JP4607210B2 - Playback apparatus, playback method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a playback apparatus, a playback method, and a program suitable for enabling the playback of multimedia data to be started quickly.

Multimedia data that records content such as audio and video generally tends to have a large amount of data if high quality is to be pursued. Further, the longer the content recording time, the larger the amount of data. When the amount of data increases, it takes a long time to load multimedia data into the memory and be ready for playback, and there may be a time lag between the start of playback and the start of playback. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a first audio data such as a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) format that requires a relatively short load time, and a second audio data such as a PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) format that requires a relatively long load time. A playback device that can reduce time lag by simultaneously playing back audio data and crossfading the volume is disclosed.
Japanese Patent No. 3482203

  However, if the sound quality of the first sound data is different from that of the second sound data, the user may feel uncomfortable with the reproduced sound. Further, since the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is based on the premise that audio data is reproduced, there is a problem that it cannot be applied when video data is recorded in multimedia data instead of or in addition to audio data. .

  The present invention solves such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a playback apparatus, a playback method, and a program suitable for enabling multimedia data playback to be started quickly and smoothly. And

  In order to achieve the above object, the following invention is disclosed in accordance with the principle of the present invention.

A playback device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit, a reception unit, and a playback unit.
The storage unit stores multimedia data composed of two sections to be reproduced continuously.
The accepting unit receives a first instruction input for designating any one of the plurality of multimedia data, and a second instruction input for determining to reproduce a section to be reproduced later in the designated multimedia data. Accept.
When the first instruction input is received, the playback unit starts playback of a section to be played back before in the multimedia data designated by the received first instruction input.
In addition, after the first instruction input is received and the second instruction input is received, the reproduction unit completes the reproduction of the section to be reproduced before the second instruction input. Start playback.
In addition, after the second instruction input is received, the playback unit, when the playback of the section to be played back is completed, of the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input, is played back later. Start playing the section to be played.

The multimedia data handled in the present invention is, for example, audio data, moving image data, still image data, text data, binary data such as a computer program, or data composed of a combination thereof. The multimedia data is stored in advance in an information storage medium such as a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk-Read Only Memory) or a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory). One or more multimedia data is stored in the information storage medium.
The multimedia data is composed of a first section and a second section. The first section is a section to be reproduced before, and the second section is a section to be reproduced after the first section. For example, when the multimedia data is music data, typically, the first section is a prelude (so-called introduction, introduction), and the second section is a main part (part following the prelude). Therefore, in many cases, the data size of the first section is smaller than the data size of the second section. When playing back multimedia data, the playback device first plays back the first section. Then, the playback device plays back the second section continuously after playing back the first section at least once.

  The playback device of the present invention has an interface for receiving which multimedia data stored in an information storage medium or the like is played back, and an interface for outputting a playback result or receiving a predetermined instruction such as pause. Have. Typically, these interfaces are provided by a GUI (Graphical User Interface) displayed on a monitor. When the multimedia data includes audio data of music, these GUIs are called “music selection screen” or “music playback screen”. However, the present invention is not limited to the use for reproducing music, and can be applied to other uses such as a use for playing moving images (movies) and still images (pictures).

For example, on the song selection screen, a list of multimedia data that can be selected as playback targets is displayed. The user can designate one of the multimedia data as a target for partial reproduction by the first instruction input. Partial playback is to play back only the first section. The first instruction input is given, for example, by moving a cursor, a mouse pointer, or the like to a portion indicating any song in the song list displayed on the song selection screen. Designation as the target of partial reproduction by the first instruction input is referred to as “temporarily selecting”. When certain multimedia data is “temporarily selected”, the playback device reads and plays back the first section of the temporarily selected multimedia data.
In addition, the user can determine any multimedia data as a target of full reproduction by inputting the second instruction. Full playback is to play the second section after the first section. The second instruction input is given by, for example, a click operation, a double click operation, an input operation using a predetermined button or a predetermined key, or the like. Determining the target of all reproduction by the second instruction input is simply referred to as “select”. When certain multimedia data is “selected”, the playback device reads out the second section of the selected multimedia data, and continues to play back the second section after the end of playback of the first section.

More specifically, when receiving the first instruction input, the playback device reads the data portion of the first section of the multimedia data indicated by the first instruction input, and starts playback of the first section. If a new first instruction input indicating other multimedia data is received during the reproduction of the first section of a certain multimedia data, the playback device receives the first of the multimedia data indicated by the new first instruction input. The data portion of one section is read, and playback of the first section is started. The data read here is only the first section of the first section and the second section. Therefore, since the playback apparatus can start playback of the first section immediately after the end of reading of the first section, playback of multimedia data can be started quickly. For example, in the case of a music piece, it is possible to start reproduction by reading only the data of the prelude part without reading all the data of the main part.
Next, after receiving the first instruction input and before receiving the second instruction input, the playback device repeatedly plays back the first section of the multimedia data indicated by the first instruction input. In other words, the first section may be reproduced repeatedly a plurality of times or may be reproduced only once. Therefore, the reproduction of multimedia data is not interrupted in the middle.
When the second instruction input is received, the playback device reads the data portion of the second section of the selected multimedia data, and after the playback of the first section is finished, the playback apparatus continues to play the second section. Start. Accordingly, the reproduction of the multimedia data is not interrupted in the middle, and the transition from the reproduction of the first section to the reproduction of the second section can be smoothly performed.
According to the present invention, the playback device can start playback of multimedia data early. Also, the playback device can smoothly play back multimedia data without interruption.

  When the second instruction input is received, the playback unit starts preparation for playback of the section to be played back after that, and after receiving the second instruction input, playback of the section to be played back before Is completed, if the preparation for playback of the section to be played back is completed, playback of the section to be played back after that is started. If the preparation is not completed, playback is performed before Playback of the power section may be started.

Here, preparation for reproduction specifically refers to a process of loading multimedia data indicated by the first instruction input into a buffer memory or the like from an information storage medium or the like in which one or more multimedia data is stored. Including preprocessing necessary for reproducing multimedia data.
As described above, when the playback device receives the second instruction input, the playback device reads the data portion of the second section of the selected multimedia data, ends the playback of the first section, and then continues to the second section. Start playing. However, even if the playback of the first section is finished after receiving the second instruction input, the preparation for playback of the second section may not be completed. For example, when the data size of the second section is larger than the data size of the first section, preparation for playback of the second section may not be completed during playback of the first section. Therefore, in the present invention, even after the second instruction input is received, if the preparation for reproduction of the second section is not completed, the first section is reproduced again. Therefore, according to the present invention, the next reproduction is started after preparation for reproduction is completed, so that multimedia data can be reproduced more smoothly.

  Of the multimedia data stored in the storage unit, the quality of the section to be played back before may be lower than the quality of the section to be played back after that.

  The quality referred to here is, for example, a sampling rate, a bit rate, an image resolution, an image size, and the like. Generally, when the quality of multimedia data is increased, the data size tends to increase. Therefore, if the quality of the first section is made lower than the quality of the second section, the playback apparatus can start playback earlier because the amount of data to be read is reduced when the multimedia data is temporarily selected.

The playback unit can play back the audio and video of the multimedia data.
In addition, the area of the area in which the video of the section to be reproduced before is displayed may be smaller than the area of the area in which the video of the section to be reproduced after that is displayed.

  As described above, multimedia data can include video as well as audio. Then, the data size of the first section can be made smaller by making the image size (number of vertical and horizontal dots) of the video data included in the first section smaller than the image size of the video data included in the second section. it can. Therefore, the playback device can start playback even earlier because the amount of data to be read is reduced when the multimedia data is temporarily selected.

The multimedia data of the section to be played before this consists of audio data,
The multimedia data of the section to be reproduced after that may be composed of audio data and video data.

  That is, when both audio and video are included in the multimedia data, the first section to be reproduced in advance is only audio, and the remaining second section includes both audio and video. Therefore, the playback device can start playback even earlier because the amount of data to be read is reduced when the multimedia data is temporarily selected.

Of the multimedia data stored in the storage unit, the section to be reproduced before consists of multimedia data of the first quality and multimedia data of the second quality,
The section to be reproduced thereafter may be composed of the first quality multimedia data.
Further, the first quality may be higher than the second quality.
The reproduction unit reproduces multimedia data having a quality selected in advance by the user from among the first quality and the second quality as multimedia data of the section to be reproduced before. Also good.

