtained. The obtained time information is described in a predetermined storage area of the microcomputer 76. Time information is rewritten. The thumbnail image change processing operation during reproduction ends.

The method for creating a thumbnail image at the time of recording and playback mounted on the video signal recording / playback apparatus and the method for rewriting time information used at the time of thumbnail image creation have been described in detail above.
Next, a configuration when this method is implemented in an apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a recording unit and a reproduction unit of a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus having a thumbnail image creation function, and the operation will be described with reference to the drawings. The same elements as those in the above-described configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The recording unit 5 of the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus shown in the figure has the same configuration as the recording unit 5 shown in FIG. 1, and the reproducing unit 7a is a microcomputer instead of the microcomputer 76 as compared with the reproducing unit 7. 75, still image acquisition means 75a, still image update means 75b, and thumbnail storage means 75c.

  First, a series drama, documentary, movie, and other programs that are broadcast every day or week are set with a common theme, and the microcomputer 75 is operated to set repeat reservations such as daily reservations and weekly reservations.

  The reservation setting time is set as the recording start time when the reservation is made using the electronic program guide (EPG). However, when recording reservation is performed manually, the program start time and the recording start time are not necessarily the same, for example, the time one minute before the program start may be set as the recording start time. .

  The video signal recording / playback apparatus acquires a still image when the thumbnail image acquisition time loaded in the microcomputer 75 at the time of factory shipment elapses. As for the still image, at a time managed by the microcomputer 75, for example, an intra image (I frame) encoded by the MPEG-2 encoder 53 is acquired by the still image acquisition means 75a.

  The still image acquired by the still image acquisition unit 75a is supplied to the thumbnail storage unit 75c and is used as a thumbnail image that is a search image of a program desired to be viewed from a plurality of programs recorded on the hard disk 63 together with still images of other programs. Created.

  The created thumbnail image is displayed on the monitor TV 9 via the OSD 73 as necessary. Here, when a program recorded based on a thumbnail image is played back, if the program start time and the recording start time are different as described above, the still image acquisition time set at the time of shipment from the factory is not suitable. Inconvenience as shown in FIG. 2 may occur.

  Therefore, the program recorded on the hard disk 63 is reproduced, and an image suitable for cueing reproduction showing the contents of the program is obtained. The acquired new image acquires an intra image decoded by the MPEG-2 decoder 72 by the still image update means 75b. The acquired image is input to the thumbnail storage means 75c and replaced.

  The reproduction of the video signal recorded on the hard disk 63 is performed while the microcomputer 75 controls the writing / reading controller 65. The new time position from the start of recording related to the still image acquired by operating the microcomputer 75 is recognized by the microcomputer 75, and the recognized time information is stored in a storage element or storage medium (not shown) connected to the microcomputer 75, for example. Is done.

  A recording reservation such as a daily reservation or a weekly reservation is set by operating the microcomputer 75, and a still image related to a repetitive program recorded after the next time is performed at a new time position. There are many cases where the time organization of programs organized by a common theme is similar, and there is a high probability that images suitable for searching are included by repeatedly using new time positions.

The configuration and operation of the playback unit 7a have been described above.
The microcomputer 76 in the reproducing unit 7 shown in FIG. 1 has the functions of the still image acquisition means 75a, the still image update means 75b, the thumbnail accumulation means 75c, and a new time detection means. Yes, it is described here as giving each function its function.

Further, there is a method of determining a suitable capture position of the thumbnail image by the microcomputer 76 itself, which will be described next.
As one of the methods, for example, whether or not the content of the program received at the capturing time defined by the default value is CM can be detected and determined by CM detection means (not shown).

  That is, since the CM broadcast in the monaural broadcast and the bilingual broadcast is performed in the stereo broadcast mode, whether or not it is a CM is detected by detecting a change in the received audio mode. When it is determined as the CM section, an image that is not a CM broadcast before and after the CM section is obtained as a thumbnail image.

  On the other hand, if a program title screen is used as a thumbnail image, the program can be easily identified. In identification of the title screen, many title characters are often described in a single color. Accordingly, the distribution of the chromaticity and lightness of the received image is detected, and when it is detected that a plurality of distributions existing as the same chromaticity and lightness are present in the image, the image portion is the title image. The image portion of the title character can be detected using this property.

  When recording starts and an image that is supposed to be a title image appears, for example, the character size of the title image is determined based on an image of the same chromaticity and lightness detected by the motion detection means of the MPEG-2 encoder 53, for example. A method may be used in which an image described by large characters is used as a title image and the image is captured as a thumbnail image.

  As described above, with regard to the thumbnail image capture time, a method performed by the user's operation, a method performed by detecting the CM unit, a motion vector detection circuit of an MPEG-2 encoder, for example, and image analysis by the microcomputer 76 The method of judging was described. Either method may be used.

