JP4671839B2 - Content reproduction method and content reproduction apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content playback apparatus that plays back content based on stored content data. More specifically, the present invention can reduce the number of operations required by a user to select content to be played back. The present invention relates to a content reproduction method and a content reproduction apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a widespread use of content playback apparatuses that include storage means such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, store digital content data such as music data in the storage means, and play back content based on the stored content data. Yes. An example of such a content playback apparatus is a portable music player that plays music. In addition, content playback apparatuses that can play back content such as images other than music are also widespread. Since the storage means such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory can be increased in capacity, it is possible to develop a content reproduction apparatus capable of storing a larger amount of content data. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of such a content reproduction apparatus.

  As a method for managing a large amount of content data stored in the storage unit as the storage unit increases in capacity, the content playback apparatus associates attribute information related to the content with the content data and uses the attribute information. Some use a method of managing content data. For example, in a music player, music content data is stored in a format such as an MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) file, and the music album, music artist, music genre, etc. are associated with the content data. Are stored in a plurality of types of attribute information. Normally, a content playback device has a small display such as a liquid crystal display and an operation unit, and displays the contents of attribute information on the display. The user operates the operation unit while checking the attribute information displayed on the display. Then, the content to be reproduced is selected by specifying the attribute information. The content reproduction device reproduces content based on content data associated with the identified attribute information.

  Next, a method for selecting content with a conventional content reproduction apparatus will be described using an example in which the content reproduction apparatus is a music player. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the display of a conventional music player when selecting content to be reproduced. First, as shown in FIG. 10A, the music player displays the type of attribute information such as a title or album on the display. The user operates the operation unit of the content reproduction apparatus to move the cursor displayed on the display and specify the type of attribute information. Next, the music player displays a list of the specified types of attribute information on the display. For example, when a title is specified as the type of attribute information, a list of the contents of the attribute information of the type stored in the music player is displayed as shown in FIG. The user specifies the content of the attribute information by selecting one title from the list of titles, and the music player sets the attribute information of the content specified by the title among the stored content data. Is selected, and music is reproduced based on the selected content data. For example, when the song A1 is selected from the list of titles, the music player plays the music whose title is the song A1, and plays the music of the song A1, as shown in FIG. Appears on the display.

  When music is selected using album attribute information, as shown in FIG. 10D, the user specifies the type of album while the type of attribute information is displayed. In this case, the music player displays a list of stored album attribute information, as shown in FIG. When album A is specified from the list of albums, the music player, as shown in FIG. 10 (f), stores content data associated with attribute information of the content of album A from the stored content data. And a content list of attribute information of the title type associated with the extracted content data is displayed on the display. When the music A1 is specified from the content list, the music player plays the music of the music A1 and displays on the display that the music of the music A1 is being played as shown in FIG. .

  When music is selected using artist attribute information, as shown in FIG. 10H, the user specifies the type of artist while the type of attribute information is displayed. In this case, the music player displays a list of artist attribute information as shown in FIG. When artist X is specified from the list of artists, the music player extracts content data associated with the attribute information of artist X from the stored content data as shown in FIG. Then, the content list of the attribute information of the title type associated with the extracted content data is displayed on the display. When the music A1 is specified from the content list, the music player plays the music of the music A1 and displays on the display that the music of the music A1 is being played as shown in FIG. . When the specification of the artist attribute information is accepted on the screen as shown in FIG. 10I, a list of album attribute information associated with the same content data as the specified artist attribute information is displayed. Some music players narrow down content data using a plurality of attribute information of artist attribute information and album attribute information.

  Thus, there are a plurality of selection methods depending on which of the plurality of types of attribute information is used as a method for selecting music of the same song A1. Normally, when the reproduction of one music is completed, the music player continues to reproduce other music. When music is selected using the title type attribute information, the music player plays all the title music in a predetermined order or randomly. When music is selected by specifying album A from the attribute information of the type of album, the music player plays music based on all content data associated with the attribute information of album A in a predetermined order. Or play randomly. When the artist X is specified from the artist attribute information and music is selected, the music player selects music based on all the content data associated with the attribute information of artist X in a predetermined order or Play randomly.

  When changing the type of attribute information while the type of attribute information is specified in the middle of selecting music, the music player redisplays the display screen for specifying the type of attribute information, and then changes the attribute information type. It is necessary to accept the specific type. For example, when the album is re-specified as the attribute information type from the state where the title is specified as the attribute information type, the music player returns the display screen on the display from FIG. 10 (b) to FIG. 10 (a). As shown in FIG. 10D, the specification of the album is accepted as the type of attribute information, and the display screen on the display is shown in FIG. 10E, and the album is specified as the type of attribute information. In addition, even when attempting to re-specify the content of attribute information in the state where the content of the attribute information has been specified during music selection, the music player similarly displays a display screen for specifying the content of the attribute information. It is necessary to accept the specification of the contents of the attribute information again after re-doing. For example, when re-specifying the content of the attribute information from the state in which the attribute information of the content called album A is specified for the type of album, the music player changes the display screen on the display from FIG. Returning to e), the specification of the attribute information of album B is received on the display screen as shown in FIG. 10E, and a display screen for selecting content data related to album B is displayed on the display.