For example, even for multimedia data of the same content, multimedia data created with two different types of quality is prepared in advance. As data of the first section to be reproduced in advance when temporarily selected, data created with the first quality and data created with the second quality are prepared. Data created with the first quality is prepared as data of the second section to be reproduced later. Typically, the first quality is a quality with a relatively high sampling rate (high quality), and the second quality is a quality with a relatively low sampling rate (low quality).
According to the present invention, the user can play back multimedia data by selecting any one of the two types of quality. For example, a user who wants to view a high-quality playback result can play back high-quality multimedia data every time by performing a predetermined setting, and a user who places importance on playing back faster than high-quality With this setting, it is possible to quickly start playing multimedia data every time. The user can freely select a favorite reproduction method. Note that not only two types of quality but also three or more types of quality may be selected.

Of the multimedia data stored in the storage unit, the section to be reproduced before consists of multimedia data of the first quality and multimedia data of the second quality,
The section to be reproduced thereafter may be composed of the first quality multimedia data.
Further, the first quality may be higher than the second quality.
Further, the storage unit may further store a playback history by the playback unit.
Then, the playback unit selects either the first quality or the second quality as multimedia data of the section to be played back before based on the stored playback history, The selected quality multimedia data may be reproduced.

  According to the present invention, the playback device can play back multimedia data by selecting one of the two types of quality. For example, for users who tend to view high-quality playback results, high-quality multimedia data can be played, and for users who tend to focus on playing faster than quality The reproduction of multimedia data can be started early. The playback device can select a playback method according to the user's preference. Note that not only two types of quality but also three or more types of quality may be selected.

A reproduction method according to another aspect of the present invention is a reproduction method executed by a reproduction apparatus having a storage unit, a reception unit, and a reproduction unit, and includes a reception step and a reproduction step.
The storage unit stores multimedia data composed of two sections to be reproduced continuously.
The accepting step determines that the accepting unit reproduces a first instruction input for designating one of the plurality of multimedia data and a section to be reproduced later in the designated multimedia data. The instruction input is accepted.
In the playback step, when the first instruction input is received, the playback unit starts playback of the section to be played back before in the multimedia data designated by the received first instruction input.
In addition, after the first instruction input is received and the second instruction input is received, the playback step is performed before the playback unit completes playback of the section to be played back. Start playing the section to be played.
In addition, after the second instruction input is accepted, the reproduction step completes the reproduction of the section to be reproduced before, and the reproduction unit determines that the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input includes: After that, playback of the section to be played back is started.
According to the playback apparatus using the playback method of the present invention, playback of multimedia data can be started quickly. Further, the playback device can play back the multimedia data smoothly.

A program according to another aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as a storage unit, a reception unit, and a playback unit.
The storage unit stores multimedia data composed of two sections to be reproduced continuously.
The accepting unit receives a first instruction input for designating any one of the plurality of multimedia data, and a second instruction input for determining to reproduce a section to be reproduced later in the designated multimedia data. Accept.
When the first instruction input is received, the playback unit starts playback of a section to be played back before in the multimedia data designated by the received first instruction input.
In addition, after the first instruction input is received and the second instruction input is received, the reproduction unit completes the reproduction of the section to be reproduced before the second instruction input. Start playback.
In addition, after the second instruction input is received, the playback unit, when the playback of the section to be played back is completed, of the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input, is played back later. Start playing the section to be played.

According to the present invention, it is possible to cause a computer to function as a playback device that operates as described above.
The program of the present invention can be recorded on a computer-readable information storage medium such as a compact disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, digital video disk, magnetic tape, and semiconductor memory.
The above program can be distributed and sold via a computer communication network independently of the computer on which the program is executed. The information storage medium can be distributed and sold independently from the computer.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a playback device, a playback method, and a program suitable for enabling the playback of multimedia data to be started quickly and smoothly.

(Embodiment 1)
An embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following, for ease of understanding, an embodiment in which the present invention is realized using an information processing apparatus for games will be described. However, the following embodiment is for explanation, and the scope of the present invention There is no limit. Therefore, those skilled in the art can employ embodiments in which each or all of these elements are replaced with equivalent ones, and these embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a typical information processing apparatus 100 that performs the function of the playback apparatus of the present invention by executing a program. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG.

  The information processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, an interface 104, a controller 105, an external memory 106, and a DVD-ROM drive. 107, an image processing unit 108, an audio processing unit 109, and a NIC (Network Interface Card) 110.

  A DVD-ROM storing a game program and data is loaded into the DVD-ROM drive 107 and the information processing apparatus 100 is turned on to execute the program, thereby realizing the playback apparatus of the present embodiment. The

  The CPU 101 controls the overall operation of the information processing apparatus 100 and is connected to each component to exchange control signals and data. Further, the CPU 101 uses arithmetic operations such as addition / subtraction / division / division, logical sum, logical product, etc., using an ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) (not shown) for a storage area called a register (not shown) that can be accessed at high speed. , Logic operations such as logical negation, bit operations such as bit sum, bit product, bit inversion, bit shift, and bit rotation can be performed. In addition, the CPU 101 itself is configured so that saturation operations such as addition / subtraction / multiplication / division for multimedia processing, vector operations such as trigonometric functions, etc. can be performed at a high speed, and those provided with a coprocessor. There is.

  The ROM 102 records an IPL (Initial Program Loader) that is executed immediately after the power is turned on, and when this is executed, the program recorded on the DVD-ROM is read out to the RAM 103 and execution by the CPU 101 is started. The The ROM 102 stores an operating system program and various data necessary for operation control of the entire information processing apparatus 100.

  The RAM 103 is for temporarily storing data and programs, and holds programs and data read from the DVD-ROM and other data necessary for game progress and chat communication. Further, the CPU 101 provides a variable area in the RAM 103 and performs an operation by directly operating the ALU on the value stored in the variable, or temporarily stores the value stored in the RAM 103 in the register. Perform operations such as performing operations on registers and writing back the operation results to memory.

  The controller 105 connected via the interface 104 receives an operation input performed when the user executes a game such as a dance game or a soccer game.

  The external memory 106 detachably connected via the interface 104 stores data indicating game play status (past results, etc.), data indicating game progress, and log of game chat communication using the network ( Data) is stored in a rewritable manner. The user can record these data in the external memory 106 as appropriate by inputting an instruction via the controller 105.

  A DVD-ROM mounted on the DVD-ROM drive 107 stores a program for realizing the game and image data and sound data associated with the game. Under the control of the CPU 101, the DVD-ROM drive 107 performs a reading process on the DVD-ROM loaded therein, reads out necessary programs and data, and these are temporarily stored in the RAM 103 or the like.

  The image processing unit 108 processes the data read from the DVD-ROM by the CPU 101 or an image arithmetic processor (not shown) included in the image processing unit 108, and then processes the processed data on a frame memory ( (Not shown). The image information recorded in the frame memory is converted into a video signal at a predetermined synchronization timing and output to a monitor (not shown) connected to the image processing unit 108. Thereby, various image displays are possible.

  The image calculation processor can execute a two-dimensional image overlay calculation, a transparency calculation such as alpha blending, and various saturation calculations at high speed.

  Also, polygon information arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space and added with various texture information is rendered by the Z buffer method, and the polygon arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space from the predetermined viewpoint position is determined in the direction of the predetermined line of sight It is also possible to perform high-speed execution of operations for obtaining rendered images.

  Further, the CPU 101 and the image arithmetic processor operate in a coordinated manner, so that a character string can be drawn as a two-dimensional image in a frame memory or drawn on the surface of each polygon according to font information that defines the character shape. is there.

  Further, by preparing information such as game images in a DVD-ROM and expanding the information in a frame memory, the state of the game can be displayed on the screen.

  The audio processing unit 109 converts audio data read from the DVD-ROM into an analog audio signal, and outputs the analog audio signal from a speaker (not shown) connected thereto. Further, under the control of the CPU 101, sound effects and music data to be generated during the progress of the game are generated, and sound corresponding to this is output from the speaker.

  When the audio data recorded on the DVD-ROM is MIDI data, the audio processing unit 109 refers to the sound source data included in the audio data and converts the MIDI data into PCM data. If the compressed audio data is in ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) format or Ogg Vorbis format, it is expanded and converted to PCM data. The PCM data can be output by performing D / A (Digital / Analog) conversion at a timing corresponding to the sampling frequency and outputting it to a speaker.

  The NIC 110 is used to connect the information processing apparatus 100 to a computer communication network (not shown) such as the Internet, and is based on the 10BASE-T / 100BASE-T standard used when configuring a LAN (Local Area Network). To connect to the Internet using an analog modem, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) modem, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) modem, cable television line A cable modem or the like and an interface (not shown) that mediates between these and the CPU 101 are configured.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus 100 uses a large-capacity external storage device such as a hard disk so as to perform the same function as the ROM 102, the RAM 103, the external memory 106, the DVD-ROM attached to the DVD-ROM drive 107, and the like. You may comprise.

