JP4475853B2 - Recording / playback system, recording / playback method, recording / playback apparatus, and database server - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording / playback system, a recording / playback method, a recording / playback apparatus, and a database server that are configured by a recording / playback apparatus used by a user and a database server installed on a communication network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, hard disk recording / playback apparatuses equipped with a large-capacity hard disk have been developed as apparatuses for recording program videos of television broadcasts and the like. In this hard disk recording / playback apparatus, video is recorded on a hard disk as digitized moving image data, and playback is performed by reading this data.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in recent years, in addition to conventional terrestrial broadcasts, various television broadcasts such as BS broadcasts and cable televisions have been carried out, and since the broadcast time has increased and the number of channels has increased, the capacity of the hard disk has increased. Although it has increased, its recording capacity is limited, and it is difficult to record all the programs desired by the user. In addition, a large-capacity hard disk has a high manufacturing cost, which increases the price of the recording / playback apparatus.
[0004]
Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and while recording the large amount of data according to the user's needs while reducing the manufacturing cost of the recording / playback apparatus, the storage means on the database server side is provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / playback system, a recording / playback method, a recording / playback apparatus, and a database server that can be used effectively.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The invention according to the present application has been made to solve the above-described problem, and moving image data provided by broadcasting or communication is recorded in a user-side storage unit provided in a recording / playback apparatus, and the user-side storage unit stores moving image data. When the overflow occurs, the overflowed video data is sent to the database server through the communication line, and the user management data for associating the operation history for recording the video data with the time when the overflow data occurred is generated. A user identifier that identifies the user in this user management dataTheIn addition, in the database server, the video data received from the recording / playback apparatus is stored in the server-side storage unit, and the recording / playback apparatusSent via communication lineUser management data is acquired, and based on the user management data, the moving image data stored in the server-side storage unit is transmitted to the recording / playback device, and the overflow data includes all channels, It is a part or all of the moving image data recorded by designating all recording time and all channels by the all time designation recording mode function.
[0006]
According to the present invention, when a data overflow occurs in the user-side storage unit provided on the recording / playback apparatus side, the storage destination is switched to the server-side storage unit on the network. Can be recorded. As a result, a user-side storage unit having a small capacity can be used, and the manufacturing cost of the recording / playback apparatus can be reduced.
[0007]
  Further, in the present invention, in the recording / playback apparatus, user management data for associating an operation history for recording the moving image data with a time when the overflow data occurs is stored.Installed on the communication networkBy transmitting to the database server, it is possible to grasp on which operation the recorded data has overflowed on the database server side, and data transmission at the time of reproduction can be performed quickly. In addition, since the continuation of the overflowed data can be transmitted based on the user operation included in the user management data, the user views the continuously played video without being aware of which storage unit has been stored. be able to.
[0008]
Furthermore, in the present invention, in the recording / playback apparatus, since a user identifier for identifying a user is added to the user management data, access authentication can be performed using the user identifier, and charging processing can be appropriately performed.
[0009]
  In the present invention,Installed on the communication networkIn the database server, from the recording / playback deviceSent via communication lineIn order to acquire the user management data and transmit the video data stored in the server-side storage unit to the recording / playback device based on the user management data, the database server Data can be searched quickly, and overflowed data can be reproduced continuously.
[0010]
In the above-mentioned invention, the recording of the moving image data can be operated by designating all the recording times and all the channels by the all channel / all time designation recording mode function of the reserved recording control unit, and the overflow data is A part or all of the moving image data recorded by the all-channel / all-time designation recording mode function.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(Overall configuration of recording / playback system)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording / playback system according to the present embodiment.
[0012]
As shown in the figure, the recording / playback apparatus according to this embodiment includes a recording / playback apparatus 1 used by a user and a database server 3 installed on a communication network 2. In the present embodiment, the communication network 2 is a wireless or wired communication line network, and is a broadband system such as ADSL or a large capacity communication line such as an optical cable.
[0013]
The recording / playback apparatus 1 records moving image data provided by terrestrial broadcasting, BS broadcasting, cable broadcasting, or a broadband communication line, and displays the recorded moving image data on the display 6, and means for storing the data The user hard disk 15 and a means for transmitting the overflowed video data to the database server 3 through the communication network 2 when data overflow occurs in the user hard disk 15.
[0014]
On the other hand, the database server 3 has a large-capacity content storage unit 4 that stores the moving image data received from the recording / playback apparatus 1 and stores user user management data for managing the data stored in the content storage unit 4. A user management database 5 is provided.