In addition, in a state where the attribute information has already been specified, when trying to select music based on content data associated with other attribute information, the music player needs to accept the specification of attribute information again. For example, when the music of the song A1 selected by specifying the album A as the attribute information is being played, the music player displays the display screen on the display. 10 (g) through FIG. 10 (f) to FIG. 10 (e), the specification of album B is accepted on the display screen as shown in FIG. 10 (e), and the specification of the title related to album B is accepted. The music related to the album B is reproduced. Further, for example, in the state where the music A1 is specified as the attribute information of the title type and music is being played back, and when another music related to the artist X is to be played next, the music player displays the display screen on the display. 10 (c) to FIG. 10 (b), FIG. 10 (a), FIG. 10 (h), and FIG. 10 (i) in this order, and the artist X is specified on the display screen as shown in FIG. 10 (i). In addition, after receiving specification of another title related to artist X, other music related to artist X is reproduced.
JP 2004-145388 A

  As described above, the conventional content reproduction apparatus, when changing the type or content of attribute information already specified in the middle of specifying the type and content of attribute information to select content, Alternatively, it is necessary to display the display screen for specifying the content again on the display, and to specify the type or content of the attribute information again. Also, when playing music related to one album after trying to play music related to another album, the other attribute information is next associated with the content playback device specifying one attribute information. When content is to be reproduced, the conventional content reproduction apparatus needs to switch the display screen and specify the attribute information a plurality of times in order to specify the type or content of other attribute information again. As described above, in the conventional content reproducing apparatus, when the type of attribute information or the specification of the content is changed in the middle of selecting the content, or when the content is selected, the content to be reproduced next is to be selected. In this case, there is a problem that the user has to operate the content reproduction apparatus, and the convenience of content selection is poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is to change the state specifying the type or content of attribute information to a state specifying another type or content, It is an object of the present invention to provide a content reproduction method and a content reproduction apparatus that can reduce the number of operations required by a user to select content.

  Another object of the present invention is to change the state in which the type or content of attribute information is specified while maintaining the state in which one content is selected, and then in the state in which the content is selected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content reproduction method and a content reproduction apparatus that can reduce the number of operations required by a user to select content to be reproduced.

The content playback method according to the present invention stores content data associated with a plurality of types of attribute information, specifies the type of attribute information by receiving an instruction for specifying the attribute information, and the content of the specified type of attribute information In the content playback method in the content playback device that selects content data associated with the specified type and content attribute information, and plays back content based on the selected content data, the content playback device includes: It is possible to accept an instruction to change the type of attribute information in a state in which one type of information has been specified and the content of the specified type of attribute information has not yet been specified, and the content reproduction apparatus can perform the change When an instruction is accepted, the state of identifying one type of attribute information is identified, and the other type of attribute information is identified. Change to the state, the content playback apparatus, one or a plurality of types of contents of the attribute information while selecting a specific to one content data sequentially change instruction of the specified attribute information for selecting the content data A plurality of types of attributes associated with the content data when the content playback apparatus has received the change instruction and the content playback apparatus has specified the content of one attribute information. When the content of information is changed to a state that is specified in order, and the content of a plurality of attribute information is specified, the state is changed to one or more types of attribute information associated with the content data in other combinations. It changes to the state specified in order .

The content playback apparatus according to the present invention specifies a type of attribute information by storing means for storing content data associated with a plurality of types of attribute information and an instruction for specifying the attribute information. Specifying means for specifying the content of the information; data selecting means for selecting content data associated with the type and content attribute information specified by the specifying means; and content based on the content data selected by the data selecting means. In the content reproduction apparatus comprising: means for reproducing, the specifying unit is configured to sequentially specify the contents of one or more types of attribute information, and the specifying unit specifies one type of attribute information. The method of accepting an instruction to change the type of attribute information without specifying the content of the specified type of attribute information. When the means for changing when the unit receives the change instruction, the state of the specifying unit has identified one type of the attribute information, to the state in which the identifying unit has identified other types of attribute information, Means for accepting an instruction to change the attribute information specified for selecting the content data in a state in which the data selection means has selected one content data; and when the means accepts the change instruction, the specifying means Is changed to a state in which the contents of a plurality of types of attribute information associated with the content data are sequentially specified, and the specifying means includes a plurality of pieces of attribute information. When the content is specified, the state is determined by the specifying means specifying the content of one attribute information associated with the content data or a plurality of types of attribute information. Other types of content of the combination or the other order in the specifying unit is characterized in that it comprises a means for changing to a specific state.

A content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores content data associated with a plurality of types of attribute information, and a specifying unit that specifies the type and content of attribute information by receiving an instruction to specify the attribute information. A content playback apparatus comprising: data selection means for selecting content data associated with attribute information of the type and content specified by the specification means; and means for playing back content based on the content data selected by the data selection means When the content of a predetermined type of attribute information capable of associating the same content with a plurality of content data stored in the storage device is specified, the specifying unit sets the content data identical to the attribute information of the specified content. Means for identifying the content of other types of attribute information from the associated attribute information Has the specific means has identified one of the contents of said predetermined types of attribute information, in a state not yet identified the contents of the other types of attribute information, and receives an instruction to change the content of the attribute information And a state where the specifying unit specifies one content of the predetermined type of attribute information when the unit receives the change instruction, and the specifying unit displays another content of the predetermined type of attribute information. Means for changing to the specified state.

