JP4436300B2 - SERVER DEVICE FOR MEDIA, CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, NETWORK PLAYER, AND DIGITAL CONTENT REPRODUCTION SYSTEM FOR NETWORK - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a server device for media, a control method, a program, a network player, and a digital content playback system for a network, and more specifically, a server device for media, a control method, a program, and a network player that realize resume playback while connected to a network. And a digital content playback system for a network.

  The DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) has established guidelines for ensuring the compatibility of home appliances, PCs and mobile devices. When devices that comply with the guidelines are connected to a home network, they are connected to each other and share digital content such as music, photos, and videos. It is expected that a device complying with DLNA will be used not only in a home network but also in a car network in the future. Hereinafter, a network to which a device conforming to DLNA is connected is referred to as a “DLNA network”.

  On the other hand, an HDD portable player is carried by a user, has a large number of music pieces on an HDD (hard disk device), and can reproduce the music pieces. As a usage mode of such an HDD portable player, a user connects his / her HDD portable player to a DLNA network of a home or a car via a wireless LAN or a wired LAN, and is alone or a family member or an acquaintance. Along with friends, it is conceivable to listen to the music stored in the HDD portable player by playing it on a network player.

In Patent Document 1, a wireless slave device is arranged in an automobile (FIGS. 1 to 4 of Patent Document 1), and a music reproducing device in the automobile is connected to the outside of the vehicle, for example, a server at home (see Patent Document 1). 1), a homepage server on the Internet (FIGS. 2 and 3 of Patent Document 1), and a store server (FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1), and music data is downloaded from the server to a music playback device in the car. , It is disclosed that music can be appropriately reproduced in a music reproducing device in a vehicle.
JP 2004-37981 A

  When the HDD portable player is carried by the user and moves together with the user, the HDD portable player repeatedly connects and disconnects each DLNA network as the user moves. In such a case, the music stored in the HDD portable player is transferred to the network player via the network and played back on the network player while the network is connected. Regardless, the HDD portable player alone is appropriately played back.

  The conventional resume playback deals with a case in which the playback of music resumed by the HDD portable player is resumed by the HDD portable player, but the past playback interrupted device is (a1) a network player or ( a2) HDD portable player, and device to resume playback as (b1) network player and (b2) HDD portable player, (a1) → (b2), (a1) → (b1) and (a2) → (b1 ) Resume playback is not supported. In the combination of (a1) → (b1), the network player (a1) and the network player (b1) may be the same or different.

  In the playback system of Patent Document 1, the location of the server is fixed, and the server is not played back alone or distributes music over a network at each moving location, unlike an HDD portable player. Further, the server of the reproduction system of Patent Document 1 does not mention a measure for realizing resume reproduction in response to a network change.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a media server device, a control method, and a media server device capable of appropriately executing resume playback in the media server device or network player in a situation where the digital content held by the media server device can be played back by the network player. A program, a network player, and a network digital content playback system are provided.

The media server device of the present invention, in a network connection, stream-distributes the corresponding data of the corresponding digital content to the network player in response to a data transmission request from the network player. The media server device has the following means.
First interruption detecting means for detecting interruption of reproduction of digital content in the network player;
When the interruption of digital content playback in the network player is detected, the first resume information storage means for storing the digital content that has been interrupted for playback and the information related to the interrupted position as the first resume information, and the media server device are the player When the reproduction is performed, reproduction control means for starting reproduction of the digital content related to the first resume information from the reproduction position based on the interruption position related to the first resume information.

Another media server device according to the present invention, while connected to the network, streams the corresponding data of the corresponding digital content to the network player in response to a data transmission request from the network player. The media server device has the following means.
First interruption detecting means for detecting interruption of reproduction of digital content in the network player;
When the interruption of the digital content playback in the network player is detected, the first resume information storage means for storing the digital content that has been interrupted for playback and the information related to the interruption position as the first resume information, and the information transmission request from the network player When the network player receives the request, the network player sends a data transmission request to the media server device to start playback of the digital content related to the first resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first resume information. Transmitting means for transmitting the first resume information to the network player in an information format that can be output to the network player;

The other server device for media of the present invention can stream the corresponding data of the corresponding digital contents to the network player in response to the data transmission request from the network player and can operate as a single player while connected to the network. . The media server device has the following means.
Second interruption detecting means for detecting interruption of reproduction of the digital content that has been reproduced by the server device for media being played as a player;
When the interruption of the digital content that has been played as a player by the media server device is detected, the second resume information is stored as the second resume information. When the information transmission request is received from the storage means and the network player, the network player transmits data for starting the reproduction of the digital content related to the second resume information from the reproduction position based on the interruption position related to the second resume information. Transmission means for transmitting the second resume information to the network player in an information format that allows the network player to issue a request to the media server device.

Still another media server device according to the present invention can stream the corresponding data of the corresponding digital content to the network player in response to a data transmission request from the network player and can operate as a stand-alone player while connected to the network. is there. The media server device has the following means.
First interruption detecting means for detecting interruption of reproduction of digital content in the network player;
First resume information storage means for storing, as first resume information, digital content that has been interrupted for reproduction and information relating to the interruption position when the interruption of digital content in the network player is detected;
Second interruption detecting means for detecting interruption of reproduction of the digital content that has been reproduced by the server device for media being played as a player;
When the interruption of the digital content that has been played as a player by the media server device is detected, the second resume information is stored as the second resume information. Storage means,
When the media server device performs playback as a player, playback control for starting playback of the digital content related to the first or second resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first or second resume information When the information transmission request is received from the means and the network player, the network player starts to play the digital content related to the first or second resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first or second resume information. Transmitting means for transmitting the first or second resume information to the network player in an information format that allows the network player to issue a data transmission request to the media server device;
have.