[0015]
According to such a recording / reproducing system, moving image data is recorded on the user hard disk 15 provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, and when the moving image data overflows in the user hard disk 15, the overflowed moving image data is stored in the database server 3. Is transmitted through the communication network 2 and stored in the content storage unit 4 provided in the database server 3.
[0016]
(Configuration of recording and playback device)
The internal configuration of the above-described recording / playback apparatus 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the recording / playback apparatus 1 has, as means for performing recording / playback, an operation unit 7, a scheduled recording control unit 9, a tuner unit 10, a display interface 12, a data conversion unit 13, and data. An input / output unit 14 and a user hard disk 15 are provided.
[0017]
The operation unit 7 performs operations on the recording / playback apparatus 1 and includes operation buttons, a touch panel, and a remote controller provided on the outer surface of the apparatus. The operation unit 7 sends a control signal to each unit of the apparatus in accordance with a user operation, and performs operations such as recording start and recording end, channel operation, fast forward, rewind, and recording reservation. The operation history in the operation unit 7 is sent to the operation history data generation unit 8. Note that the operation of the operation unit 7 in this embodiment has an all-channel designation mode, and recording start and end operations are collectively performed for all broadcast programs on all channels without designating a specific channel. Can do.
[0018]
The scheduled recording control unit 9 designates a recording time and activates the tuner unit 10 and has a timer function. When a predetermined time is reached, the tuner unit 10 is operated to execute a recording process. Let The scheduled recording control unit 9 outputs a history of recording processing performed by the tuner unit 10 to the operation history data generation unit 8. Note that the operation of the operation unit 7 in this embodiment is provided with an all-channel / all-time designation recording mode, so that broadcast programs for all channels in all channels can be batched without designating a specific channel and time. Recording reservation operation can be performed.
[0019]
The tuner unit 10 receives streams of terrestrial broadcasting, BS broadcasting, and cable broadcasting by switching channels, and is a receiver that supports analog broadcasting and digital broadcasting. The stream data received by the tuner unit 10 is sent to the data conversion unit 13 and the display interface 12.
[0020]
The display interface 12 displays the stream data input from the tuner unit 10 or the data conversion unit 13 on the display 6.
[0021]
The data conversion unit 13 converts the stream data received by the tuner unit 10 into a data structure that can be recorded by the user hard disk 15. For example, an analog broadcast stream is converted into digital data and converted into a data format compliant with a standard such as MPEG.
[0022]
The data input / output unit 14 inputs / outputs data to / from the user hard disk 15, and writes the moving image data input from the data conversion unit 13 to the user hard disk 15 or records it on the user hard disk 15. The moving image data is read out and displayed on the display 6 through the display interface 12.
[0023]
Further, the data input / output unit 14 switches between data from the data conversion unit 13 and data from the data transmission / reception unit 18 according to a command from the data control unit 17 and connects to the user hard disk 15, and It also has a function to change the entry / exit route.
[0024]
Further, the data input / output unit 14 monitors the overflow of data in the user hard disk 15, and when an overflow occurs during data recording, the time when the overflow occurred and the data written immediately before the overflow occurred. It has a function of detecting an address and notifying the overflow data management unit 11 of such information.
[0025]
The user hard disk 15 is a storage device that records digitized moving image data at a predetermined address, and writes and reads data via the data input / output unit 14. As the user hard disk 15, various devices can be used as long as they are storage devices, and a memory or the like can be used instead.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the recording / playback apparatus 1 includes a user management data generation unit 16 as a means for generating user management data for associating an operation history for recording moving image data and a time when data overflow occurs, The data generation unit 8, the overflow data management unit 11, and the timer recording control unit 9 are included.
[0027]
The operation history data generation unit 8 generates operation history data indicating what operation the user has performed at what time, and the generated operation history data is sent to the user management data generation unit 16. Specifically, the recording start operation, the recording end operation time, the channel at that time, and the like performed by the user in the operation unit 7 are recorded. Further, in the case of reserved recording, the recording start processing and recording end processing times actually performed by the tuner unit 10, the channel at that time, and the like are recorded.
[0028]
The overflow data management unit 11 converts the data overflow time, file data name, and storage address in the user hard disk 15 detected by the data input / output unit 15 into data and sends the data to the user management data generation unit 16 as overflow data. is there.