Content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, in a state where the front Symbol data selection means selects one of the content data, said means for accepting a change instruction of the specified attribute information to select the content data, said means said change When the instruction is received, the state in which the identifying unit identifies one type and content of the attribute information is changed to the state in which the identifying unit identifies another type and content of the attribute information associated with the content data. And a means for performing .

In the content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention, the specifying unit is configured to sequentially specify the contents of one or more types of attribute information, and the data selecting unit selects one content data, Means for receiving an instruction to change attribute information specified for selecting content data, and when the means receives the change instruction, the specifying means sequentially specifies the contents of one or more types of attribute information. characterized by further comprising means for changing the contents of one or more types of attribute information associated with the content data to the other kinds of combinations or other of the states that certain means specified in the order.

  In the content reproduction device according to the present invention, when the reproduction of the content based on the one content data selected by the data selection unit is completed, the specific information specifies one content of the attribute information of the type specified last. The information processing apparatus further comprises means for changing the other state of the attribute information of the type to the state specified by the specific information.

  In the present invention, content data associated with a plurality of types of attribute information such as titles or artists is stored, content data is selected by specifying the type and content of the attribute information, and content is based on the selected content data. A content playback apparatus that reproduces the content information, when the attribute information change instruction is received from the user while the type of the attribute information is specified in the middle of selecting content data, Change to the specified state. By doing so, the content reproduction apparatus can directly change the state in which the type of attribute information is specified without requiring a user's operation for specifying the type of attribute information again.

  In the present invention, a content playback apparatus that selects content data by sequentially specifying the contents of a plurality of types of attribute information specifies the contents of one type of attribute information in the middle of selecting content data, and When an instruction to change attribute information is received from the user before specifying the content of the type of attribute information, the state in which one content of the attribute information is specified is changed to a state in which the other content is specified. By doing so, the content reproduction apparatus can directly change the state in which the content of the attribute information is specified without requiring the user's operation for specifying the content of the attribute information again.

  In the present invention, the content playback apparatus specifies the type and content of the attribute information when the attribute information change instruction is received from the user while the content data is selected and the content data is selected. The changed state is changed to a state in which the type and content of other attribute information associated with the same content data is specified. By doing so, the content reproduction apparatus maintains the state in which the same content data is selected, and changes the state in which the type and content of one attribute information is specified to the state in which the type and content of other attribute information is specified. Can be changed.

  In the present invention, the content playback apparatus that selects content data by sequentially specifying the contents of one or more types of attribute information receives an instruction to change the attribute information from the user while the content data is selected. In addition, the state in which the contents of one or a plurality of types of attribute information are sequentially specified is changed to the state in which the contents of one or a plurality of types of attribute information associated with the same content data are specified in another type of combination or in another order. change. In this way, the content reproduction apparatus maintains the state in which the same content data is selected, the state in which the content of one or more types of attribute information is specified in order, the content of one or more types of attribute information, and the like. It can be changed to the state specified by the combination.

  In the present invention, a content playback apparatus that plays back content based on content data selected by specifying the type and content of one or more types of attribute information finally specifies the content after the playback of the content is completed. By re-specifying the content of the attribute information of the selected type, the reproduction of the content based on the content data corresponding to the state of specifying the type and content of the one or more types of attribute information is continued.

  In the present invention, the content reproduction apparatus specifies the type of attribute information once specified when the instruction for changing the type of attribute information is received from the user after specifying the type of attribute information once. Since the state in which one type of attribute information is specified can be changed directly to the state in which another type of attribute information is specified without requiring the user's operation again, in the middle of selecting content The rework required when changing the type of the identified attribute information is reduced, and the number of operations required by the user to select content can be reduced.

  Also, in the present invention, the content reproduction apparatus uses the instruction to change the content of the attribute information already specified before specifying the content of one type of attribute information and specifying the content of the next type of attribute information. When it is received from the user, the state in which the content of one attribute information is identified without changing the user's operation for re-identifying the content of the attribute information once identified. Change directly to the specified state. Therefore, since the rework necessary for changing the content of the attribute information specified while specifying the content of multiple types of attribute information and selecting the content is reduced, the user is required to select the content. The number of operations to be performed can be reduced.

  In the present invention, the content reproduction apparatus selects the same content data when an instruction to change the attribute information is received from the user with the type and content of the attribute information specified and the content data selected. While maintaining the state, the state in which the type and content of one attribute information is specified is directly changed to the state in which the type and content of other attribute information is specified. Therefore, the state in which the type and content of the attribute information are specified in order to next reproduce the content related to the attribute information different from the attribute information specified among the plurality of types of attribute information related to the content being played back Therefore, the number of operations required by the user to select the content to be reproduced next can be reduced.