The media server device to which the control method of the present invention is applied, while being connected to the network, streams the corresponding data of the corresponding digital content to the network player in response to a data transmission request from the network player. The control method includes the following steps.
Detecting digital content playback interruption in a network player;
When playback of the digital content in the network player is detected, the step of storing the digital content whose playback is interrupted and information related to the interrupted position as first resume information, and the media server device plays as the player In the case, the step of starting playback of the digital content related to the first resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first resume information.

The media server device to which another control method of the present invention is applied distributes the corresponding data of the corresponding digital content to the network player in response to a data transmission request from the network player during the network connection. The control method of the present invention includes the following steps.
Detecting digital content playback interruption in a network player;
When the interruption of digital content playback in the network player is detected, the step of storing the digital content that has been interrupted and the information related to the interruption position as the first resume information, and when the information transmission request is received from the network player, Enabling the network player to issue a data transmission request for the network player to start playing the digital content related to the first resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first resume information. Transmitting the first resume information to the network player in an information format;

The media server device to which the other control method of the present invention is applied distributes the corresponding data of the corresponding digital content to the network player in response to the data transmission request from the network player while the network connection is established, and the player alone Can also be operated. The control method includes the following steps.
Detecting the interruption of the reproduction of the digital content that the media server device is playing as a player;
A step of storing, as second resume information, a digital content that has been interrupted and information related to the interrupted position when the interruption of the digital content that has been played by the media server device as a player is detected; and a network player When the network player receives the information transmission request from the network player, the network player sends a data transmission request for starting the reproduction of the digital content related to the second resume information from the reproduction position based on the interruption position related to the second resume information. Transmitting the second resume information to the network player in an information format that can be output to the server device.

The media server device to which still another control method of the present invention is applied is a network server that, in response to a data transmission request from a network player, streams the corresponding data of the corresponding digital content to the network player, and is alone. It can also operate as a player. The control method has a step of initiating.
Detecting digital content playback interruption in a network player;
A step of storing, as first resume information, information relating to the interrupted digital content and its interruption position when the interruption of the digital content in the network player is detected;
Detecting the interruption of the reproduction of the digital content that the media server device is playing as a player;
A step of storing, as second resume information, when the reproduction of the digital content that has been played by the media server device as a player is detected, the digital content that has been reproduced and the information about the interruption position;
When the media server device plays as a player, starting to play the digital content related to the first or second resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first or second resume information; And when receiving an information transmission request from the network player, the network player starts playing the digital content related to the first or second resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first or second resume information. Transmitting the first or second resume information to the network player in an information format that enables the network player to issue a data transmission request to the media server device.

  The program of the present invention causes a computer to function as each means of the aforementioned media server device. The program of the present invention also causes a computer to execute each step of the aforementioned control method.

While the network player is connected to the network, the network player issues a data transmission request to the media server device, the corresponding data of the corresponding digital content is stream-distributed from the media server device, and the digital content is reproduced. The network player of the present invention has the following means.
Resume information receiving means for receiving from the media server device the resumed digital content and the resume information relating to the interrupted position,
Transmission request means for sending a transmission request for data from the interruption position related to the resume information to the media server device as a resume playback request for the digital content related to the resume information, and stream delivery from the media server device in response to the resume playback request Reproduction means for reproducing digital content based on data.

  The network digital content reproduction system of the present invention includes any of the media server devices described above and the network player described above.

  According to the present invention, in the media server device in which the stored music is played back by itself or by the network player, the playback interruption position by itself or the network player is accurately detected, and when playback is resumed by itself or the network player, , Accurate resume playback can be realized without hindrance.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of an HDD portable player 10. The HDD portable player 10 includes a main body 11 and a headphone 12 that allows a jack to be inserted into and removed from the main body 11. The HDD portable player 10 has dimensions and weight that can be carried in a user 19 (FIG. 2) pocket or the like. The HDD portable player 10 is driven by the power of the built-in battery, and the built-in battery can be appropriately charged. On the front surface of the main body 11, a color LCD 14 and an operation key array unit 15 are disposed on the upper side and the lower side, respectively. The operation key array unit 15 includes a plurality of operation keys 16. In the HDD (not shown) of the HDD portable player 10, a large number of music pieces are recorded in a predetermined format, and these music pieces can be freely reproduced as appropriate. The HDD portable player 10 is equipped with a built-in wireless device for wireless LAN.

  The user 19 operates the operation key 16 with the other hand while holding the main body 11 with one hand, and gives various instructions to the HDD portable player 10 to select and start playing a desired music piece. The user 19 inserts the left and right sound emission parts of the headphones 12 into the left and right ears, and listens to the reproduced sound of the music.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of movement of the HDD portable player 10. A DLNA network is built in the home 21 and the car 22. For example, the user 19 drives the automobile 22, travels from the home 21 to the shopping center 23, parks the automobile 22 in the parking lot of the shopping center 23, and performs shopping at the shopping center 23. The user 19 carries the HDD-type portable player 10 and brings it into the automobile 22, and in the home 21 or the automobile 22, using the network in the home 21 or the automobile 22, from the network player in the home 21 or the automobile 22. It is possible to instruct reproduction of the music held by the HDD portable player 10 and listen to the music from the speaker for the network player. Further, the user 19 can listen to the music held by the HDD portable player 10 from the headphones 12 by using the HDD portable player 10 alone at the home 21, the car 22 and the shopping center 23.

  FIG. 3 is a state diagram of the network 26 to which the HDD portable player 10 is connected. The network 26 is a DLNA network and is constructed in the home 21, for example. The network player 27 is connected to the network 26 via the LAN cable 28. The HDD portable player 10, the network player 31, and the personal computer 32 are connected to the network 26 by radio. The personal computer 32 can be used as a server and a client. The HDD portable player 10 serves as a server for distributing music, video, and other contents.