Next, processing performed by the playback device 200 of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a functional configuration of the playback device 200. The playback apparatus 200 includes a storage unit 201, a reception unit 202, and a playback unit 203.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the multimedia data 300 (denoted as 300A and 300B in this figure) stored in the storage unit 201. The playback device 200 plays back the multimedia data 300 stored in the storage unit 201 by a playback process described later.

  The storage unit 201 stores multimedia data 300 composed of two sections to be reproduced continuously. The storage unit 201 can store one or more multimedia data 300. The multimedia data 300 is stored in advance in a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM attached to the DVD-ROM drive 107, the external memory 106, or the like. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the multimedia data 300 is stored in advance on a DVD-ROM. The CPU 101 and the DVD-ROM drive 107 cooperate to function as the storage unit 201.

  The multimedia data 300 is data generically including audio data, still image data, moving image data, text data, binary data such as a computer program, and the like. The data format is not limited by the present invention.

  In the multimedia data 300, a section to be played back and a section to be played back are defined in advance. The section here refers to a temporal playback section such as from the playback position X seconds to the playback position Y seconds from the beginning. In the following description, a section to be played back before is called a first section 310, and a section to be played back later is called a second section 320.

  In the present embodiment, audio data of one piece of music created in the PCM format is stored in one multimedia data 300. That is, the multimedia data 300 of one music is composed of the audio data of the first section 310 and the audio data of the second section 320. Typically, the first section 310 is a prelude part (so-called intro) of the music, and the second section 320 is a main part of the music (a part other than the prelude).

  Next, the accepting unit 202 first reproduces the first instruction input that designates one of the plurality of multimedia data 300 as a target of partial reproduction, and the multimedia data 300 designated by the first instruction input. And a second instruction input to be determined as a target of. The CPU 101 and the controller 105 cooperate to function as the reception unit 202.

  Here, the partial reproduction is to reproduce only the first section 310 among all the sections of the multimedia data 300. In the partial playback, for example, the first section 310 is played back only once, or only the first section 310 is played back multiple times. That is, only the prelude part of the music is played once or more.

  The first instruction input is given, for example, when the user moves the cursor 410 to one of the image parts 420 (denoted as 420A to 420E in the figure) representing music on the music selection screen shown in FIG. In the following description, when the user moves the cursor 410 to one of the image portions 420 representing music and selects it as music to be partially reproduced, it is referred to as “putting the music temporarily selected”. When a certain music piece is temporarily selected, the CPU 101 partially reproduces the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input.

  Further, the full reproduction is to reproduce both the first section 310 and the second section 320. In the full reproduction, for example, after the first section 310 is reproduced one or more times, the second section 320 is continuously reproduced. That is, after the prelude part is played once or more, the main part is played once. Details of the reproduction pattern of the music in all reproduction will be described later.

  The second instruction input is given, for example, when the user issues a predetermined determination instruction on the music selection screen shown in FIG. 4 in a state where the cursor 410 is on the image portion representing one of the music pieces. In the following description, determining that a piece of music to be fully played when any piece of music is in a temporarily selected state is referred to as “putting a piece of music into a selected state”. When a certain music is selected, the CPU 101 reproduces all the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input.

  Next, the reproduction unit 203 reproduces the multimedia data 300 stored in the storage unit 201 with a predetermined reproduction pattern. The CPU 101, the DVD-ROM drive 107, and the audio processing unit 109 cooperate to function as the playback unit 203.

  There are several playback patterns of the multimedia data 300 as described below.

(Playback Pattern 1) When the first instruction input is accepted, the CPU 101 starts playing the first section 310 in the multimedia data 300 designated by the accepted first instruction input. That is, partial playback is started.

  Specifically, the CPU 101 sets the multimedia data 300 designated by the first instruction input to the temporary selection state, and sets the data portion corresponding to the first section 310 of the multimedia data 300 set to the temporary selection state to the DVD. -Load (read) from the ROM to the RAM 103, and start reproduction from the beginning of the first section 310.

  For example, when any multimedia data 300 is not in the temporary selection state and the CPU 101 sets a certain multimedia data 300 in the temporary selection state, the first section of the multimedia data 300 set in the temporary selection state. The reproduction of 310 is started from the beginning. Further, for example, when any multimedia data 300 is already in a temporarily selected state and is partially reproduced while the other multimedia data 300 is newly set in the temporarily selected state, the CPU 101 performs the partial reproduction. The playback of the first section 310 of the multimedia data 300 that has been stopped and newly set to the temporary selection state is started from the beginning.

  Note that the CPU 101 does not read the first section 310 of the temporarily selected multimedia data 300 after receiving the first instruction input, but the first section of the multimedia data 300 that may be temporarily selected. 310 may be read in advance before the music selection screen is displayed for the first time.

(Reproduction Pattern 2) After the first instruction input is accepted and until the second instruction input is accepted, when the reproduction of the first section 310 is completed, the CPU 101 starts the reproduction of the first section 310. That is, the CPU 101 repeatedly reproduces the multimedia data 300 started with the reproduction pattern 1 until the second instruction input is accepted.

  For example, if the second instruction input is not accepted between the start of the first playback of the first section 310 and the end of the first playback, the CPU 101 performs the playback of the first section 310. After the end, the reproduction of the first section 310 is started again.

  For example, if the second instruction input is not accepted between the start of the Nth playback (N is an integer of 1 or more) in the first section 310 and the end of the Nth playback, the CPU 101 After the Nth playback of the first section 310 is finished, playback of the first section 310 is started continuously. In this case, as a result, the first section 310 is reproduced N + 1 times.

(Playback Pattern 3) After the second instruction input is accepted, when the playback of the first section 310 is completed, the CPU 101 plays back the second section 320 of the multimedia data 300 determined by the second instruction input. To start. That is, a transition is made from partial playback to full playback.

  For example, when the second instruction input is received between the start of the first playback of the first section 310 and the end of the first playback, the CPU 101 is set to the temporary selection state. The multimedia data 300 is set to the selected state, and a data portion corresponding to the second section 320 of the multimedia data 300 set to the selected state is read from the DVD-ROM to the RAM 103. Then, after the end of the reproduction of the first section 310, the CPU 101 continues to start the reproduction of the second section 320. In this case, as a result, after the first section 310 is played once, the second section is played once.

  For example, when the second instruction input is received between the start of the Nth playback (N is an integer of 1 or more) in the first section 310 and the end of the Nth playback, the CPU 101 Before starting the Nth reproduction, the multimedia data 300 set to the temporarily selected state is set to the selected state, and the data portion corresponding to the second section 320 of the multimedia data 300 set to the selected state is set to the DVD-ROM. To RAM 103. Then, the CPU 101 continues to play back the second section 320 after the Nth playback of the first section 310 ends. In this case, as a result, after the first section 310 is played N times, the second section is played once.

  Next, playback processing executed by the playback device 200 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the CPU 101 determines whether or not a first instruction input has been received via the controller 105 (step S501). For example, when the cursor 410 is placed on any of the image parts 420 representing music on the music selection screen of FIG. 4, the CPU 101 performs a first instruction input for designating music corresponding to the image part 420 with the cursor 410. It is determined that it has been received. In other cases, it is determined that the first instruction input has not been received.

  If it is determined that the first instruction input has not been received (step S501; NO), the CPU 101 repeats the process of step S501 until the first instruction input is received.

  If it is determined that the first instruction input has been received (step S501; YES), the CPU 101 selects a data portion corresponding to the first section 310 in the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the received first instruction input. Then, the data is read from the DVD-ROM to the RAM 103 (step S502).

  Then, the CPU 101 starts reproduction of the data portion of the first section 310 read in step S502 in the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input (step S503). That is, the CPU 101 starts partial reproduction of the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input. This reproduction corresponds to the reproduction pattern 1 described above. For example, the CPU 101 starts to play the prelude portion of the music indicated by the first instruction input from the beginning.

  The data read in step S502 is only the data portion corresponding to the first section 310 in the multimedia data 300. For this reason, the playback device 200 does not need to read the entire multimedia data 300, and can quickly start playing the music set in the temporarily selected state.

  Note that the data size of the first section 310 may be relatively smaller than the data size of the second section 320. For example, the multimedia data 300 may be created in advance so that the quality of the first section 310 is lower than the quality of the second section 320.