  Also, in the present invention, the content reproduction apparatus is the same when the instruction for changing the attribute information is received from the user while the content data is selected by sequentially specifying the contents of one or more types of attribute information. While maintaining the selected state of the content data, specify the state in which the type and content of one or more types of attribute information are specified in order, and specify the content of one or more types of attribute information in a combination of other types or in other order Change directly to the state. Therefore, the state in which the type and content of the attribute information are specified in order to next reproduce the content related to the attribute information different from the attribute information specified among the plurality of types of attribute information related to the content being played back Therefore, the number of operations required by the user to select the content to be reproduced next can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, when the reproduction of the content based on the selected content data is finished, the content is reproduced based on the content data corresponding to the state in which the type and content of one or more types of attribute information are specified. Therefore, content data associated with desired attribute information is selected next by changing the state in which the content of one or more types of attribute information is specified to the state specified in a desired combination. Can be. Therefore, when the content associated with the other attribute information is to be reproduced next while the one attribute information is specified, the content to be reproduced next can be easily selected. The present invention has excellent effects, such as reducing the number of operations required.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. In the following embodiments, the present invention will be described mainly using an example in which the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention is a music player.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a music player 1 which is an example of a content reproduction apparatus of the present invention. The music player 1 includes a control unit 11 including a processor that performs calculation, a ROM that stores a control program, and a RAM. The control unit 11 is configured to control the operation of the music player 1 as a whole. A storage unit (storage unit) 14 made of a hard disk or a semiconductor memory is connected to the control unit 11. The storage unit 14 is configured to store a plurality of content data that is digital music data such as MP3 files. Each content data is associated with attribute information relating to the contents of the type of content such as a title or album, and the storage unit 14 is an attribute information DB which is a database in which each attribute information is recorded in association with each content data. Is remembered.

  The control unit 11 is connected to a data processing unit 15 that performs processing for decoding content data, and an output unit 16 that DA converts the content data decoded by the data processing unit 15 and outputs the data to the outside. Headphones 17 can be connected to the output unit 16, and music is reproduced using the headphones 17. In addition, the control unit 11 includes a display unit 12 that displays various types of information such as information indicating the content being played back, and an operation unit 13 into which various instructions such as identification of attribute information are input by a user operation. It is connected. The music player 1 includes a battery (not shown), and power is supplied from the battery to drive each part.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the contents of the attribute information DB stored in the storage unit 14. In the attribute information DB, three types of attribute information such as artist, album, and title are recorded, and attribute information of various contents in each type is associated with each content data. For example, content data with a file name of song A1.mp3 includes attribute information with a type of artist and content of artist X, attribute information with a type of album and content of album A, and a type of title and content of song A1. Associated with attribute information. It is possible to associate attribute information of the same type and the same content with a plurality of content data. For example, the attribute information of the content type album and album A is associated with content data whose file names are song A1.mp3 and song A2.mp3. However, the combination of the contents of the plurality of types of attribute information does not completely match the plurality of contents data. The attribute information DB may be in the form of recording other types of attribute information such as the genre of music or the creation date of content data.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention. The music player 1 is configured to have a size that can be carried by the user, and on the surface thereof, a display unit 12 such as a liquid crystal display or an EL (Electroluminescence) display, and the user can operate. An operation unit 13 composed of various switches is provided. A headphone 17 can be connected to the music player 1, and a user can view content using the headphone 17. The operation unit 13 includes change instruction buttons 21 and 22 for receiving an instruction to change attribute information when the user operates with the type or content of the attribute information specified when selecting content data. The change instruction button 21 is configured to instruct to change the type or content of the attribute information according to a predetermined order when pressed by the user. Further, the change instruction button 22 is configured to instruct to change the type or content of the attribute information in the reverse order to the predetermined order when pressed by the user. Note that the switch included in the operation unit 13 is not limited to a push button, and may be another switch such as a contact switch, a slide switch, or a switch using a touch panel.

  The control unit 11 reads necessary information from the attribute information DB stored in the storage unit 14 and causes the display unit 12 to display a display screen for the user to select the type or content of the attribute information. When the user who has confirmed the display screen operates the operation unit 13, the control unit 11 receives an instruction to specify attribute information, specifies attribute information according to the received instruction, and specifies the specified attribute information in the attribute information DB. The associated content data is selected. In this way, the control unit 11 and the operation unit 13 function as a specifying unit according to the present invention, and the control unit 11 further functions as a data selection unit according to the present invention.

  Next, processing performed by the music player 1 configured as described above will be described. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the procedure of processing executed by the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the display of the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention. The user carries the music player 1 in a bag or pocket. The music player 1 waits for reception of an instruction to start processing when the user operates the operation unit 13 (S1). The music player 1 may be configured to include a switch for accepting a start instruction in the operation unit 13 and accept a start instruction by operating the switch by the user, or in a stopped state. The start instruction may be received by the user operating any one of the switches.

  When the start instruction is not accepted in step S1 (S1: NO), the control unit 11 of the music player 1 continues to wait for the start instruction. When the start instruction is received by the operation unit 13 in step S1 (S1: YES), the control unit 11 records the title, album, artist, or the like in the attribute information DB as shown in FIG. A list of attribute information types is displayed on the display unit 12 (S2). Next, the control unit 11 specifies the type of attribute information by specifying one type from the list of types of attribute information displayed on the display unit 12 by operating the operation unit 13 by the user. Waiting for the reception of the instruction (S3). If there is no reception of the specific instruction of the attribute information type (S3: NO), the control unit 11 continues to wait for reception of the specific instruction. When the operation unit 13 receives a specification instruction for the type of attribute information (S3: YES), the control unit 11 specifies the type of attribute information for which the specification instruction has been received, and the attribute information DB of the specified type of attribute information. A list of the contents recorded in (1) is displayed on the display unit 12 (S4). When the title is specified as the attribute information type, the music player 1 displays a list of title type attribute information recorded in the attribute information DB, as shown in FIG. 6B. When the album is specified as the type of attribute information, the music player 1 displays a list of album attribute information recorded in the attribute information DB as shown in FIG. When an artist is specified, a list of artist attribute information recorded in the attribute information DB is displayed as shown in FIG.