  In terms of the DLNA network, the HDD portable player 10 that distributes music is called “DMS (Digital Media Server)”, and the network players 27 and 31 that receive music distribution are “DMP (Digital Media Player)”. be called.

  For convenience of explanation, listening to the music stored in the HDD portable player 10 with the headphones 12 is referred to as “self-playing”, and these are played by a network player such as the network players 27 and 31 via the network such as the network 26. Listening is called “network playback”. For example, when the network player 27 is placed in the living room of the home 21 and the network player 31 is placed in the bedroom of the home 21, the user can perform network playback both in the network player 27 in the living room and in the network player 31 in the bedroom. The music of the HDD portable player 10 can be listened to.

  The music listener by the network reproduction in the home 21 or the car 22 may be only the user 19 or the user 19 and a family or an acquaintance. A case of network reproduction with the network player 27 will be described. It is assumed that the network player 27 is installed in the home 21 or the automobile 22.

  The user operates the network player 27 to request the HDD portable player 10 to transmit list information about the music held by the HDD portable player 10. In response to this request, the HDD portable player 10 sends list information to the network player 27 via the network 26. The user of the network player 27 refers to the list of music displayed on the display of the network player 27 based on the list information received from the HDD portable player 10 and designates the music to be played. The network player 27 requests the HDD portable player 10 to send the data of the designated music based on the designation instruction of the user. In response to this request, the HDD portable player 10 transmits the corresponding data to the network player 27 by stream delivery. Since the output speed of the playback sound in the network player 27 is lower than the data transmission speed by the stream distribution in terms of the data amount, in the stream distribution, data related to one piece of music is intermittently transmitted from the network player 27. Each time, a predetermined amount is transmitted.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the reproduction status of music held by the HDD portable player 10. The user 19 moves from place to place of the car 22 → the shopping center 23 → the car 22 → the home 21 while carrying the HDD portable player 10. “◯” indicates that network playback was performed at each location, and “□” indicates that playback was performed at each location. No mark indicates that no reproduction was performed.

  In the case (a), the reproduction state during movement of the automobile 22 → the shopping center 23 → the automobile 22 → the home 21 is network reproduction → self reproduction → network reproduction → network. In the case (b), the reproduction state during movement of the automobile 22 → the shopping center 23 → the automobile 22 → the home 21 is network reproduction → not reproduction → network reproduction → self reproduction. As the HDD portable player 10 moves, the connection with the network that is the same or different from the disconnected network is frequently switched, and the self-reproduction and the network reproduction are interrupted and resumed. Get up frequently. The HDD portable player 10 can resume playback when self-playback or network playback is resumed after self-playback or network playback is interrupted.

  5 and 6 show a management structure with content reproduction interruption information in the HDD of the HDD portable player 10. In UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) / DLNA terminology, “content” is called an item. “Resume” and “Resume1.abc” will be described later. Containers 1 to 3 are created in the first hierarchy below the root. Containers 4 to 9 are created in the second hierarchy. The contents 1 to 13 are created in the third hierarchy. The parent-child relationship between the container and the content is as described in FIGS.

  For example, each container in the first hierarchy corresponds to an artist, and each container in the second hierarchy corresponds to an album. The content is not limited to music, but may be other content to be reproduced such as video. One content corresponds to one track of a music CD, and corresponds to one or a plurality of chapters in a video DVD.

  Returning to FIG. As the HDD portable player 10 moves to the home 21, the car 22, the shopping center 23, etc., the HDD portable player 10 is disconnected from the network and the HDD portable player 10 is switched to the network. At each switching, the network regeneration or self-regeneration is interrupted and resumed. The reproduction interruption is not only when the user 19 explicitly operates the reproduction interruption key of the HDD portable player 10 or the network player 27, but for example, the remaining battery level of the HDD portable player 10 becomes a predetermined value or less, There are also cases where the wireless function of the network 26 is stopped or the HDD portable player 10 is out of the wireless reach of the network 26. The wireless function stop of the network 26 is, for example, when the network 26 is constructed in the automobile 22, for example, the engine key of the automobile 22 is turned off and the power supply to each electronic device in the automobile 22 is cut off. Occurs when drooping.

  Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, a network player for network reproduction is referred to as a network player 27, and a network is referred to as a network 26. The arrangement locations of the network 26 and the network player 27 are not limited to the home 21 and the automobile 22. In the following, resume playback at the time of resumption of self-playback or network playback in response to the playback interruption of the music held by the HDD portable player 10 will be described.

  The interruption of the self-reproduction occurs due to an operation of a predetermined reproduction stop key, a power-off operation, a decrease in the remaining battery power, etc. in the HDD portable player 10. Since the interruption of the self-reproduction occurs in the HDD portable player 10 itself, the HDD portable player 10 can detect the reproduction interrupted music piece and the interruption position without any trouble with respect to the interruption of the self-reproduction. For example, the interruption position can be specified from the time code of the reproduction interruption time.

  In the network player 27, when the reproduction of the music being reproduced on the network is to be stopped, the user of the network player 27 operates a predetermined reproduction stop key of the network player 27. The stop request related to the playback stop operation is sent to the HDD portable player 10 via the network 26. When the HDD portable player 10 receives the reproduction stop request from the network player 27, the HDD portable player 10 detects the music and the interruption position where the reproduction is interrupted. The interruption position can be detected by examining transmitted or untransmitted music data when a playback stop request is received from the network player 27.

  The interruption of network playback in the network player 27 also occurs for reasons other than an explicit playback stop or power-off operation caused by the user in the network player 27. For example, when the remaining battery power of the HDD portable player 10 decreases to a predetermined value or less, or when the HDD portable player 10 is carried by the user 19, leaves the network 26, and leaves the network 26, the automobile 22 This is a case where a failure has occurred in the network 26 due to the engine key being turned off. In any of these cases, since the data transmission request for the reproduced music from the network player 27 to the HDD portable player 10 is interrupted, the HDD portable player 10 is transmitted or not transmitted when the data transmission request is interrupted. The interruption position can be detected by examining the transmitted music data.