  The quality mentioned here specifically refers to the sampling rate, bit rate, image resolution, image display size, and the like. If the data size is suppressed by lowering the sampling rate or the like of the first section 310, the data portion of the first section 310 is read out quickly, so that the music set in the temporarily selected state can be started early.

  Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not a second instruction input has been accepted via the controller 105 (step S504). For example, in the song selection screen of FIG. 4, a predetermined input operation (for example, click, double-click, or pressing of a predetermined key or button) by the user with the cursor 410 placed on one of the image portions 420 representing the music And the like, the CPU 101 determines that the second instruction input for specifying the music corresponding to the image portion 420 with the cursor 410 is received, and otherwise determines that the second instruction input is not received. To do.

  When it is determined that the second instruction input has not been received (step S504; NO), the CPU 101 determines whether a new first instruction input has been received (step S505). Even if the user once moves the cursor 410 to the image portion 420 representing a certain music piece, the user can move the cursor 410 to another image portion 420 representing another music piece. Therefore, when receiving a new first instruction input, the CPU 101 reproduces the first section 310 of the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the new first instruction input.

  When it is determined that a new first instruction input has been received (step S505; YES), the CPU 101 returns to step S502 described above and repeats the processes of steps S502 to S504.

  When it is determined that a new first instruction input has not been received (step S505; NO), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the reproduction of the first section 310 has ended (step S506).

  When the reproduction of the first section 310 is completed (step S506; YES), the CPU 101 returns to the above-described step S503 and starts the reproduction of the first section 310 again (step S503). This reproduction corresponds to the reproduction pattern 2 described above. For example, when the CPU 101 finishes playing the prelude portion of the music indicated by the first instruction input, it starts playing the prelude portion from the beginning again.

  When the reproduction of the first section 310 has not ended (step S506; NO), the CPU 101 returns to the process of step S504 described above.

  Next, when it is determined in step S504 that the second instruction input has been accepted (step S504; YES), the CPU 101 corresponds to the second section 320 in the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input. The data portion to be read is read from the DVD-ROM to the RAM 103 (step S507).

  The data read in step S507 is only the data portion corresponding to the second section 320 of the multimedia data 300. Since the playback apparatus 200 has already read out the data portion corresponding to the first section 310 in step S502, after receiving the second instruction input, the playback apparatus 200 receives all the sections (first section) of the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input. The first section 310 and the second section 320) are stored in the RAM 103.

  Then, the CPU 101 starts the reproduction of the data portion of the second section 320 read in step S507 in the music piece multimedia data 300 indicated by the first instruction input after the reproduction of the first section 310 is completed (step 507). S508). That is, the CPU 101 reproduces all the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input. This reproduction corresponds to the reproduction pattern 3 described above. For example, when the CPU 101 finishes reproducing the prelude portion (intro) of the music indicated by the first instruction input, the CPU 101 starts to reproduce the main part (the portion following the intro) of the music indicated by the first instruction input from the beginning.

  According to the present embodiment, the playback device 200 can start playback of the multimedia data 300 early, and can smoothly playback the entire multimedia data 300 without interruption. Even if the playback apparatus 200 does not read the entire section of the multimedia data 300, the playback apparatus 200 can start playback by reading the first section 310 having a relatively small data size. Then, after the reproduction of the first section 310 is finished, the transition to the reproduction of the second section 320 can be smoothly performed. If a certain piece of multimedia data 300 is provisionally selected, the playback of the prelude part is started in advance, and if the multimedia data 300 is further selected, the main part is followed by the prelude part that has been played back in advance. Played. Opportunities to be replayed from the pre-played part that was previously played back are reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the above embodiment, the playback device 200 reads and plays back the first section 310 after receiving the first instruction input, and further reads the second section 320 and plays back the first section 310 when receiving the second instruction input. After the end, the second section 320 is reproduced. However, when the data size of the second section 320 is large, there is a possibility that reading of the second section 320 may not be completed by the end of the reproduction of the first section 310 after receiving the second instruction input. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the multimedia data 300 can be started to be reproduced early in consideration of such a possibility, and the entire multimedia data 300 can be smoothly reproduced without interruption. That is, the present embodiment is a modification of the reproduction pattern 3 described above. This will be described in detail below.

  When the second instruction input is received, the playback unit 203 of the present embodiment starts preparation for playback of the second section 320. When the playback of the first section 310 is completed after the second instruction input is received, the playback unit 203 starts playback of the second section 320 if preparation for playback of the second section 320 is completed. To do. On the other hand, if the preparation is not completed, the playback unit 203 starts playback of the first section 310 without shifting to playback of the second section 320.

  Here, preparation for reproduction refers to a process of reading the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input from the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM in which one or a plurality of multimedia data 300 is stored in advance to the RAM 103. Including pre-processing necessary for reproducing the multimedia data 300.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the reproduction processing of this embodiment. Since the reproduction patterns 1 and 2 are the same as those in the above embodiment, the description of steps S501 to S506 is omitted, and the processing after the case of YES in step S504 will be described.

  When receiving the second instruction input, the CPU 101 starts preparation for reproducing the second section 320 of the multimedia data 300 set from the temporary selection state to the selection state (step S601). Specifically, the CPU 101 starts a process of reading the data portion corresponding to the second section 320 from the DVD-ROM to the RAM 103 among the multimedia data 300 set to the selected state.

  Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the reproduction of the first section 310 has ended (step S602).

  When the reproduction of the first section 310 has not ended (step S602; NO), the CPU 101 continues to reproduce the first section 310.

  When the reproduction of the first section 310 is completed (step S602; YES), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the reproduction of the second section 320 is ready (step S603). Specifically, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the process of reading out the data portion corresponding to the second section 320 from the DVD-ROM to the RAM 103 in the multimedia data 300 set in the selected state has ended.

  If it is determined that the second section 320 is not ready for playback (step S603; NO), the CPU 101 starts playback of the first section 310 (step S604). That is, when the CPU 101 cannot immediately shift to the playback of the second section 320 after the end of the playback of the first section 310, the CPU 101 starts the playback of the first section 310 again without starting the playback of the second section 320.

  For example, if the data processing of the second section 320 is not finished because the data size of the second section 320 is large, the CPU 101 repeatedly reproduces the first section 310 until the reading processing of the second section 320 is finished. To do.

  For example, when the second section 320 is read out just before the end of the reproduction of the first section 310 and the second instruction input is received, the CPU 101 waits until the reading section of the second section 320 ends. The first section 310 is reproduced repeatedly.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the second section 320 is ready for playback (step S603; YES), the CPU 101 starts playback of the second section 320 (step S605). The reproduction of the second section 320 is started after the reproduction of the first section 310 has been normally reproduced from the beginning to the end without interrupting the reproduction of the first section 310.

  When the reproduction of the second section 320 has not ended (step S606; NO), the CPU 101 continues the reproduction of the second section 320 and ends the reproduction of the second section 320 (step S606; YES). ), The reproduction process is terminated.

  According to the present embodiment, even if the reading of the data portion of the second section 320 is not completed between the time when the second instruction input is received and the reproduction of the first section 310 is completed, the first section 310 is completed. By repeating the above, the reproduction of the multimedia data 300 can be continued smoothly.

  Note that when the CPU 101 repeatedly reproduces the first section 310 according to the reproduction pattern 2, it may end while fading out the reproduction volume of the first section 310, and may reproduce the first section 310 again at the normal volume.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In each of the above embodiments, the multimedia data 300 is described as audio data. However, in this embodiment, the multimedia data 300 includes audio data and video data. The video data may be either still image data or moving image data. Here, an embodiment in which moving image data (so-called movie) is used will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration example of the multimedia data 300 of the present embodiment. The multimedia data 300 includes audio data composed of a first section 711 and a second section 712, and video data composed of a first section 721 and a second section 722. The storage unit 201 can store one or a plurality of multimedia data 300 including audio data and video data.

  The time length of the first section 711 of the audio data is the same as the time length of the first section 721 of the video data. The time length of the second section 712 of the audio data is the same as the time length of the second section 722 of the video data.

  When the CPU 101 reproduces the first section 711 of the audio data, it reproduces it together with the first section 721 of the video data. Further, when reproducing the second section 712 of the audio data, the CPU 101 reproduces it together with the second section 722 of the video data.

  FIG. 8 is a configuration example of the song selection screen of the present embodiment. The music selection screen includes a video window 810 (denoted as 810A to 810E in the figure) on which the playback screen of the first section 721 of the video data is displayed in addition to the cursor 410 and the image portion 420 representing the music. It is.