  Next, the control unit 11 waits for reception of an instruction to change the type of attribute information when the user presses the change instruction buttons 21 and 22 (S5). When an instruction to change the type of attribute information is received (S5: YES), the control unit 11 changes a state in which one type of attribute information is specified to a state in which another type of attribute information is specified (S6). ). Next, the control part 11 returns a process to step S4, and makes the display part 12 display the list of the content of the attribute information of the kind specified after the change of the attribute information. That is, in response to the user pressing the change instruction buttons 21 and 22, the control unit 11 does not go through a display screen for specifying the type of attribute information as shown in FIG. As shown in (b), (c) and (d), the display screens showing a list of the contents of the attribute information specifying the type are switched to each other.

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the correspondence between the display screen on the display unit 12 and the state in which the type of attribute information is specified in the attribute information DB. FIGS. 7B, 7C, and 7D show a state in which the type of attribute information is specified in the display screen 12 and the attribute information DB when the title, album, and artist type are specified, respectively. The correspondence with is shown. In the state where the title is specified as the type of attribute information, as shown in FIG. 7B, the control unit 11 extracts the content of the type of attribute information called title from the attribute information DB and causes the display unit 12 to display it. When receiving an instruction to change the type of attribute information, the control unit 11 selects another type according to a predetermined order from the types of attribute information recorded in the attribute information DB, and selects the attribute of the selected type. By reextracting the contents of the information from the attribute information DB, the state in which the type of attribute information is specified is changed. Here, the control unit 11 selects, for example, an album as another type of attribute information, and causes the display unit 12 to display the content of the attribute information of the extracted album type as illustrated in FIG. Even when an artist is selected as another type of attribute information, the control unit 11 extracts the content of the attribute information of the artist type from the attribute information DB and displays it on the display unit 12 as shown in FIG. . When the user presses the change instruction button 21, the control unit 11 changes the type of attribute information in a predetermined order, for example, title → album → artist → title → ..., and the user presses the change instruction button 22. In this case, the type of attribute information is changed in the reverse order.

  As described above, the music player 1 which is the content reproducing apparatus of the present invention once specifies the type of attribute information, and then passes through the display screen for specifying the type of attribute information as shown in FIG. Instead, a state in which one type of attribute information is specified can be directly changed to a state in which another type of attribute information is specified. Accordingly, since the rework required when changing the type of attribute information specified in the middle of selecting content is reduced, it is possible to reduce the number of operations required by the user to select the content. Become.

  If no instruction to change the type of attribute information is received in step S5 (S5: NO), the user who has confirmed the list of attribute information contents displayed on the display unit 12 performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 13. Then, it waits for reception of a specific instruction for specifying the content of the attribute information by selecting the content of one attribute information from the content information list (S7). If there is no reception of a specific instruction for the contents of the attribute information (S7: NO), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S5. When the operation unit 13 receives a specification instruction for the content of attribute information (S7: YES), the control unit 11 specifies the content of the attribute information for which the specification instruction has been received, and then the attribute information specified so far. It is determined whether or not one content data is confirmed with the type and content (S8). For example, when the title is specified as the type of attribute information and one content of the attribute information whose type is the title is specified using the screen as shown in FIG. 6B, the content of the attribute information of the title type And the content data have a one-to-one correspondence, so one content data is determined. Also, when an album or artist is specified as the type of attribute information, and the content of the attribute information whose type is album or artist is specified, the content of the attribute information whose type is album or artist X or the like Is associated with a plurality of content data, one content data has not yet been determined.

  When one content data is not fixed in step S8 (S8: NO), the control part 11 of the content of the other kind of attribute information linked | related with the same content data as the content of the specified one attribute information A list is displayed on the display unit 12 (S9). That is, the control unit 11 selects, according to the type of attribute information that has already been specified, other attribute information types that have not yet been specified in a predetermined order, and among the contents of the attribute information of the selected type, The content associated with the same content data as the type and content of the already specified attribute information in the attribute information DB is extracted from the attribute information DB, and a list of the extracted attribute information content is displayed on the display unit 12. For example, when the control unit 11 specifies an album as the type of attribute information and specifies the content of album A using the screen as shown in FIG. 6C, the control unit 11 selects a title as the type of other attribute information. The contents of the attribute information of the title type associated with the content data associated with the album A are displayed on the display unit 12 as shown in FIG. When the content of album B is specified, the control unit 11 displays the content of the title type attribute information associated with the content data associated with album B on the display unit 12 as shown in FIG. Let Further, the control unit 11 specifies an artist as the type of attribute information, and if the content of artist X is specified using a screen as shown in FIG. 6D, the title is selected as the type of other attribute information, The content of the title type attribute information associated with the content data associated with the artist X is displayed on the display unit 12 as shown in FIG.