[0029]
The user management data generation unit 16 generates user management data based on the above-described operation history data and overflow data. Specifically, the operation history by the user and the time when the data overflow occurred are associated with each other and converted into data, and the operation of the recorded video file by the user is described. Specifically, the date and time when the moving image data was recorded, the overflow time in the user hard disk 15, the channel at that time, and the moving image file name are described.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, the user management data generation unit 16 is provided with a storage unit for storing an identifier for specifying the user or the recording / playback apparatus 1, and adds an identifier to the generated user management data. This identifier is used for user authentication in the database server 3.
[0031]
Furthermore, the recording / playback apparatus 1 includes a data transmission / reception unit 18 and a data control unit 17 as means for transmitting / receiving each data (moving image data, user management data).
[0032]
The data transmitter / receiver 18 is a broadband modem such as ADSL, an ISDN terminal adapter, or the like, and can be connected to the communication network 2 through a communication line.
[0033]
The data control unit 17 switches the data input / output path of the data input / output unit 14, and when there is data input / output from the user hard disk 15, the data input / output unit 14 and the user hard disk 15 are connected to each other. When there is data input / output from the transmission / reception unit 18, the data transmission / reception unit 18 and the data input / output unit 14 are connected. Thereby, the data input / output to / from the user hard disk 15 and the data input / output from the data transmitting / receiving unit 18 are made continuous.
[0034]
(Database server configuration)
Next, the internal structure of the database server 3 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the database server 3.
[0035]
As shown in the figure, the database server 3 according to the present embodiment includes a data transmission / reception unit 23, a data control unit 20, a data input / output unit 19, an authentication unit 22, and a user management data processing unit 21. is doing.
[0036]
The data transmission / reception unit 23 transmits / receives data to / from the recording / playback apparatus 1 through the communication network 2. A broadband modem such as ADSL, an ISDN terminal adapter, or the like can be used. The communication network 2 can be connected.
[0037]
Data transmitted / received through the data transmitting / receiving unit 23 includes moving image data and user management data. The moving image data is input / output to / from the content storage unit 4 via the data control unit 20 and the data input / output unit 19, Management data is stored in the user management database 5 via the authentication unit 22 and the user management data processing unit 21.
[0038]
After obtaining the permission of the user management data processing unit 21, the data control unit 20 receives the moving image data from the recording / playback apparatus 1, sends the data to the data input / output unit 20, and responds to a playback request from the user. With permission from the user management data processing unit 21, the moving image data stored in the content storage unit 4 is read out and transmitted to the recording / playback apparatus 1 via the data transmission / reception unit 23.
[0039]
In addition, when the data related to the reproduction overflows when the data is reproduced, the data control unit 20 sends the notification, the time when the moving image data is recorded, and the channel from the data input / output unit 14. Based on this notification, a reproduction request specifying the file name desired to be reproduced is transmitted to the database server 3.
[0040]
The data input / output unit 19 inputs / outputs data to / from the content storage unit 4 based on an instruction from the data control unit 20. Specifically, at the time of recording, the storage destination address of the recorded data is notified to the user management data processing unit 21 through the data control unit 20, and is acquired from the user management data processing unit 21 at the time of reading. The data is read from the storage destination address and sent to the data transmitting / receiving unit 23 through the data control unit 20.
[0041]
The content accumulation unit 4 accumulates data overflowed in the user hard disk 15 of the recording / playback apparatus 1 at a predetermined storage destination address. The content storage unit 4 inputs and outputs data through the data input / output unit 19.
[0042]
The authentication unit 22 extracts the user identifier from the user management data received by the data transmission / reception unit 23, checks the registered user table registered in the user management database, and determines whether or not the accessor is a registered user. Judgment. As a result of the collation, when it is determined that the user is a registered user, the acquired user identifier is transferred to the user management data processing unit 21. As a result of checking, if it is determined that the user is not a registered user, access is denied.
[0043]
The user management data processing unit 21 manages the personal information of users registered in the user management database 5 and the accumulation status of moving image data for each user. Also, it has a function of sending permission for data input / output to the content storage unit 4 to the data control unit 20.
[0044]
More specifically, when data is recorded, permission of data recording is sent to the data control unit 20 based on the authentication result by the authentication unit 22, and the storage destination address on the content storage unit 4 is set after recording is started. Obtained from the data control unit 20. The acquired storage location address is added to the received user management data. As a result, the user management data includes the identifier of the user who requested recording of the moving image data, the date and time when the moving image data was recorded, and the user hard disk 15. The overflow time, the channel at that time, the moving image file name, and the address where the moving image data is stored are described.