  Information relating to the music and the interrupted position where playback is interrupted will be referred to as “resume information”. When resuming playback of a music piece that has been interrupted by self-playing or network playback last time by self-playing in the HDD portable player 10, the HDD portable player 10 reads the resume information stored in the storage device and uses it as resume information. The music and the interruption position (typically time code) are grasped. Then, reproduction of the grasped music is resumed from the grasped interruption position.

  Note that the resumption of the reproduction of the music whose reproduction has been interrupted may be started from a position a predetermined time before the reproduction interruption position without being strictly from the reproduction interruption position.

  When replaying the music previously interrupted by self-playback or network playback by network playback in the network player 27, the format of resume information sent from the HDD portable player 10 to the network player 27 may be restricted. . In CDS (content directory service) defined in UPnP AVProtocol, the metadata in the list information format is defined. The HDD portable player 10 can use the metadata to display a list of contents held by the HDD portable player 10 on the network player 27.

  In order to transmit resume information from the HDD portable player 10 to the network player 27 under such restrictions, in the mechanism of FIG. 5, a container with the name “Resume”, for example, is created in the first layer, and is stored in the container. , A content whose name is “Resume1.abc”, for example, is created. As a result, the container “Resume” and the content “Resume 1” are displayed on the display device of the network player 27 in the same manner as the other containers 1 to 9 and the contents 1 to 13. Note that “Resume” and “Resume1.abc” are just names, and the extension “abc” of “Resume1” is also for convenience of explanation and can be played back by the HDD portable player 10. This corresponds to a data format of a type (eg, mp3 or wma).

For example, it is assumed that the content 1 is a song with a playback time of 3 minutes, and the content 1 is interrupted at a point of the playback time of 1 minute from the beginning of the song in self-playing or network playback. The HDD portable player 10 has Resume1. abc is created at the location of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 described later, and Resume1. abc stores correspondence information that associates to the playback time of 1 minute as a content 1 and the interruption position. The association information is, for example, link information for instructing reproduction from the interruption position of the content 1. When the HDD portable player 10 detects the interruption, the HDD portable player 10 creates a copy of the subsequent data from the interruption position of the content 1 and sets the content name to Resume1. You may save the content made into abc.

  When a request for list information data is received from the network player 27, the HDD portable player 10 sends the tree structure of FIG. 5, that is, list information including resume playback to the network player 27. The user of the network player 27 finds a container whose container name is Resume from the music list displayed on the display of the network player 27, finds out the content whose content name is Resume1 in the container, and instructs to play the content Is output from the network player 27. When the HDD portable player 10 receives a data transmission request for the Resume1 content from the network player 27, the HDD portable player 10 sends the data from the playback position of the playback time of 1 minute to the network player 27 based on the stored correspondence information. Send. In this way, resume playback is performed in the network player 27.

  Resume1. When abc is a copy of the data after the interruption position of the content 1, when the HDD portable player 10 receives a data transmission request for the content of Resume 1 from the network player 27, the data is transferred from the head of the Resume 1 to the network player 27. Send to. In this way, the network player 27 reproduces the content 1 from the first minute.

  When the HDD portable player 10 sends the list information in which the tree structure of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 is listed to the network player 27, content corresponding to the parental lock (Parental Lock) may be omitted from the list. Then, an ID is obtained from the network player 27, and it is determined whether or not the network player 27 can be reproduced based on the ID. Only when the network player 27 is acceptable, the list information to be sent to the network player 27 includes It is preferable to include content information corresponding to a parental lock.

  In the mechanism of FIG. 6 that is different from the mechanism of FIG. abc is created at the next position in the list structure with respect to the content 1 where the reproduction was interrupted. Also in this case, when a request for list information data is received from the network player 27, the HDD portable player 10 sends the tree structure of FIG. 6, that is, list information including resume reproduction to the network player 27. Similarly, the user of the network player 27 finds the content whose content name is Resume1 in the container 4 from the music list displayed on the display of the network player 27, and gives an instruction to play the content from the network player 27. When the HDD portable player 10 receives a data transmission request for the Resume1 content from the network player 27, the HDD portable player 10 sends the data from the playback position of the playback time of 1 minute to the network player 27 based on the stored correspondence information. Send. In this way, resume playback is performed in the network player 27.

  In the case of the mechanism of FIG. 6, after completion of Resume1 playback, the content 2 whose playback order is next to Resume1 on the tree structure can be automatically played back. That is, the network player 27 can grasp that Resume 1 exists between the contents 1 and 2 on the tree structure based on the list information of the tree structure sent from the HDD portable player 10. When is finished, a data transmission request for the next content 2 is automatically issued to the HDD portable player 10 and the content 2 is reproduced.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the media server device 40. Note that portions of the media server device 40 that are common to later-described media server devices 50 (FIG. 8), 59 (FIG. 9), and 65 (FIG. 10) are described together with the description of the media server device 40.

  An example of the media server device 40, 50, 59, 65 is the HDD portable player 10. The storage devices of the media server devices 40, 50, 59, and 65 are not limited to HDDs, and may be other devices such as a large-capacity flash memory. An example of the network players 46 and 54 (FIGS. 8 and 10) is the network players 27 and 31. An example of the networks 47 and 53 (FIGS. 8 and 10) is the network 26. The media server devices 40, 50, and 65 stream-distribute the corresponding data of the corresponding digital contents to the network player 46 or 54 for each data request from the network player 46 or 54 during the network connection. The media server device 40 includes first interruption detection means 41, first resume information storage means 42, and reproduction control means 43.