  Next, the control unit 11 waits for reception of an instruction to change the contents of the attribute information that has already been identified when the user presses the change instruction buttons 21 and 22 (S10). When an instruction to change the content of the specified attribute information is received (S10: YES), the control unit 11 changes the state of specifying one content of the attribute information of the type specified immediately before the attribute information of the same type. Is changed to a specified state (S11). Next, the control unit 11 returns the process to step S9, and the contents of other types of attribute information associated with the same content data as the contents of the attribute information that has been identified after the attribute information is changed. Are displayed on the display unit 12. For example, when the control unit 11 receives an instruction to change the content of the attribute information in a state where the content of the album is specified as the attribute information, the display screen for specifying the content of the album as shown in FIG. 6A and 6F, the display screens showing the list of the contents of the attribute information of the title type associated with the content data associated with the contents of the album as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the correspondence between the display screen on the display unit 12 and the state in which the type and content of the attribute information are specified in the attribute information DB. 8E and 8F show the display screen on the display unit 12 and the attribute information DB when the album is specified as the type of attribute information and the album A and the album B are specified as the contents of the album, respectively. The correspondence with the state in which the type and content of the attribute information is specified is shown. In the state where album A is specified as the contents of the album, as shown in FIG. 8E, the control unit 11 displays the contents of the attribute information of the title type associated with the content data associated with album A as the attribute information DB. And a list of the contents of the extracted attribute information is displayed on the display unit 12. When the instruction to change the content of the attribute information is received, the control unit 11 selects other content according to a predetermined order from the content of the attribute information recorded in the attribute information DB, and the attribute of the selected content By extracting the contents of other types of attribute information associated with the content data associated with the information from the attribute information DB, the state in which the contents of the attribute information are specified is changed. Here, the control unit 11 selects, for example, album B as another content of the attribute information, and as shown in FIG. 8F, a list of attribute information of the type of title associated with the content data associated with album B Is displayed on the display unit 12. When the user presses the change instruction button 21 one after another, the control unit 11 displays a list of title type attribute information related to each of the album C, album D,. Let Further, even when an artist is specified as the type of attribute information, the control unit 11 similarly performs a process of switching the state in which the content of the attribute information of the artist type is specified.

  As described above, the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention specifies the content of the attribute information and then does not go through the display screen for specifying the content of the attribute information as shown in FIG. The state in which one content of the attribute information is specified can be directly changed to the state in which the other content of the attribute information is specified. Therefore, since the rework necessary for changing the content of the attribute information specified while specifying the content of multiple types of attribute information and selecting the content is reduced, the user is required to select the content. The number of operations to be performed can be reduced.

  If no instruction to change the content of the attribute information is received in step S10 (S10: NO), the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 13 to display a list of the content of the attribute information displayed on the display unit 12. By selecting the content of one attribute information from among them, the reception of a specific instruction for instructing the specification of the content of the attribute information is awaited (S12). When the specific instruction for the content of the attribute information is not received (S12: NO), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S10. When the operation unit 13 receives an instruction to specify the attribute information content (S12: YES), the control unit 11 further specifies the type and content of the attribute information for which the specification instruction has been received, and returns the process to step S8.

  When one content data is confirmed in step S8, the control unit 11 selects content data in which attribute information of the specified type and content is associated in the attribute information DB (S13). The control unit 11 reads the selected content data from the storage unit 14, causes the data processing unit 15 to decode the read content data, and DA-converts the decoded content data to the output unit 16 to output it to the outside. Is reproduced (S14). The user can listen to the music content played using the headphones 17. While reproducing the content, the control unit 11 causes the display unit 12 to display a display screen representing the content being reproduced as shown in FIG. 6 (h), (i), or (j). , 22 is waited for to receive an instruction to change attribute information (S15). When an instruction to change the attribute information is received (S15: YES), the control unit 11 changes the type and content of the attribute information in order to select the content data while maintaining the selected content data. The state specified in order is changed to a state in which the type and content of the attribute information associated with the selected content data in the attribute information DB is specified by another combination (S16). The control part 11 switches the display screen which the display part 12 displays with the change of the state which specified the kind and content of attribute information in order. For example, the control unit 11 specifies the display information as shown in FIG. 6H when the content of the title type attribute information is specified, and the title type attribute information after specifying the content of the album type attribute information. FIG. 6I shows the display screen shown in FIG. 6I when the content of the title type is specified, and FIG. 6J shows the content of the attribute information of the title type after specifying the content of the attribute information of the artist type. The display screen as shown is switched to each other.

  FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the correspondence between the display screen on the display unit 12 and the state in which the types and contents of attribute information are specified in order in the attribute information DB. FIG. 9H shows the correspondence between the display screen on the display unit 12 and the state where the type and content of the attribute information are specified in the attribute information DB when the content of the attribute information of the title type is specified. Among the eight pieces of attribute information whose type is the title, the attribute information having the content of the song A1 is specified. FIG. 9 (i) shows the type of attribute information in the display screen 12 and the attribute information DB when the contents of the attribute information of the title type are specified after the contents of the attribute information of the album type are specified. Shows the correspondence with the specified state. Content data associated with attribute information whose type is album and content is album A is associated with two pieces of attribute information whose type is title, from which attribute information of the content of song A1 is specified. ing. FIG. 9J shows the type of attribute information in the display screen and the attribute information DB when the content of the attribute information of the title type is specified after the content of the attribute information of the artist type is specified. Shows the correspondence with the specified state. The content data associated with the attribute information whose type is artist and whose content is artist X is associated with four pieces of attribute information whose type is title, from which the attribute information of the content of the song A1 is specified. ing. As described above, when an instruction to change attribute information is received in step S15, the control unit 11 identifies one or more types of attribute information from among a plurality of types of attribute information associated with the selected content data. By changing the combination, the state in which the type and contents of the attribute information are specified in order is changed.