[0045]
On the other hand, at the time of data reproduction, the user management data processing unit 21 retrieves user management data related to the user from the user management database 5 based on the reproduction request from the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 after the authentication processing of the authentication unit 22. Search is performed, the storage destination address in the content storage unit 4 is acquired, and this is sent to the data control unit 20.
[0046]
In the present embodiment, the user management data processing unit 21 has a charging function, and has a function of counting the amount of data recorded by the user, the number of accesses, and the like, and performing a charging process according to this count. ing.
[0047]
The user management database 5 records and manages user personal information (such as registration ID), billing information, and user management data for each user. Based on the user ID registered in the user management database 5, the authentication unit 22 performs an accessor acceptance process, and based on the user management data stored in the user management database 5, the user management data process The unit 21 can acquire a storage destination address or the like where data to be reproduced is stored.
[0048]
(Operation)
The operation of the recording / playback system according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation during recording, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation during reproduction.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 3, at the time of recording, first, processing is started in response to a user operation (S101). Specifically, the operation unit 7 performs a recording start operation or a reserved recording operation.
[0050]
Next, it is determined whether the user operation is normal recording or reserved recording (S102). In the case of normal recording, an operation control signal in the operation unit 7 is directly input to the operation history data generation unit 8, and operation history data is generated (S104). In the case of scheduled recording, the timer is activated in the scheduled recording control unit 9 to enter a standby state and control of the recording operation is performed at a predetermined time, and the control signal is sent to the operation history data generating unit 8. (S103). The operation history data generation unit 8 generates operation history data based on the control signal from the timer recording control unit 9 (S104).
[0051]
Next, the recording operation is started (S105). Specifically, the broadcast stream received by the tuner unit 10 is converted into a data file by the data conversion unit 19 (S106) and recorded on the user hard disk 15 (S107).
[0052]
Thereafter, it is sequentially monitored whether or not the user hard disk 15 has overflowed (S108). The video data is stored in the user hard disk 15 while no overflow occurs.
[0053]
If an overflow is detected in step S108, overflow data is generated (S109). Specifically, the data input / output unit 14 detects data overflow, and notifies the overflow data management unit 11 of the time when the overflow occurred and the file name. User management data is generated based on the overflow data acquired by the overflow data management unit 11 and the operation history generated by the operation history data generation unit 8 (S110). Note that an identifier for identifying the user is added to the user management data.
[0054]
Next, the user management data generation unit 16 transmits user management data and a recording request to the database server 3 through the data transmission / reception unit 18 (S111). Based on this user management data, the database server 3 authenticates the user, grants access permission, and stores the user management data in the user management database 5.
[0055]
After the access permission is issued, the data control unit 17 switches the output path from the data input / output unit 14 from the user hard disk 15 to the data transmission / reception unit 18 (S112). Thereby, the moving image data converted by the data conversion unit 13 is transmitted to the database server 3 via the data input / output unit 14 and the data transmission / reception unit 18.
[0056]
The database server 3 stores the received moving image data in the content storage unit 4 through the data control unit 20 and the data input / output unit 19 (S113). The storage address of the content storage unit 4 is acquired from the data input / output unit 19 and sent to the user management data processing unit 21 via the data control unit 20. In the user management data processing unit 21, a storage destination address is added to the user management data transmitted from the recording / playback apparatus 1 and stored in the user management database 5.
[0057]
The recorded moving image data is reproduced by the following procedure. As shown in FIG. 4, a reproduction operation is started by a user operation (S201). In response to this operation, the data input / output unit 14 reads out a moving image from the user hard disk 15 (S202), converts the data, and then causes the display interface 12 to display a reproduced moving image on the display interface 12 (S203). During this time, it is determined whether or not there is overflow data at the time of recording (S204). If there is no overflow data, reproduction from the user hard disk 15 is continued.
[0058]
In step S204, if a data overflow is confirmed due to, for example, the playback video being cut off, a playback request is transmitted to the server (S205). Specifically, the data control unit 17 obtains a notification that an overflow has occurred from the data input / output unit 14, and transmits the file name, channel, and time in which the overflow has occurred.
[0059]
In response to the reproduction request, the database server 3 authenticates the authentication unit 22 (S206), and then checks the user management data in the user management data processing unit 21 (S207). With this confirmation, the storage location of the overflowed data is acquired. During this time, on the recording / playback apparatus 1 side, the data control unit 17 switches the input path to the data input / output unit 14 so that the data from the data transmission / reception unit 18 is sent to the data conversion unit 13 (S208). ). Thereafter, reading of data from the content storage unit 4 is started (S209). The reproduced moving image data is received by the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, and the data from the content storage unit 4 is displayed on the display 6.