  FIG. 9 is a configuration example of the music playback screen of this embodiment. The music playback screen is displayed after any music is selected as the target of all playback on the music selection screen. The music playback screen includes a video window 910 in which the playback screen of the second section 722 of the video data is displayed.

  The size (typically area) of the video window 810 on which the playback screen of the first section 721 is displayed is preferably smaller than the size of the video window 910 on which the playback screen of the second section 722 is displayed. Alternatively, it is desirable that the sampling rate and bit rate of the first section 711 of the video data be lower than the sampling rate and bit rate of the second section 722 of the video data.

  In the present embodiment, in step S502 described above, the CPU 101 reads out the first section 711 of audio data and the first section 721 of video data from the multimedia data 300 indicated by the first instruction input. In step S503, the CPU 101 reproduces the first section 711 of the audio data and the first section 721 of the video data at the same time.

  That is, when a certain piece of music is temporarily selected, the playback sound of the first section 711 of the audio data flows from the speaker, and the playback image of the first section 721 of the video data is displayed in the video window 810 on the music selection screen of FIG. Is displayed.

  Further, in step S507 described above, the CPU 101 reads out the second section 712 of the audio data and the second section 722 of the video data from the multimedia data 300 indicated by the first instruction input. In step S508 described above, the CPU 101 reproduces the second section 712 of the audio data and the second section 722 of the video data at the same time.

  That is, when a certain piece of music is selected, the playback sound of the second section 712 of the audio data flows from the speaker, and the playback image of the second section 722 of the video data is displayed in the video window 910 on the music playback screen of FIG. Is done.

  As described above, the multimedia data 300 may include video data in addition to audio data. Even when video data is included, the reproduction of the multimedia data 300 can be started quickly, and the entire multimedia data 300 can be reproduced smoothly without interruption.

  According to the present embodiment, for example, in a game in which a player plays or dances according to the main part of the music to be played, if the music to be played is provisionally selected by the first instruction input on the selection screen, the prelude of the music Audio and video are played in advance. When the temporarily selected music is selected as the game play music by the second instruction input, the sound and video of the main part of the music are continuously played after the pre-play that has been played in advance. That is, the main part is reproduced after the pre-play that has been played in advance, rather than being played again from the pre-play after the selection of the music piece by the second instruction input. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the time until the main part starts to be played and to start the game early.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, both audio data and video data are composed of two sections. On the other hand, the present embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that the audio data is composed of the first section 711 and the second section 712, and the video data is composed of only one section. This will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 10 is a configuration example of the multimedia data 300 of this embodiment. The multimedia data 300 includes audio data composed of a first section 711 and a second section 712 and video data composed of one entire section 1022. The storage unit 201 can store one or a plurality of multimedia data 300 including audio data and video data.

  The entire section 1022 corresponds to the second section 722 of the video data in the third embodiment. In other words, the video data of this embodiment is composed of only the second section 722, and the first section 721 does not exist.

  The CPU 101 does not reproduce video data when reproducing the first section 711 of audio data. Further, when the CPU 101 reproduces the second section 712 of the audio data, the CPU 101 reproduces it together with the entire section 1022 of the video data.

  In the present embodiment, in step S502 described above, the CPU 101 reads the first section 711 of the audio data from the multimedia data 300 indicated by the first instruction input. In step S503 described above, the CPU 101 reproduces the first section 711 of the audio data.

  That is, when a certain music piece is temporarily selected, the playback sound of the first section 711 of the audio data flows from the speaker. At this time, the CPU 101 displays a music selection screen as shown in FIG. 4 on the monitor.

  Further, in step S507 described above, the CPU 101 reads out the second section 712 of the audio data and the entire section 1022 of the video data from the multimedia data 300 indicated by the first instruction input. In step S508 described above, the CPU 101 reproduces the second section 712 of the audio data and the entire section 1022 of the video data at the same time.

  That is, when a certain piece of music is selected, the playback sound of the second section 712 of the audio data flows from the speaker, and the playback image of the entire section 1022 of the video data is displayed in the video window 910 on the music playback screen of FIG. The

  According to the present embodiment, when temporarily selected by the first instruction input, the amount of data to be read out of the multimedia data 300 can be reduced, so that the reproduction of the multimedia data 300 can be started earlier. Will be able to.

  For example, in a game in which the player plays or dances in accordance with the main part of the music to be played, if the music to be played is provisionally selected by the first instruction input on the selection screen, only the prelude sound of the music is preceded. Played. When the temporarily selected music is selected as the game play music by the second instruction input, the sound and video of the main part of the music are continuously played after the pre-play that has been played in advance. That is, the main part is reproduced after the pre-play that has been played in advance, rather than being played again from the pre-play after the selection of the music piece by the second instruction input. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the time until the main part starts to be played and to start the game early.

(Embodiment 5)
Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, audio data and video data included in the multimedia data 300 are each composed of two different types of data. The playback apparatus 200 plays back audio data and video data created with two types of quality, respectively. This will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the multimedia data 300 of the present embodiment.

  The audio data is composed of a first section 1101 created in advance with the first quality, a first section 1102 created in advance in the second quality, and a second section 1103 created in the first quality. The The quality is, for example, a sampling rate or a bit rate. It is assumed that the first quality is relatively higher (quality is better) than the second quality. Hereinafter, the first quality is called high quality, and the second quality is called low quality.

  In the present embodiment, of the two first sections 1101 and 1102, the first section 1101 is sound data created at a high sampling rate, and the first section 1102 is sound data created at a low sampling rate.

  Also, the audio data of the second section 1103 is created at a high sampling rate as in the first section 1101. The first section 1101 and the second section 1103 are created at the same sampling rate.

  The quality of video data is the same as that of audio data. That is, the video data includes a first section 1151 created in advance with the first quality, a first section 1152 created in advance in the second quality, and a second section 1153 created in the first quality. Composed. Of the two first sections 1151 and 1152, the first section 1151 is video data created at a high sampling rate, and the first section 1152 is video data created at a low sampling rate.

  Further, the video data of the second section 1153 is created at a high sampling rate as in the first section 1151. The first section 1151 and the second section 1153 are created at the same sampling rate.

  When the audio data of the multimedia data 300 is partially reproduced, the CPU 101 reproduces one of the high quality first section 1101 and the low quality first section 1102.

  Similarly, when partially reproducing the video data of the multimedia data 300, the CPU 101 reproduces one of the high-quality first section 1151 and the low-quality first section 1152.

  However, the CPU 101 reproduces with high quality audio data when reproducing high quality video data, and reproduces with low quality video data when reproducing low quality video data. That is, the combinations of sections that are reproduced together are as follows.

(Pair 1) A first section 1101 of audio data and a first section 1151 of video data.
(Pair 2) A first section 1102 of audio data and a first section 1152 of video data.
(Pair 3) A second section 1103 of audio data and a second section 1153 of video data.

  In the present embodiment, when reproducing the multimedia data 300, the CPU 101 reproduces one of the following reproduction patterns 4, 5, 6A, 6B instead of the reproduction patterns 1, 2, 3 described above.

(Playback pattern 4) When the first instruction input is received, the CPU 101, among the multimedia data 300 designated by the received first instruction input, the first section 1102 of the audio data and the first section of the video data. Playback of 1152 is started. In this reproduction pattern, reproduction is performed in the pair 2, that is, both audio and video are low quality.

(Reproduction Pattern 5) After the first instruction input is accepted and until the second instruction input is accepted, the CPU 101 completes the reproduction of the first section 1102 of the audio data and the second section 1152 of the video data. Playback of the first section 1102 of data and the second section 1152 of video data is started. Even this reproduction pattern is reproduced in the above pair 2, that is, both audio and video are low quality.

(Reproduction Pattern 6A) After the second instruction input is accepted, when the reproduction of the first section 1102 of the audio data and the first section 1152 of the video data is completed, the CPU 101 determines the multimedia determined by the second instruction input. In the data 300, playback of the second section 1103 of the audio data and the second section 1153 of the video data is started. In this reproduction pattern, after the prelude part is reproduced in the pair 2, the main part is reproduced in the pair 3.

(Reproduction Pattern 6B) After the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section 1102 of the audio data and the first section 1152 of the video data is completed, the CPU 101 determines the multimedia determined by the second instruction input. Of the data 300, first, the first section 1101 of the audio data and the first section 1151 of the video data are reproduced, and after the reproduction, the reproduction of the second section 1103 of the audio data and the second section 1153 of the video data is started. To do. In this reproduction pattern, after the prelude part is reproduced in the pair 2 (low quality), the prelude part is reproduced in the pair 1 (high quality), and the main part is reproduced in the pair 3 (high quality).