  If the attribute information change instruction is not accepted in step S15 (S15: NO), or after step S16 is completed, the control unit 11 instructs the user to operate the operation unit 13 to end the content reproduction. (S17). When the operation unit 13 receives an instruction to end content reproduction (S17: YES), the control unit 11 ends the process. When the content reproduction end instruction is not received (S17: NO), the control unit 11 waits for the reproduction of the content being reproduced to end (S18). When the reproduction of the content being reproduced has not yet ended (S18: NO), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S15. When the reproduction of the content being reproduced is completed (S18: YES), the control unit 11 identifies again the content of the attribute information of the type that has been identified last, and the attribute information of the identified content is determined. The next content data associated in the attribute information DB is selected (S19), the process returns to step S14, and the content is reproduced based on the selected content data.

  In step S19, when the contents of the plurality of types of attribute information are specified, the control unit 11 is associated with the content data associated with the attribute information whose contents are specified with a type other than the last specified type. The attribute information of the type specified last is specified from the attribute information. In the case where the content of only one type of attribute information is specified, the control unit 11 specifies the content of this type of attribute information again. In step S19, the control unit 11 specifies the contents of the attribute information in alphabetical order or in a predetermined order from among the identifiable attribute information according to a predetermined setting.

  The music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention changes the state in which the content of one or more types of attribute information is specified to a state specified by another combination in order to select content data in steps S15 and S16. Thus, the next content data to be selected in step S19 is changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 9I, in the state where the attribute information whose type is album and the content is album A is specified and the content of the attribute information of the title type is specified next, the music player 1 The next content data is selected from the four content data associated with the attribute information of album A. On the other hand, when the state in which the attribute information is specified is changed to a state in which the title is first specified and the content of the attribute information is specified as shown in FIG. 1 selects the next content data from the eight content data. That is, by changing the state in which the content of one or more types of attribute information is specified to the state specified in a desired combination in order to select content data, the content data associated with the desired attribute information Can be selected. Therefore, when the content selected based on the attribute information of the type of album is reproduced, the content to be reproduced next is selected based on the attribute information of the type of artist related to the reproduced content. When the content associated with other attribute information is to be reproduced next while the attribute information is specified, the content to be reproduced next can be easily selected. While the music player 1 is playing back the content, the user simply operates the operation unit 13 to input an attribute information change instruction, and the music player 1 has another combination of the state in which the content of one or more types of attribute information is specified. Since the status is changed to the status specified in step 1, the number of operations required by the user to play the content associated with the other attribute information in the state where one attribute information is specified is compared with the conventional method. It becomes possible to reduce.

  In the present embodiment, the music player 1 has shown an example in which a title is used as the type of attribute information that can determine content data with the contents of one type of attribute information. It may be a form using other types of attribute information that can determine the content data based on the contents of the types of attribute information. The music player 1 using a plurality of types of attribute information that can determine the content data with the content of one type of attribute information performs the same processing as described above, while maintaining the same content data selected state, The state in which the type and content of one attribute information is specified can be changed to the state in which the type and content of another attribute information is specified. By changing the type of attribute information specified for selecting content data, it is possible to change the playback order of content played back in the order corresponding to the type of attribute information. Therefore, the user who uses the music player 1 having such a form can play back the content only by the user operating the operation unit 13 and inputting an attribute information change instruction while the music player 1 is playing back the content. The content to be reproduced next can be easily selected by changing the order.

  In this embodiment, as an example of the state in which the contents of a plurality of types of attribute information are specified, the content of attribute information whose type is artist and the content of attribute information whose type is title are specified. Although only an example of specifying the contents of two types of attribute information has been shown, the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this, and specifies the contents of more types of attribute information. The content data may be selected by the above. For example, the music player may be configured to perform a process of selecting content data by sequentially specifying the contents of attribute information whose types are artist, album, and title. Also in this form, the music player 1 can change the state in which the contents of a plurality of types of attribute information are specified. For example, the music player 1 specifies by changing the state in which the contents of attribute information whose type is artist, album, and title are specified in order to the state in which the contents of attribute information whose type is album and title are sequentially specified. The state in which a song included in a specific album can be selected from among the songs related to another artist can be changed to a state where a song included in a specific album including a song related to another artist can be selected. . Accordingly, the user who uses the music player 1 having such a form selects the content only by the user operating the operation unit 13 and inputting an attribute information change instruction while the music player 1 is reproducing the content. The content to be reproduced next can be easily selected by changing the possible range.