  In the media server device 40, the first interruption detection unit 41 detects the interruption of reproduction of the digital content in the network player 46. When the interruption of digital content in the network player 46 is detected, the first resume information storage unit 42 stores the digital content that has been interrupted and information related to the interruption position as the first resume information. When the media server device 40 plays as a player, the playback control unit 43 starts playback of the digital content related to the first resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first resume information.

  The media server devices 40, 50, 59, and 65 are typically portable, but are not limited thereto, that is, do not exclude non-portable types.

  For example, when the first interruption detection unit 41 receives an instruction to stop reproduction from the network player 46 or a data transmission request related to digital content being reproduced in the network player 46 is interrupted from the network player 46 for a predetermined time or more, the first interruption detection unit 41 It is determined that the digital content playback in the player 46 has been interrupted. For example, when the user carries the media server device 40 and goes out of the wireless reach of the network player 46, the network player 46 is turned off, or the wireless LAN wireless device of the network 47 is turned off. In such a case, the data transmission request relating to the digital content being reproduced in the network player 46 is interrupted from the network player 46 for a predetermined time or more.

  It should be noted that playback of the network player 46 may be interrupted as the remaining battery power of the media server devices 40, 50, 59, 65 decreases. In this case, the media server devices 40, 50, 59, and 65 predict the power outage due to the decrease in the remaining battery level, and store the first and / or second resume information immediately before the operation is stopped. It has become.

  The digital content is, for example, music or video (moving image or still image). Connection of the media server device 40 and the network player 46 to the network 47 may be either wired or wireless. The network 47 is constructed at, for example, the home 21 or the automobile 22 (FIG. 2).

  The reproduction position based on the interruption position related to the first and second resume information is not limited to the interruption position related to the first resume information, and may be a reproduction position a predetermined time before the interruption position, for example. In this case, in resume playback, the first playback portion after resumption overlaps with the end playback portion before playback interruption.

  Thus, in the past, when the digital content held by the media server device 40 has been network-reproduced by the network player 46, the reproduction is interrupted, and then the self-reproduction is performed by the media server device 40, the media server Resume playback can be realized in the device 40.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the media server device 50. The media server device 50 includes a first interruption detection unit 41, a first resume information storage unit 42, and a transmission unit 51. The media server device 50 stream-distributes the corresponding data of the corresponding digital content to the network player 46 for each data request from the network player 46 during the network connection.

  In the media server device 50, the first interruption detection unit 41 detects the interruption of reproduction of the digital content in the network player 46. When the interruption of digital content in the network player 46 is detected, the first resume information storage unit 42 stores the digital content that has been interrupted and information related to the interruption position as the first resume information. When the transmission means 51 receives an information transmission request from the network player 46 or 54 (the network 53 and the network player 54 are defined in the next paragraph), the network player 46 or 54 relates to the first resume information. In an information format that allows the network player 46 or 54 to issue a data request for starting playback of the digital content from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first resume information to the media server device 40, the first Resume information is transmitted to the network player 46.

  Note that the network 47 involved in the media server device 50 and the later-described media server device 65 is a network in which playback is interrupted, which is a prerequisite for resume playback, and the network player 46 is the network 47 for resume playback. It is assumed that the network player has a playback interruption that is a prerequisite. The network 53 is a network different from the network 47, and the network player 54 is a network player in the network 53 or a network player other than the network player 46 in the network 47.

  Since the media server device 50 is based on the fact that both playback interruption and playback restart are performed in a network player, the media server device 50 can also be applied to a media server device 50 that does not have a playback function.

  Thus, in the past, the digital content held in the media server device 40 has been network-reproduced by the network player 46, and the reproduction is interrupted. Then, (a) the network player where the reproduction is interrupted is (b) When network playback is performed in another network player in the same network as the interrupted network, or (c) a network player in a network different from that in which the playback is interrupted, resume playback is realized in the network playback. it can.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the media server device 59. The media server device 59 includes second interruption detection means 60, second resume information storage means 61, and transmission means 51. The media server device 59 can operate as a single player.

  In the media server device 59, the second interruption detecting means 60 detects the interruption of the reproduction of the digital content that the media server device 59 is playing as a player. When the interruption of the digital content that has been played back by the media server device 59 as a player is detected, the second resume information storage means 61 stores the information about the interrupted digital content and the position of the interruption. Is stored as resume information. When the transmission means 51 receives an information transmission request from the network player 46, the network player 46 starts playing the digital content related to the second resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the second resume information. The second resume information is transmitted to the network player 46 in an information format that enables the network player 46 to issue the data transmission request to the media server device 59.

  Thus, in the past, when self-playback in the media server device 59 is interrupted, and then the media server device 59 is connected to the network player 46 via the network 47 and performs network playback in the network player 46, Resume playback can be realized in the network player.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the media server device 65. During the network connection, the media server device 65 streams the relevant data of the relevant digital content to the network player 46 for each data request from the network player 46, and can operate as a single player. Server device for media 65, the first interruption detection unit 41, the first resume information storage unit 42, the playback control means 43, transmitting means 5 1, second interruption detecting means 60 and the second resume information storage section 61 have. The deleting means 66 will be described later.

  In the media server device 65, the first interruption detection means 41 detects the interruption of reproduction of the digital content in the network player 46. When the interruption of digital content in the network player 46 is detected, the first resume information storage unit 42 stores the digital content that has been interrupted and information related to the interruption position as the first resume information. The second interruption detection means 60 detects the interruption of the reproduction of the digital content that has been reproduced by the media server device 65 itself as a player. When the interruption of the digital content that has been played by the media server device 65 itself as a player is detected, the second resume information storage unit 61 stores the information about the digital content that has been interrupted and the information about the interruption position. 2 is stored as resume information.