  Which of the reproduction patterns 6A and 6B is selected is arbitrarily determined by the user, for example. That is, when the multimedia data 300 is selected, the CPU 101 receives from the user an input for selecting whether to reproduce with the reproduction pattern 6A or reproduction pattern 6B. Then, the CPU 101 stores the selection result by the user in a non-volatile memory such as the external memory 106.

  For example, when any song is selected by the second instruction input on the song selection screen shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 8, the CPU 101 reads information indicating the selection result stored in the external memory 106 or the like, and plays the reproduction pattern. The multimedia data 300 is reproduced by the one selected by the user among 6A and the reproduction pattern 6B.

  Next, the reproduction processing of this embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, the multimedia data 300 includes audio data and video data created in advance with two types of quality as shown in FIG.

  First, the CPU 101 determines whether or not a first instruction input has been received via the controller 105 (step S1201).

  If it is determined that the first instruction input has not been received (step S1201; NO), the CPU 101 repeats the process of step S1201 until the first instruction input is received.

  If it is determined that the first instruction input has been received (step S1201; YES), the CPU 101 creates the second quality (low quality) of the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the received first instruction input. Data portions corresponding to the first sections 1102 and 1152 are read from the DVD-ROM to the RAM 103 (step S1202).

  The CPU 101 starts reproduction of the data portion of the first sections 1102 and 1152 read in step S1202 in the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input (step S1203). That is, the CPU 101 starts partial reproduction of the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input. This reproduction corresponds to the reproduction pattern 4 described above.

  Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not a second instruction input has been accepted via the controller 105 (step S1204). For example, in the song selection screen of FIG. 8, with the cursor 410 placed on one of the image portions 420 representing the song, the user performs a predetermined input operation (for example, click, double-click, or pressing of a predetermined key or button). And the like, the CPU 101 determines that the second instruction input for specifying the music corresponding to the image portion 420 with the cursor 410 is received, and otherwise determines that the second instruction input is not received. To do.

  When it is determined that the second instruction input has not been received (step S1204; NO), the CPU 101 determines whether a new first instruction input has been received (step S1205).

  When it is determined that a new first instruction input has been received (step S1205; YES), the CPU 101 returns to the above-described step S1202 and repeats the processes of steps S1202 to S1204.

  When it is determined that a new first instruction input has not been received (step S1205; NO), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the reproduction of the first sections 1102 and 1152 created with the second quality has ended. (Step S1206).

  When the reproduction of the first sections 1102 and 1152 is completed (step S1206; YES), the CPU 101 returns to the above-described step S1203 and starts the reproduction of the first sections 1102 and 1152 again (step S1203). This reproduction corresponds to the reproduction pattern 5 described above.

  When the reproduction of the first sections 1102 and 1152 has not ended (step S1206; NO), the CPU 101 returns to the process of step S1204 described above.

  Next, when it is determined in step S1204 that the second instruction input has been received (step S1204; YES), the CPU 101 reproduces the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with the first quality (high quality). Whether or not (step S1207). That is, it is determined whether or not to play back the prelude portion created in high quality after playback of the prelude portion created in low quality, in other words, in which of the playback patterns 6A and 6B is played back. The For example, the CPU 101 selects one of the reproduction patterns 6A and 6B based on information indicating a selection result by the user stored in advance in a non-volatile memory such as the external memory 106.

  When it is determined that the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with the first quality (high quality) are to be played back (step S1207; YES), the CPU 101 selects the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input. Data portions corresponding to the first sections 1101 and 1151 and data portions corresponding to the second sections 1103 and 1153 are read from the DVD-ROM to the RAM 103 (step S1208).

  Then, the CPU 101 starts the reproduction of the data portion of the high quality first sections 1101 and 1151 read in step S1208 after the reproduction of the low quality first sections 1102 and 1152 is completed (step S1209). Further, the CPU 101 starts reproducing the data portion of the high quality second sections 1103 and 1153 read out in step S1208 after the reproduction of the high quality first sections 1101 and 1151 is completed (step S1210). These reproductions correspond to the reproduction pattern 6B.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with the first quality (high quality) are not reproduced (step S1207; NO), the CPU 101 determines the multimedia data 300 of the music indicated by the first instruction input. Among them, the data portion corresponding to the second sections 1103 and 1153 is read from the DVD-ROM to the RAM 103 (step S1211).

  Then, the CPU 101 starts reproducing the data portion of the high-quality second sections 1103 and 1153 read out in step S1211 after the reproduction of the low-quality first sections 1102 and 1152 is finished (step S1210). This reproduction corresponds to the reproduction pattern 6A.

  When the playback of the second sections 1103 and 1153 has not ended (step S1212; NO), the CPU 101 continues the playback of the second sections 1103 and 1153, and when the playback of the second sections 1103 and 1153 has ended ( Step S1212; YES), the reproduction process ends.

  According to the present embodiment, the playback device 200 can start playback of the multimedia data 300 early, and can smoothly playback the entire multimedia data 300 without interruption. Even if the playback apparatus 200 does not read the entire section of the multimedia data 300, the playback apparatus 200 can start playback by reading the first sections 1102 and 1152 having a relatively small data size. Furthermore, when the user wants to view the high-quality audio data / video data of the prelude part after the low-quality audio data / video data of the prelude part has been reproduced, the playback device 200 renews the high-quality audio data.・ Play the entire song (both the prelude part and the main part) with video data. Therefore, the user can view not only low quality but also high quality audio data / video data as desired. In this embodiment, multimedia data created with two types of quality is prepared. However, multimedia data created with three or more types of quality is prepared, and the multimedia data of which quality is reproduced among them. It can also be made to select.

(Embodiment 6)
Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the above-described embodiment, audio data / video data having a quality previously selected by the user from two different qualities is reproduced. On the other hand, this embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that it selects which quality of audio data / video data is to be reproduced according to the past reproduction status of the multimedia data 300. This embodiment can be implemented in combination with the fifth embodiment. This will be described in detail below.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the CPU 101 stores the reproduction history information 1300 of the multimedia data 300 in a non-volatile memory such as the external memory 106.

  The playback history information 1300 includes an identifier 1301 that can uniquely identify the multimedia data 300, a playback history 1302 of the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with high quality, and second sections 1103 and 1153 created with high quality. Are stored in association with each other. A combination of the identifier 1301 and the reproduction history 1302 and 1303 is referred to as one “record”.

  The identifier 1301 is represented by, for example, a predetermined unique number, symbol, or a combination thereof. The reproduction histories 1302 and 1303 are represented by, for example, the number of reproductions and reproduction date / time.

  In step S1209, when the CPU 101 reproduces the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with high quality, the CPU 101 updates the reproduction history 1302 associated with the identifier 1301 of the reproduced multimedia data 300.

  Specifically, the CPU 101 sets an initial value “1” to the number of reproductions of the reproduction history 1302 when reproducing the first section 1101 and 1151 of a certain multimedia data 300 for the first time. When the CPU 101 reproduces the first section 1101 or 1151 of a certain multimedia data 300 for the second time or later, the CPU 101 increments the number of times of reproduction of the reproduction history 1302 corresponding to the identification code 1301 of the multimedia data 300.

  Alternatively, when the CPU 101 plays the first section 1101 or 1151 of a certain multimedia data 300 for the first time, the first section 1101 or 1151 for the first time at the playback date / time of the playback history 1302 corresponding to the identifier 1301 of the multimedia data 300. Set the date and time when the playback of In addition, when the CPU 101 reproduces the first section 1101 and 1151 of a certain multimedia data 300 after the second time, the CPU 101 sets the reproduction date and time of the reproduction history 1302 corresponding to the identifier 1301 of the multimedia data 300 after the second time. The first section 1101 and 1151 are rewritten to the date and time when the reproduction is started.

  In step S <b> 1212, when the CPU 101 reproduces the second sections 1103 and 1153, the CPU 101 updates the reproduction history 1303 associated with the identifier 1301 of the reproduced multimedia data 300.

  Specifically, when the CPU 101 reproduces the second section 1103 or 1153 of a certain multimedia data 300 for the first time, the CPU 101 sets the initial value “1” as the number of times of reproduction of the reproduction history 1303 corresponding to the identifier 1301 of the multimedia data 300. ”Is set. Further, when the second section 1103 and 1153 of a certain multimedia data 300 is reproduced for the second time and thereafter, the CPU 101 increments the number of times of reproduction of the reproduction history 1303 corresponding to the identifier 1301 of the multimedia data 300.