  Furthermore, the invention includes a program for realizing the operation of the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus described above by a computer. A program for executing the computer is, for example,

A series of programs starting from the same time on different days are repeatedly reserved and recorded, and a representative image for searching for and playing back the recorded program is used after a predetermined time has elapsed from the program being recorded, A program for a video signal recording / playback apparatus that is executed with a function of creating thumbnail images for a recorded program list to be displayed in a list,
A first step of creating a recording reservation table describing reservation information relating to a program to be repeatedly reserved for recording and first elapsed time information relating to acquisition of the representative image set in advance;
When a representative image of a program recorded according to the recording reservation table created in the first step is designated and acquired as an image having a second elapsed time different from the first elapsed time, the recorded program table A second step of creating an updated program recording table in which the elapsed time described in 1 is updated to the second elapsed time;
The repetitive scheduled recording after the second step is a third step of acquiring an image that has passed a second elapsed time described in the updated program recording table as the representative image;
And a video signal recording / reproducing program for controlling the apparatus.

  The present invention can be used to realize a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus capable of displaying a suitable thumbnail image for searching and reproducing a recorded program.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus based on the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the time position of the captured thumbnail image based on the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the reservation table described in connection with the video recording reservation based on the Example of this invention. It is an example of the flowchart which concerns on thumbnail image creation at the time of the recording based on the Example of this invention. It is an example of the flowchart which concerns on thumbnail image creation at the time of reproduction | regeneration based on the Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus principal part based on the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

4 video signal recording / reproducing apparatus 5 recording unit 6 medium unit 7, 7a reproducing unit 9 monitor TV 51 TV tuner 52 A / D converter 53 MPEG-2 encoder 55 buffer memory 61 hard disk recording / reproducing device 63 hard disk 65 writing / reading controller 71 Buffer memory 72 MPEG-2 decoder 73 OSD
74 D / A converter 75, 76 Microcomputer 75a Still image acquisition means 75b Still image update means 75c Thumbnail storage means

Claims (2)

A plurality of broadcast programs that handle a common theme that are repeatedly broadcast are received and recorded in the order of broadcast, and a still image suitable for cue playback of the program is extracted from each sequentially recorded broadcast program. A method for creating a thumbnail image for a recorded program list for creating a thumbnail image in which images are arranged,
Recording is performed when a first predetermined time set in advance as thumbnail capture time information has elapsed from the recording start time related to the broadcast start time of one of the plurality of broadcast programs to be recorded. Acquiring a first image related to the broadcast program, and registering the acquired first image as one image corresponding to the broadcast program among the thumbnail images;
The recorded broadcast program is reproduced, and the broadcast program that has been reproduced at the time when the second predetermined time corresponding to the operation information input from the outside has elapsed from the beginning of the reproduction of the broadcast program. The second image is acquired, and the acquired second image is replaced with the first image and re-registered as one image corresponding to the broadcast program among the thumbnail images, and the still image capturing time information is A second step of resetting the first predetermined time to the second predetermined time;
When recording another broadcast program of the plurality of broadcast programs broadcast after the broadcast program, thumbnail capture time information from the recording start time related to the broadcast start time of the other broadcast program to be recorded get the third image according to the recorded Ru said another broadcast program at the time when the second predetermined time is re-set has passed as the third image thus acquired among the thumbnail images A third step of registering as one image corresponding to another broadcast program;
A method for creating a thumbnail image for a recorded program list, characterized by comprising: A plurality of broadcast programs that handle a common theme that are repeatedly broadcast are received and recorded in the order of broadcast, and a still image suitable for cue playback of the program is extracted from each sequentially recorded broadcast program. A video signal recording / playback apparatus for creating thumbnail images in which images are arranged,
Recording is performed when a first predetermined time set in advance as thumbnail capture time information has elapsed from the recording start time related to the broadcast start time of one of the plurality of broadcast programs to be recorded. Acquiring a first image relating to the broadcast program, and registering the acquired first image as one image corresponding to the broadcast program among the thumbnail images;
The recorded broadcast program is reproduced, and the broadcast program that has been reproduced at the time when the second predetermined time corresponding to the operation information input from the outside has elapsed from the beginning of the reproduction of the broadcast program. The second image is acquired, and the acquired second image is replaced with the first image and re-registered as one image corresponding to the broadcast program among the thumbnail images, and the still image capturing time information is A still image updating means for resetting the first predetermined time to the second predetermined time;
When recording another broadcast program of the plurality of broadcast programs broadcast after the broadcast program, thumbnail capture time information from the recording start time related to the broadcast start time of the other broadcast program to be recorded get the third image according to the recorded Ru said another broadcast program at the time when the second predetermined time is re-set has passed as the third image thus acquired among the thumbnail images Updated still image acquisition means for registering as one image corresponding to another broadcast program;
A video signal recording / reproducing apparatus comprising:

Images