  Further, in the media server device 65, the playback control means 43, when the media server device 65 plays as a player, plays the digital content relating to the first or second resume information in the first or second. Playback is started from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the resume information. When the media server device 65 is connected to the network 47 or the network 53, the transmission means 51 allows the network player 46 or 54 to send the digital content related to the first or second resume information to the first or second resume information. The first or second resume information is sent to the network player in an information format that allows the network player 46 or 54 to issue a data request for starting playback from the playback position based on the interrupt position to the media server device 65. To 46 or 54.

  The server device for media 65, when the reproduction interruption and the reproduction resumption are the reproduction interruption in the network reproduction and the reproduction resumption by the self reproduction, the reproduction interruption in the network reproduction and the reproduction resumption by the network reproduction, and the reproduction interruption in the self reproduction. In addition, appropriate resume reproduction can be realized in any case where reproduction is resumed by network reproduction.

  Preferably, the first and second resume information is updated each time the digital content playback is interrupted in the network player and each time the digital content playback that the media server device 65 is playing as a player is interrupted. The In this way, resume playback is realized in the media server device 65 based on the latest first or second resume information.

  The first and second resume information may be handled separately or as the same information. For example, in the automobile 22, the digital content of the media server device 65 is listened to or viewed with a family member or an acquaintance by a network player, and then the owner of the media server device 65 carries the media server device 65. It is assumed that the vehicle 22 alone gets off and enters the shopping center 23, and the media server device 65 is played back alone in the shopping center 23, and then returns to the vehicle 22 where family members or acquaintances wait again. Considering the owner of the media server device 65 itself, resume playback is preferable in the automobile 22 that has returned again, and resume playback is started from the interruption position of the digital content that was interrupted at the shopping center 23. A person who did not listen to self-reproduction in the single reproduction of the media server device 65 in the shopping center 23 resumes reproduction from the interruption position where the reproduction was interrupted when the owner of the media server device 65 got out of the automobile 22 and went out. It is preferable. When the first and second resume information are handled as the same information, the owner of the media server device 65 can perform resume reproduction from the last interruption position regardless of self reproduction and network reproduction. If the first and second resume information are handled separately, those who have not been able to listen to either self-reproduction or network reproduction can perform resume reproduction from their interruption position.

  Typically, there are a plurality of pieces of first and second resume information corresponding to each reproduction interruption in the network player 46 and each reproduction interruption in the media server device 65. The network player 46 and the media server Both devices 65 can be used for resume playback at the start of each playback.

  A plurality of network players are connected to the network 47 at the same time, and the plurality of network players stream digital contents from the common media server device 65 and perform network reproduction in parallel. Playback interruption may occur in each network player. In this case, it is preferable that the first resume information is prepared for each network player.

  The owner of the media server device 65 walks between a plurality of automobiles and homes according to acquaintances and family relationships, and himself / herself also has digital content for language learning in the first place. In the second place, the digital content for entertainment may be viewed halfway by an individual. By making a plurality of interruption positions at the time of reproduction interruption exist as the first and second resume information, resume reproduction can be executed from a past favorite interruption position.

  Preferably, the first and second resume information is set for each type of digital content and can be used for resume playback at the start of each playback in the media server device and the network player. The type of digital content is, for example, music or video.

  Typically, the information format of the first and second resume information to be transmitted to the network player 46 or 54 is a digital content list information format held by the media server device 65. In the list information format, The digital content related to the first and second resume information is digital content having a predetermined digital content name, and the interruption position related to the first and second resume information is the reproduction start position of the digital content having the predetermined digital content name. It has become.

  As described above, the communication protocol employed in the DLNA network is UPnP, and in this communication protocol, the resume information that the network player can receive from the media server device 65 is not in an arbitrary format, but the media server device. It is restricted to an information format in which digital contents held by 65 are displayed in a list on the network player. Under such constraints, the network player can accurately receive the first and second resume information from the media server device 65.

  Preferably, the information in the list information format represents a tree structure related to containers and digital contents in the storage device of the media server device 65. The first and second resume information is created as digital content included in a container having a predetermined name in the hierarchy one level below the root. Resume and Resume1. abc is an example of this.

  In another example, the information in the list information format represents a tree structure relating to containers and digital contents in the storage device of the media server device 65. The first and second resume information is created as digital content at the next sequential position with respect to the digital content whose reproduction has been interrupted with respect to the order of the digital content in the tree structure. The Resume1. abc is an example of this.

  The first and second resume information is described in, for example, a user-defined extension tag defined in an information format in a network protocol applied to data to be sent to a network player. When a user-defined extension tag is used, it is necessary for the network player to correctly interpret the description in the extension tag of the data transmitted from the media server device 65 and perform corresponding processing. . Therefore, in this case, the network player must use the one corresponding to the user definition of the extension tag.

  An extension tag, for example <kenwood: resume>, can be defined in the XML of CDS (Content Directory Service) ITEM in UPnP AV in the UPnP standard as an example of a network protocol, and can be described therein. According to the standard, this description is included in the header of the data in the information transmission in the list information format from the media server device 65 to the network player, is interpreted by the network player, and the network player responds accordingly. It can be designed to perform various processes.

  When the virtual resume item is placed in the same container as the original item (FIG. 6), the contents to be described are the item name and information (for example, time code) indicating the point at which playback is to be started. When a dedicated resume container is created and placed there (FIG. 5), in addition to these, a place where the original item is located (for example, an absolute path from the root) is described. The reason why “information indicating a point to start reproduction (for example, time code)” is used here is because there is an item that does not have information corresponding to the time code. For example, linear PCM audio data is purely L / R 16-bit digital audio data itself. The network player 46 as DMP calculates the elapsed time from the number of received data bytes and the sampling frequency.