[0060]
In the present embodiment, the recording unit is changed when an overflow occurs during recording and reproduction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is preferable to monitor the remaining capacity of the user hard disk 15 at the time of recording, and to switch the storage destination when the remaining capacity falls below a predetermined value. Further, at the time of reproduction, an overflow occurs, and the overflow data management unit 11 checks whether or not the data is cut halfway. Before the data is cut off, a reproduction request is made to the database server 3 to cut the data. In such a case, reproduction from the content storage unit 4 may be enabled to prevent the reproduction data from becoming discontinuous.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when data overflow occurs in the user-side storage unit provided on the recording / playback apparatus side, the storage destination is switched to the server-side storage unit on the network. A large amount of data can be recorded. As a result, a user-side storage unit having a small capacity can be used, and the manufacturing cost of the recording / playback apparatus can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a recording / playback system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a database server in the recording / playback system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation during recording in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation during reproduction in the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording / reproducing apparatus, 2 ... Communication network, 3 ... Database server, 4 ... Content storage part, 5 ... User management database, 6 ... Display

Claims (4)

A recording / playback recording system comprising a recording / playback device used by a user and a database server installed on a communication network,
The recording / playback apparatus comprises:
A user-side storage unit that records video data provided by broadcasting or communication;
When overflow of video data occurs in the user-side storage unit, a data transmitting / receiving unit that transmits the overflowed video data through a communication line, an operation history for recording the video data, and a time when the overflow data occurs And a user management data generation unit for adding a user identifier for identifying the user to the user management data,
The database server comprises:
A server-side storage unit that stores moving image data received from the data transmission / reception unit;
A playback video transmission unit that acquires the user management data transmitted from the recording / playback apparatus through a communication line, and transmits the video data stored in the server-side storage unit to the recording / playback apparatus based on the user management data And
The recording / playback apparatus has a reserved recording control unit for operating the recording of the moving image data by designating a recording time and channel in advance, and this reserved recording control unit has an all channel / all time designation recording mode function. A recording / playback system characterized by that. A recording / playback method using a recording / playback device used by a user and a database server installed on a communication network,
Movie data provided by broadcasting or communication to the user-side storage unit by designating all recording times and all channels by the recording mode function of all channels / all hours specified by the scheduled recording control unit provided in the recording / playback apparatus. Recording step (1),
When the video data overflow occurs in the user-side storage unit, the overflowed video data is transmitted to the database server through a communication line, and the operation history for recording the video data and the overflow data are generated. (2) generating user management data for associating time , adding a user identifier for identifying the user to the user management data, and transmitting the user management data to the database server;
In the database server, the video data received from the recording / playback apparatus is stored in a server-side storage unit, and the user management data transmitted from the recording / playback apparatus through a communication line is acquired, and based on the user management data And (3) transmitting the moving image data stored in the server-side storage unit to the recording / playback apparatus. A user-side storage unit that records video data provided by broadcasting or communication;
Data to be transmitted to the database server through a communication line in order to store the overflowed video data in the server side storage unit of the database server installed on the communication network when the user side storage unit overflows the video data A transceiver unit ;
A user management data generation unit that generates user management data that associates the operation history for recording the moving image data with the time when the overflow data occurs, and adds a user identifier that identifies the user to the user management data When,
A reserved recording control unit for operating the recording of the moving image data by designating a recording time and a channel;
The data transmission / reception unit transmits the generated user management data to the database server, and the video stored in a server-side storage unit transmitted from the playback video transmission unit of the database server based on the user management data Receive data,
The reserved recording control unit has a recording mode function for specifying all channels and all hours. A database server installed on a communication network that receives and stores video data overflowed from a data transmission / reception unit of the recording / playback apparatus in a user-side storage unit provided in a recording / playback apparatus used by a user A storage unit;
User management data that associates an operation history for recording moving image data with the time when the overflow data occurred, and a user identifier that identifies a user in the user management data is a user management data generation unit of the recording / playback apparatus in is added, the acquires the recording and reproducing device user management data transmitted via a communication line from, based on the user management data, and transmits the video data accumulated in the server-side storage unit to the recording and reproducing apparatus reproducing A video transmission unit;
Based on the user identifier, and a charging means for performing charging process for the user,
The overflow data is a part or all of the moving image data recorded by designating all recording time and all channels by the all channel / all time designation recording mode function of the recording / reproducing apparatus. server.

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