  Alternatively, when the CPU 101 plays the second section 1103, 1153 of the multimedia data 300 for the first time, the second section 1103, 1153 for the first time at the playback date / time of the playback history 1303 corresponding to the identifier 1301 of the multimedia data 300. Set the date and time when the playback of In addition, when the CPU 101 reproduces the second section 1103 and 1153 of a certain multimedia data 300 for the second time or later, the CPU 101 sets the reproduction date and time of the reproduction history 1303 corresponding to the identifier 1301 of the multimedia data 300 for the second or later time. The second section 1103 and 1153 are rewritten to the date and time when the reproduction is started.

  In step S1207, the CPU 101 determines whether to reproduce the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with high quality based on the reproduction history information 1300 (that is, which one of the reproduction pattern 6A and the reproduction pattern 6B is adopted). ). There are several variations in this discrimination method.

  For example, the CPU 101 refers to the playback history 1302 corresponding to the identifier 1301 of the multimedia data 300 set to the selected state by the second instruction input, and adopts the playback pattern 6B when the playback count is zero. When the number of reproductions is one or more, the reproduction pattern 6A can be adopted. That is, if the CPU 101 has never played back the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with high quality, the CPU 101 plays back the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with high quality. Therefore, the audio data / video data created with high quality can be viewed at least once by the user. Note that the CPU 101 may not store the reproduction history 1303 of the second sections 1103 and 1153.

  For example, the CPU 101 refers to the reproduction history 1302 and 1303 corresponding to the identifier 1301 of the multimedia data 300 set to the selected state by the second instruction input, and sets the number of reproductions of the reproduction history 1302 relative to the number of reproductions of the reproduction history 1303. If the ratio is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the reproduction pattern 6B can be adopted, and if not, the reproduction pattern 6A can be adopted. The number of reproductions of the reproduction history 1303 can be regarded as the number of times that the multimedia data 300 has been reproduced to the end (the number of times that the prelude and the main part have been reproduced). In other words, the ratio of the number of playbacks of the playback history 1302 to the number of playbacks of the playback history 1303 can be regarded as a parameter representing the degree that the user wants to view the multimedia data 300 with high quality. Therefore, the playback device 200 can estimate whether or not the user wants to view with high quality, and can selectively use high quality and low quality according to the estimation result so as to suit the user's preference.

For example, referring to the playback history 1302 corresponding to the identifier 1301 of the multimedia data 300 set to the selected state by the second instruction input, when the playback date and time is within a predetermined time from the current date and time, the playback pattern 6A is adopted. Otherwise, the reproduction pattern 6B can be adopted. In other words, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the last reproduction of the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with high quality, the CPU 101 plays the first sections 1101 and 1151 created with high quality at the next playback.

  According to the present embodiment, the playback device 200 can select and play back a quality that suits the user's preference, and can start playback of the multimedia data 300 quickly and smoothly.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible. Moreover, it is also possible to freely combine the constituent elements of the above-described embodiments.

  A program for operating the computer as all or part of the playback device 200 is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a memory card, CD-ROM, DVD, or MO (Magneto Optical disk) and distributed. It may be installed in another computer and operated as the above-described means, or the above-described steps may be executed.

  Furthermore, the program may be stored in a disk device or the like included in a server device on the Internet, and may be downloaded onto a computer by being superimposed on a carrier wave, for example.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a playback device, a playback method, and a program suitable for enabling the playback of multimedia data to be started quickly and smoothly.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the typical information processing apparatus with which the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of this invention is implement | achieved. It is a figure for demonstrating the functional structure of a reproducing | regenerating apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of multimedia data. It is a structural example of a music selection screen. It is a flowchart for demonstrating reproduction | regeneration processing. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a reproduction process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of multimedia data according to a third embodiment. It is a structural example of the music selection screen of Embodiment 3. It is an example of a structure of the music reproduction screen of Embodiment 3. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of multimedia data according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of multimedia data according to a fifth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a reproduction process according to the fifth embodiment. It is an example of composition of reproduction history information.

Explanation of symbols

100 Information processing apparatus 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 Interface 105 Controller 106 External Memory 107 DVD-ROM Drive 108 Image Processing Unit 109 Audio Processing Unit 110 NIC
200 playback device 201 storage unit 202 reception unit 203 playback unit 300, 300A, 300B multimedia data 310 first section (section to be played back before)
320 Second interval (interval to be played back later)
410 Cursor 420, 420A-420E Image portion 711 First section 712 of audio data Second section 721 of audio data First section 722 of video data Second section 810 of video data 810, 810A-810E Video window 910 of music selection screen Video window 1022 of playback screen All sections 1101 of video data First section 1102 of first quality (high quality) of audio data First section 1102 of second quality (low quality) of audio data Second section 1151 of quality (high quality) First section 1152 of first quality (high quality) of video data First section 1153 of second quality (low quality) of video data First quality of video data ( (High quality) second section 1300 playback history information 1301 identifier 1302 high quality first section playback history 1303 second section playback history History

Claims (12)