  The following functions (c1) and (c2) can be smoothly realized by combining the use of the extension tag and a network player corresponding to the extension tag (hereinafter referred to as “dedicated network player”).

(C1) In the fast-rewind playback of resume content, not only fast-rewind playback limited to a range from the position after the resume position (interruption position) to the resume position up to the maximum, but also fast return to a position before the resume position. Function to play back: In the case of an existing network player, this requests the server to send resume content (data), but this content is the part of the original content (playback interrupted content) after the playback stop position. Since the virtual content is only extracted, it is not possible to return to the position before the interruption position. On the other hand, in the dedicated player, instead of requesting the resume content data from the server, the original content data is interrupted (not from the beginning) using information obtained from the extension tag of the resume content metadata. Since it can be requested from the position, it is possible to return before the interrupt position.

(C2) Correct display of playback time: For the same reason as in (c1) above, the existing player can only display the elapsed time from the interruption position, but the dedicated player can correctly display the elapsed time from the beginning of the content.

  Deletion means 66 can be appropriately added to the media server device 65. The deleting unit 66 deletes the first and second resume information corresponding to the predetermined condition.

  There may be one each of the first and second resume information, or there may be a plurality of each. Predetermined conditions include past resume information for a predetermined time or more from the present, the oldest information among a plurality of resume information, or information used in one or more resume playbacks. . Further, the predetermined condition may be when there is a change such as deletion of a stored song or addition of new music in the media server device 65.

  In the media server devices 40 (FIG. 7), 50 (FIG. 8), 59 (FIG. 9), 65 (FIG. 10), information on what digital content is currently being streamed to the network player 46 is stored. A function of notifying the user of the media server device 40 can be provided. That is, content detection means and display means are added.

  The content detection means detects what digital content is currently being streamed to the network player. The display means displays on the display (for example, the color LCD 14 in FIG. 1) a name for displaying on the display what the digital content currently being streamed to the network player is.

  What the digital content is may be specified by, for example, the name of the digital content, or an album name or other information may be added. The display on the display as to what the digital content is being streamed may be when the user performs a predetermined instruction operation, or may be automatically performed during stream delivery. .

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the server control method 70. The server control method 70 corresponds to the media server device 40 (FIG. 7). The server control method 70 includes a reproduction interruption routine and a resume reproduction routine.

  In the reproduction interruption routine of the server control method 70, in S71, it is checked whether or not the digital content reproduction interruption in the network player 46 is detected. If the digital content reproduction interruption in the network player 46 is detected, the process advances to S72. move on. In S72, the digital content whose reproduction has been interrupted and information related to the interruption position are stored as first resume information.

  In the resume playback routine of the server control method 70, when the media server device 40 plays as a player (determination of S75 is positive), the process proceeds to S76. In S76, reproduction of the digital content related to the first resume information is started from the reproduction position based on the interruption position related to the first resume information.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the server control method 79. The server control method 79 corresponds to the media server device 50 (FIG. 8). The server control method 79 includes a reproduction interruption routine and a resume reproduction routine. The reproduction interruption routine of the server control method 79 is the same as the reproduction interruption routine of the server control method 70. In the resume reproduction routine of the server control method 79, when an information transmission request is received from the network player 46 or 54 (determination in S80 is positive), the process proceeds to S81a. In S81a, the network player 46 or 54 sends a data transmission request for the network player 46 or 54 to start playing the digital content related to the first resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first resume information. The first resume information is transmitted to the network player in an information format that can be output to the server device.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the server control method 84. The server control method 84 corresponds to the media server device 59 (FIG. 9). The server control method 84 includes a reproduction interruption routine and a resume reproduction routine. S80 of the resume reproduction routine of the server control method 84 is the same as S80 of the resume reproduction routine of the server control method 79 (FIG. 12). In the reproduction interruption routine of the server control method 84, in S85, it is checked whether or not the digital content reproduced by the media server device 59 as a player has detected reproduction interruption, and the media server device 59 becomes the player. If the reproduction interruption of the digital content being reproduced is detected, the process proceeds to S86. In S86, the digital content for which playback has been interrupted and information relating to the interrupted position are stored as second resume information. In S81b of FIG. 13, the second information is used instead of the first information in S81a. That is, in S81b, the network player 46 issues a data transmission request for the network player 46 to start playing the digital content related to the second resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the second resume information. The second resume information is transmitted to the network player 46 in an information format that can be output to the network player 46.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the server control method 90. The server control method 90 corresponds to the media server device 65 (FIG. 10). The server control method 90 includes a reproduction interruption routine and a resume reproduction routine. S71, S72, S75, S76, S80, S85, and S86 in the server control method 90 are the same as those in FIGS. S81c in the reproduction interruption routine of the server control method 90 is one selected from S81a in FIG. 12 and S81b in FIG. That is, in S81c, when an information transmission request is received from the network player 46 or 54, the network player 46 or 54 interrupts the digital content related to the first or second resume information according to the first or second resume information. In the information format that allows the network player 46 or 54 to issue a data transmission request for starting reproduction from the reproduction position based on the position to the media server device 65, the first or second resume information is sent to the network player 46 or To 54.

  The explanations and specific matters regarding the media server device 65 described above can be applied to the server control method 79 as they are.

  The technical ideas of the server devices for media 40 (FIG. 7), 50 (FIG. 8), 59 (FIG. 9), and 65 (FIG. 10) can be embodied as programs. That is, the program causes the computer to function as each means of the media server device 40, 50, 59 or 65. The technical idea of the server control method 70, 79, 84, 90 can also be embodied as a program. That is, the program causes the computer to execute each step of the server control method 70, 79, 84, or 90.