  In the present embodiment, the change instruction buttons 21 and 22 are provided only on the main body of the music player 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention is A remote controller provided with a switch corresponding to the change instruction buttons 21 and 22 may be connected by wire or wirelessly, and may receive an attribute information change instruction by operating the remote controller by a user. The music player 1 of this embodiment further includes a small display on the remote controller and displays a display screen showing a state in which the type and content of the attribute information is specified on the display, or a light emitting component on the remote controller to emit light. A form in which the type and content of the attribute information is specified may be notified by changing the light emission color of the component. The user who uses this type of music player 1 changes the state in which the type and contents of the attribute information are specified by operating the remote controller with one hand while the main body of the music player 1 is put in a bag or a pocket of clothes. By doing so, it becomes possible to select content easily.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the content playback apparatus of the present invention is a music player 1 that plays back music content, but the content playback apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this, and still images Alternatively, it may be an image player that reproduces content including moving images, or may be a mobile phone having a function of reproducing content including audio and images. Even in the case of these forms, the present invention can be realized by associating attribute information such as a title or an artist with content data including a still image or a moving image, and the user can easily reproduce it. It is possible to select desired content and view desired content.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the music player which is an example of the content reproduction apparatus of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the content of attribute information DB which a memory | storage part memorize | stores. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the external appearance of the music player which is a content reproduction apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the music player which is a content reproduction apparatus of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the music player which is a content reproduction apparatus of this invention performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display screen displayed on the display of the music player which is a content reproduction apparatus of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a response | compatibility with the state which specified the kind of attribute information in the display screen and attribute information DB in a display part. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a response | compatibility with the state which specified the kind and content of the attribute information in the display screen and attribute information DB in a display part. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a response | compatibility with the state which identified the kind and content of the attribute information in order in the display screen and attribute information DB in a display part. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display screen displayed on the display of the conventional music player when selecting the content which should be reproduced | regenerated.

Explanation of symbols

1 Music player (content playback device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control part 12 Display part 13 Operation part 14 Memory | storage part (memory | storage means)
21, 22 Change instruction button

Claims (6)

Stores content data associated with multiple types of attribute information, specifies the type of attribute information by accepting an instruction to specify the attribute information, specifies the content of the specified type of attribute information, and specifies the specified type and content In a content reproduction method in a content reproduction apparatus that selects content data associated with the attribute information and reproduces content based on the selected content data,
The content playback device has specified one type of attribute information, and can accept an instruction to change the type of attribute information in a state where the content of the specified type of attribute information has not yet been specified.
When the content reproduction apparatus receives the change instruction, the state of identifying one type of attribute information is changed to a state of identifying another type of attribute information ,
The content reproduction apparatus can accept an instruction to change the specified attribute information in order to select the content data in a state where one or more types of attribute information are sequentially specified and one content data is selected. And
When the content reproduction apparatus receives the change instruction, when the content of one attribute information is specified, the state is specified in order of the contents of a plurality of types of attribute information associated with the content data When the contents of a plurality of attribute information are specified, the state is changed to a state in which the contents of one or more types of attribute information associated with the content data are sequentially specified in other combinations. A content reproduction method characterized by the above. Means for storing content data associated with a plurality of types of attribute information, a specification unit for specifying the type of attribute information by receiving an instruction for specifying the attribute information, and specifying the content of the specified type of attribute information; A content reproduction device comprising: data selection means for selecting content data associated with the attribute information of the type and content identified by the identification means; and means for reproducing content based on the content data selected by the data selection means In
The specifying means is configured to sequentially specify the contents of one or more types of attribute information,
Means for accepting an instruction to change the type of attribute information in a state in which the identifying unit has identified one type of attribute information and has not yet identified the content of the identified type of attribute information;
Means for changing the state in which the specifying unit specifies one type of attribute information to a state in which the specifying unit specifies another type of attribute information when the unit receives the change instruction ;
Means for accepting an instruction to change the attribute information specified for selecting the content data in a state where the data selection means has selected one content data;
When the means accepts the change instruction, when the specifying means has specified the contents of one attribute information, the state specifies the contents of a plurality of types of attribute information associated with the content data in order. And when the specifying means specifies the contents of a plurality of attribute information, the specifying means specifies the state of one attribute information associated with the content data, or A content reproduction apparatus comprising: means for changing the contents of a plurality of types of attribute information to a state specified by the specifying means in another type of combination or in another order . Storage means for storing content data associated with a plurality of types of attribute information, specification means for specifying the type and content of attribute information by receiving an instruction for specifying attribute information, type specified by the specification means, and In a content reproduction apparatus comprising: data selection means for selecting content data associated with content attribute information; and means for reproducing content based on the content data selected by the data selection means.
The specifying unit is associated with the same content data as the attribute information of the specified content when the content of the predetermined type of attribute information capable of associating the same content with the plurality of content data stored in the storage unit is specified. Means for identifying the content of other types of attribute information from the attribute information
Means for accepting an instruction to change the contents of the attribute information in a state where the identifying means has specified one content of the predetermined type of attribute information and has not yet specified the contents of the other type of attribute information;
When the means accepts the change instruction, the specifying means specifies one content of the predetermined type of attribute information, and the specifying means specifies another content of the predetermined type of attribute information. A content reproduction apparatus comprising: means for changing to Means for accepting an instruction to change the attribute information specified for selecting the content data in a state where the data selection means selects one content data;
When the means accepts the change instruction, the specifying means indicates a state in which the specifying means specifies one type and content of the attribute information, and other types and contents of the attribute information associated with the content data. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for changing to the specified state. The specifying means is configured to sequentially specify the contents of one or more types of attribute information,
Means for accepting an instruction to change the attribute information specified for selecting the content data in a state where the data selection means selects one content data;
When the means accepts the change instruction, the specifying means sequentially specifies the contents of one or more types of attribute information, and the contents of the one or more types of attribute information associated with the content data. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: means for changing to a state specified by the specifying means in a combination of types or in another order. When the reproduction of the content based on the one content data selected by the data selection means is completed, the state in which the specific information specifies one content of the attribute information of the type specified last is indicated by the attribute information of the type content playback apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 other of the specific information contents is characterized by further comprising means for changing to a specific state.

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