A section composed of audio data to be reproduced before (hereinafter referred to as “first section”) and a section composed of audio data and video data (hereinafter referred to as “second section”). A storage unit for storing a plurality of multimedia data composed of the two sections;
A first instruction input for designating one of the plurality of multimedia data, and a first instruction input for determining that the second section of the designated multimedia data is to be played after receiving the first instruction input; A reception unit for receiving two instruction inputs from a user;
A playback unit for playing back the multimedia data,
(A) When the first instruction input is accepted, playback of the first section is started out of the multimedia data designated by the accepted first instruction input;
(B) When the reproduction of the first section is completed after the first instruction input is received and until the second instruction input is received, the reproduction of the first section is repeated,
(C) When the reproduction of the first section is completed after the second instruction input is received, the reproduction of the second section of the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is started. And
A playback apparatus comprising: The playback apparatus according to claim 1,
When the second instruction input is received, the playback unit starts preparation for playback of the second section, and after receiving the second instruction input, when the playback of the first section is completed, If the preparation for the reproduction of the two sections is completed, the reproduction of the second section is started, and if the preparation is not completed, the reproduction of the first section is started.
A reproducing apparatus characterized by that. The playback device according to claim 1 or 2,
Among the stored multimedia data, the quality of the first section is lower than the quality of the second section.
A reproducing apparatus characterized by that. The playback device according to claim 1 or 2,
Of the stored multimedia data, the first section includes first quality multimedia data and second quality multimedia data,
The second section consists of multimedia data of the first quality,
The first quality is higher than the second quality,
The reproduction unit reproduces multimedia data having a quality selected in advance by the user from among the first quality and the second quality as multimedia data of the first section.
A reproducing apparatus characterized by that. The section to be reproduced before (hereinafter referred to as “first section”) composed of the first quality data and the second quality data, and composed of the first quality data and reproduced later. A storage section for storing a plurality of multimedia data composed of two sections, a power section (hereinafter referred to as “second section”);
A first instruction input for designating one of the plurality of multimedia data, and a first instruction input for determining that the second section of the designated multimedia data is to be played after receiving the first instruction input; A reception unit for receiving two instruction inputs from a user;
A playback unit for playing back the multimedia data,
(X) When the first instruction input is received, the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is started in the multimedia data designated by the received first instruction input;
(Y) After the first instruction input is received and until the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section is completed, the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is repeated,
(Z) After the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed, the first data among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is A playback unit for starting playback of the first section made of quality or the second section made of the first quality;
With
The first quality is higher than the second quality,
The storage unit further stores a reproduction history including the number of times the first section composed of the first quality is reproduced and the number of times the second section composed of the first quality is reproduced,
When the reproduction of the first section composed of the second quality is completed after the second instruction input is received, the reproducing unit corresponds to the number of times the second section composed of the first quality is reproduced. , The ratio of the number of times the first section having the first quality has been reproduced is
(Z1) When the value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the reproduction of the first section composed of the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is started, and the first composed of the first quality After the end of playback of one section, start playback of the second section of the first quality,
(Z2) If it is not equal to or greater than a predetermined value, start reproduction of the second section having the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input.
A reproducing apparatus characterized by that. The section to be reproduced before (hereinafter referred to as “first section”) composed of the first quality data and the second quality data, and composed of the first quality data and reproduced later. A storage section for storing a plurality of multimedia data composed of two sections, a power section (hereinafter referred to as “second section”);
A first instruction input for designating one of the plurality of multimedia data, and a first instruction input for determining that the second section of the designated multimedia data is to be played after receiving the first instruction input; A reception unit for receiving two instruction inputs from a user;
A playback unit for playing back the multimedia data,
(X) When the first instruction input is received, the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is started in the multimedia data designated by the received first instruction input;
(Y) After the first instruction input is received and until the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section is completed, the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is repeated,
(Z) After the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed, the first data among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is A playback unit for starting playback of the first section made of quality or the second section made of the first quality;
With
The first quality is higher than the second quality,
The storage unit further stores a reproduction history by the reproduction unit including a date and time when the first section having the first quality is reproduced,
When the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed after the second instruction input is received, the reproducing unit starts from the date and time when the first section having the first quality is reproduced. The time elapsed until the current date and time
(Z3) If within the predetermined time, start reproduction of the second section of the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input,
(Z4) If it is not within the predetermined time, the reproduction of the first section composed of the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is started, and the first composed of the first quality After the reproduction of one section, the reproduction of the second section having the first quality is started.
A reproducing apparatus characterized by that. A reproduction method executed by a reproduction apparatus having a storage unit, a reception unit, and a reproduction unit,
The storage unit includes an audio data section to be reproduced before (hereinafter referred to as “first section”) and an audio data and video data section to be reproduced later (hereinafter referred to as “second”). A plurality of multimedia data composed of two sections, "section"),
The reception unit reproduces the second section of the designated multimedia data after receiving the first instruction input designating one of the plurality of multimedia data and the first instruction input. A second instruction input for determining that a reception step for receiving from a user;
A playback step in which the playback unit plays back the multimedia data;
(A) When the first instruction input is received, the playback unit starts playback of the first section of the multimedia data specified by the received first instruction input;
(B) When the reproduction of the first section is completed until the second instruction input is received after the first instruction input is received, the playback unit repeats the playback of the first section,
(C) When the playback of the first section is completed after the second instruction input is received, the playback unit plays back the second section of the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input. The playback step,
A playback method comprising: Computer
A section composed of audio data to be reproduced before (hereinafter referred to as “first section”) and a section composed of audio data and video data (hereinafter referred to as “second section”). A storage unit for storing a plurality of multimedia data composed of two sections;
A first instruction input for designating one of the plurality of multimedia data, and a first instruction input for determining that the second section of the designated multimedia data is to be played after receiving the first instruction input; A reception unit that receives two instruction inputs from the user;
A playback unit for playing back the multimedia data,
(A) When the first instruction input is accepted, playback of the first section is started out of the multimedia data designated by the accepted first instruction input;
(B) When the reproduction of the first section is completed after the first instruction input is received and until the second instruction input is received, the reproduction of the first section is repeated,
(C) When the reproduction of the first section is completed after the second instruction input is received, the reproduction of the second section of the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is started. Part,
A program characterized by functioning as A reproduction method executed by a reproduction apparatus having a storage unit, a reception unit, and a reproduction unit,
The storage unit includes a section to be reproduced before (hereinafter referred to as a “first section”) composed of first quality data and second quality data, and the first quality data. A plurality of multimedia data composed of two sections, namely, a section to be reproduced later (hereinafter referred to as “second section”),
The reception unit reproduces the second section of the designated multimedia data after receiving the first instruction input designating one of the plurality of multimedia data and the first instruction input. A second instruction input for determining that a reception step for receiving from a user;
A playback step in which the playback unit plays back the multimedia data;
(X) When the first instruction input is accepted, the reproduction unit reproduces the first section having the second quality among the multimedia data designated by the accepted first instruction input. Start,
(Y) After the first instruction input is received and until the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section is completed, the reproduction unit performs the first section having the second quality. Repeat playback of
(Z) After the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed, the reproduction unit includes the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input. A reproduction step for starting reproduction of the first section composed of the first quality or the second section composed of the first quality;
With
The first quality is higher than the second quality,
The storage unit further stores a reproduction history including the number of times the first section having the first quality has been reproduced and the number of times the second section having the first quality has been reproduced. ,
In the reproduction step, when the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed after the second instruction input is received, the number of times the second section having the first quality is reproduced , The ratio of the number of times the first section having the first quality has been reproduced is
(Z1) When the value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the playback unit starts playback of the first section having the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input, After the reproduction of the first section of quality, the reproduction of the second section of the first quality is started,
(Z2) If it is not equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the playback unit starts playback of the second section having the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input.
A reproduction method characterized by the above. Computer
The section to be reproduced before (hereinafter referred to as “first section”) composed of the first quality data and the second quality data, and composed of the first quality data and reproduced later. A storage unit for storing a plurality of multimedia data composed of two sections, a power section (hereinafter referred to as “second section”);
A first instruction input for designating one of the plurality of multimedia data, and a first instruction input for determining that the second section of the designated multimedia data is to be played after receiving the first instruction input; A reception unit that receives two instruction inputs from the user;
A playback unit for playing back the multimedia data,
(X) When the first instruction input is received, the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is started in the multimedia data designated by the received first instruction input;
(Y) After the first instruction input is received and until the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section is completed, the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is repeated,
(Z) After the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed, the first data among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is A playback unit for starting playback of the first section made of quality or the second section made of the first quality;
Function as
The first quality is higher than the second quality,
The storage unit further stores a reproduction history including the number of times the first section composed of the first quality is reproduced and the number of times the second section composed of the first quality is reproduced,
When the reproduction of the first section composed of the second quality is completed after the second instruction input is received, the reproducing unit corresponds to the number of times the second section composed of the first quality is reproduced. , The ratio of the number of times the first section having the first quality has been reproduced is
(Z1) When the value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the reproduction of the first section composed of the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is started, and the first composed of the first quality After the end of playback of one section, start playback of the second section of the first quality,
(Z2) If it is not equal to or greater than a predetermined value, start reproduction of the second section having the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input.
A program characterized by functioning as follows. A reproduction method executed by a reproduction apparatus having a storage unit, a reception unit, and a reproduction unit,
The storage unit includes a section to be reproduced before (hereinafter referred to as a “first section”) composed of first quality data and second quality data, and the first quality data. A plurality of multimedia data composed of two sections, namely, a section to be reproduced later (hereinafter referred to as “second section”),
The reception unit reproduces the second section of the designated multimedia data after receiving the first instruction input designating one of the plurality of multimedia data and the first instruction input. A second instruction input for determining that a reception step for receiving from a user;
A playback step in which the playback unit plays back the multimedia data;
(X) When the first instruction input is accepted, the reproduction unit reproduces the first section having the second quality among the multimedia data designated by the accepted first instruction input. Start,
(Y) After the first instruction input is received and until the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section is completed, the reproduction unit performs the first section having the second quality. Repeat playback of
(Z) After the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed, the reproduction unit includes the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input. A reproduction step of starting reproduction of the first section composed of the first quality or the second section composed of the first quality;
With
The first quality is higher than the second quality,
The storage unit further stores a reproduction history by the reproduction unit including a date and time when the first section having the first quality is reproduced,
In the reproduction step, after the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed, the date and time when the first section having the first quality is reproduced. The time elapsed until the current date and time
(Z3) If within the predetermined time, the playback unit starts playback of the second section of the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input,
(Z4) If not within the predetermined time, the playback unit starts playback of the first section of the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input, and the first After the reproduction of the first section consisting of quality, the reproduction of the second section consisting of the first quality is started.
A reproduction method characterized by the above. Computer
The section to be reproduced before (hereinafter referred to as “first section”) composed of the first quality data and the second quality data, and composed of the first quality data and reproduced later. A storage unit for storing a plurality of multimedia data composed of two sections, a power section (hereinafter referred to as “second section”);
A first instruction input for designating one of the plurality of multimedia data, and a first instruction input for determining that the second section of the designated multimedia data is to be played after receiving the first instruction input; A reception unit that receives two instruction inputs from the user;
A playback unit for playing back the multimedia data,
(X) When the first instruction input is received, the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is started in the multimedia data designated by the received first instruction input;
(Y) After the first instruction input is received and until the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section is completed, the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is repeated,
(Z) After the second instruction input is received, when the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed, the first data among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is A playback unit for starting playback of the first section made of quality or the second section made of the first quality;
Function as
The first quality is higher than the second quality,
The storage unit further stores a reproduction history by the reproduction unit including a date and time when the first section having the first quality is reproduced,
When the reproduction of the first section having the second quality is completed after the second instruction input is received, the reproducing unit starts from the date and time when the first section having the first quality is reproduced. The time elapsed until the current date and time
(Z3) If within the predetermined time, start reproduction of the second section of the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input,
(Z4) If it is not within the predetermined time, the reproduction of the first section composed of the first quality among the multimedia data determined by the second instruction input is started, and the first composed of the first quality After the reproduction of one section, the reproduction of the second section having the first quality is started.
A program characterized by functioning as follows.

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