  The media server device 40 (FIG. 7), 50 (FIG. 8), 59 (FIG. 9) or 65 (FIG. 10) and the network player 46 work together to constitute a network digital content playback system. The network player 46 includes a resume information receiving unit, a transmission request unit, and a reproducing unit. The resume information receiving means receives from the media server device 40, 50, 59 or 65 the resumed digital content and the resume information relating to the interrupted position. The transmission requesting unit issues a data transmission request from the interruption position related to the resume information to the media server device 40, 50, 59, or 65 as a resume reproduction request for the digital content related to the resume information. The reproduction means reproduces the digital content based on the data streamed from the media server device 40, 50, 59 or 65 in response to the resume reproduction request.

  Although the present invention has been described with respect to the best mode, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this and can be implemented in various forms within the scope of the gist.

It is a front view of a HDD type portable player. It is explanatory drawing of the example of a movement of HDD type portable player. It is a situation diagram of a network to which an HDD portable player is connected. It is an example explanatory drawing of the reproduction | regeneration condition about the music which an HDD type portable player has. It is a figure which shows the management structure with the 1st reproduction | regeneration interruption information of the content in HDD of a HDD type portable player. It is a figure which shows the management structure with the 2nd reproduction | regeneration interruption information of the content in HDD of a HDD type portable player. It is a block diagram of a server device for media.

It is a block diagram of another server device for media. It is a block diagram of the server apparatus for other media. It is a block diagram of another server device for media. It is a flowchart of a server control method. It is a flowchart of another server control method. It is a flowchart of another server control method. It is a flowchart of another server control method.

Explanation of symbols

40: Media server device, 41: First interruption detection means, 42: First resume information storage means, 43: Playback control means, 46: Network player, 47: Network, 50: Media server device, 51: Transmission means 54: Network player 59: Media server device 60: Second interruption detection means 61: Second resume information storage means 65: Media server device 66: Deletion means 70: Server control Method 79: Server control method 84: Control method 90: Control method

Claims (12)

A server device for media that can be carried by a user and that is connected to and disconnected from a network at each location by movement by carrying, and the digital content corresponding to a data transmission request from a network player during the network connection In the server device for media that can stream the corresponding data to the network player and operate as a single player,
First interruption detecting means for detecting interruption of reproduction of digital content in the network player;
First resume information storage means for storing, as first resume information, digital content that has been interrupted for reproduction and information relating to the interruption position when the interruption of digital content in the network player is detected;
Second interruption detecting means for detecting interruption of reproduction of the digital content which has been reproduced by the media server device as a player;
When the interruption of the digital content that has been played by the media server device as a player is detected, the second resume that stores the digital content that has been interrupted and information related to the interruption position as the second resume information Information storage means,
When the media server device plays as a player, the digital content related to the first or second resume information is played back from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first or second resume information. When the information transmission request is received from the control means and the network player, the network player plays the digital content related to the first or second resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first or second resume information. A transmission means for transmitting the first or second resume information to the network player in an information format that allows the network player to issue a data transmission request to start to the server device for media;
The server device for media characterized by having.   The first and second resume information is updated each time the digital content playback is interrupted in the network player and each time the digital content playback that the media server device plays as a player is interrupted. The server device for media according to claim 1, wherein   There are a plurality of pieces of first and second resume information corresponding to each reproduction interruption in the network player and each reproduction interruption in the media server device, and each reproduction information in both the network player and the media server device. 3. The media server device according to claim 1, wherein the media server device is usable for resume reproduction at the start.   The first and second resume information is set for each type of digital content, and can be used for resume playback at the start of each playback in the media server device and the network player. Item 4. The server device for media according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The information format of the first and second resume information to be transmitted to the network player is a list information format of digital contents held by the media server device,
In the list information format, the digital content related to the first and second resume information is digital content having a predetermined digital content name, and the interruption position related to the first and second resume information is the predetermined digital content name. The media server device according to claim 1, wherein the media server device is a reproduction start position of the digital content. The information in the list information format represents a tree structure relating to containers and digital contents in the storage device of the media server device,
6. The medium for media according to claim 5, wherein the first and second resume information are created as digital contents contained in a container having a predetermined name in a layer one level below the root. Server device. The information in the list information format represents a tree structure relating to containers and digital contents in the storage device of the media server device,
6. The first and second resume information are created as digital contents at the next sequential position with respect to digital contents whose reproduction has been interrupted with respect to the order of the digital contents in the tree structure. Server device for media.   8. The first and second resume information are described in a user-defined extension tag in a network protocol applied to data to be sent to a network player. Media server device. Resume information deleting means for deleting the first and second resume information corresponding to the predetermined condition;
The media server device according to claim 1, comprising: Content detection means for detecting what digital content is currently being streamed to the network player, and the name of the digital content currently being streamed to the network player are displayed on the display. Display means,
The server device for media according to claim 1, comprising: A server device for media that can be carried by a user and that is connected to and disconnected from a network at each location by movement by carrying, and the digital content corresponding to a data transmission request from a network player during the network connection In the method for controlling the server device for media that can stream the corresponding data to a network player and can operate as a single player,
Detecting digital content playback interruption in a network player;
A step of storing, as first resume information, information relating to the interrupted digital content and its interruption position when the interruption of the digital content in the network player is detected;
Detecting the interruption of reproduction of the digital content that the media server device is playing as a player;
A step of storing, as second resume information, information relating to the interrupted digital content and the interruption position when the interruption of the digital content being played back by the media server device as a player is detected;
When the media server device plays as a player, the digital content related to the first or second resume information is started to be played from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first or second resume information. When the information transmission request is received from the network player, the network player starts playing the digital content related to the first or second resume information from the playback position based on the interruption position related to the first or second resume information. Transmitting the first or second resume information to the network player in an information format that allows the network player to issue a data transmission request for the media server device;
A control method characterized by comprising:   The program for functioning a computer as each means in the server apparatus for media in any one of Claims 1-10.

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