JP4848930B2 - Playback device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a playback apparatus for selecting and playing back a large number of contents such as audio from a list display.

CDs and MDs are used as media for supplying contents such as audio. Recently, for example, music playback is possible by combining compression technology such as MP3 and storage means such as flash memory and HDD with improved performance. The number of songs to be selected has increased dramatically.
The list is displayed on the display as content selection means, and a favorite song or the like is selected from the list. When content data, for example, 4 to 5 digits can be stored in the storage means. It is not possible to find and select easily by simply displaying them side by side on a display with a limited display space.

For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-18879 proposes a playback apparatus that can select content data by displaying it hierarchically.
In this device, songs are grouped by dividing them into folders such as albums or artists, and after selecting a folder, move to the lower layer and select a song from the song name list in the selected folder. Yes.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the playback device 50 is provided with a cross key 51 having upper, lower, left, and right positions (keys), and an enter key 54 is set at the center thereof. . A list of folders is arranged vertically on the selection screen displayed on the LCD panel 52. When the up key 55 or the down key 56 is pressed, the cursor moves up or down on the adjacent folder in the current screen, In particular, long press will move continuously. When the left key 57 and the right key 58 are pressed on the selection screen, the screen moves to the upper and lower screens.
Thereby, even if it is a limited display screen, it can select from many music by descending | lowering a hierarchy.
JP 2006-18879 A

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, even if a specific folder is selected using the up and down keys 55 and 56 on the first layer folder selection screen, any songs are arranged in the selected folder in any order. I don't know if it is. In order to know this, the right key 58 must be pressed to move to the lower screen.
Conversely, if you want to select a song in another folder while selecting and playing a song on the screen displaying the song name list of a specific folder, first press the left key 57 to display the folder list. It is necessary to return to the selection screen for the upper layer to be displayed, select a new folder using the up and down keys 55 and 56, and then press the right key 58 to repeatedly move to the lower layer screen.
As described above, in order to check the music stored in each folder, it is necessary to press the left key 57 or the right key 58 in addition to the up and down keys 55 and 56, and the operation of repeating this is extremely difficult. It becomes complicated.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a playback apparatus that can switch between an upper layer selection screen and a lower layer selection screen and can also select and switch content by simple operation of a limited key. For the purpose.

  The present invention groups contents into a plurality of folders, and switches between a folder selection screen for displaying a list of folders and a content selection screen for displaying a list of contents belonging to individual folders on the display, and the folder is operated by key operation. In a playback device that allows the cursor to move along each list on the selection screen and the content selection screen, plays the content belonging to the folder where the cursor is located on the folder selection screen, and plays the content where the cursor is located on the content selection screen. When the key is operated in the first operation mode on the folder selection screen, the cursor is moved from the current folder in the folder list to the adjacent folder, and the key is operated in the second operation mode on the folder selection screen. De The display of the splay is switched to a content selection screen that displays content belonging to the folder where the cursor is located, and the cursor on the content selection screen is moved from the content reproduced on the folder selection screen to the adjacent content, and the content is displayed. To play.

  According to the present invention, by operating the key in the first operation mode on the folder selection screen, the cursor can be moved to an adjacent folder in the folder list for selection. Furthermore, when the key is operated in the second operation mode on the same folder selection screen, switching to the music selection screen and simultaneously sending the content from the content reproduced on the folder selection screen to the adjacent content are performed. In addition, it is possible to immediately know the name of the new content that has been sent and the other content that belongs to the same folder with only one action operation without requiring additional key operations.

Next, embodiments of the invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an audio playback apparatus.
The playback device connects the HDD 15 storing the compressed music data, the audio output circuit 16, the display 18, and the operation input unit 20 to the control unit 10 that performs overall control, and connects the speaker 17 to the audio output circuit 16. Configured. In addition, an interface 19 such as a USB for external connection is provided.

The control unit 10 includes a CPU 11 and an internal memory 12 for storing a CPU operation program and temporary data during data processing.
The operating program can be updated via the interface 19, and new music data can be downloaded from the Internet and stored in the HDD 15.
Attribute data such as artist, album, and genre is attached to a song stored in the HDD 15 (hereinafter, “represented by“ song ”unless otherwise identified as“ music data ””).
The operation input unit 20 includes keys and buttons such as switches, menu switches, and volumes operated by the user, and particularly includes an upper key (UP) 22 and a lower key (DOWN) 24 for selecting a song.

  The control unit 10 displays the song name on the display 18 in accordance with the operation of the operation input unit 20, reads the music data of the selected song from the HDD 15, sends it to the audio output circuit 16, and reproduces the song from the speaker 17. Let Here, the songs displayed on the display 18 are grouped into folders such as artist units or album units based on the attribute data, the display display is hierarchized, and an upper folder selection screen for displaying a list of folders. And the lower-level song selection screen that displays a list of song names in the folder.

Next, switching control between the folder selection screen and the music selection screen by the control unit in the music playback menu stored in the HDD 15 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
First, in step 100, a folder selection screen 30 as shown in FIG.
Each folder is displayed as a list vertically arranged with group numbers such as “Group 1” and “Group 2”, and the cursor CF is positioned at “Group 1” at the top of the initial screen at the start of control.

The number of folders is not limited to the number that can be displayed on the screen of the display 18 at a time, and can be set as appropriate. However, the initial screen of the folder selection screen 30 is displayed at the top of the list. Here, of the nine folders, the top six folders appear on the screen. By repeating the movement of the cursor position by a long press to be described later, the folder name disappears from the top side and is hidden from the screen.
Note that the upper key 22 and the lower key 24 in the operation input unit 20 are arranged up and down in correspondence with the arrangement direction of the folder list F.
In addition, as a folder name, an artist name, an album name, a genre name, or the like can be used instead of the group number.
Here, the cursor CF is shown in reverse display (hatching) in the folder name (group number) column.

Subsequently, in step 101, the first song in the list of songs belonging to the folder “Group1” where the cursor CF is located is reproduced. That is, the music data of the song is read from the HDD 15 and sent to the audio output circuit 16, whereby the reproduction of the song at the head of the list is started and output from the speaker 17.
The folder selection screen 30 is provided with a song title display section 32 in the margin where the folder list is displayed, and the title of the song currently being played back is displayed.

  In step 102, it is checked whether the down key (DOWN) 24 of the operation input unit 20 has been pressed. If the down key 24 has not been pressed, it is checked in step 103 whether the up key (UP) 22 has been pressed. If neither the up key 22 nor the down key 24 is pressed, the process returns to step 102 and steps 102 and 103 are repeated until either the up key or the down key is pressed.

If the lower key 24 is pressed in the check in step 102, the process proceeds to step 104, and it is checked whether it is “long press” or “short press”. Here, “long press” is set when the pressing duration time until the pressed lower key 24 is released is equal to or longer than a preset determination reference time, and “short press” is set when the pressing duration time is shorter than the determination reference time. "
If it is “long press”, the process proceeds to step 105, and if it is “short press”, the process proceeds to step 107.

In step 105, the cursor CF is moved to the adjacent folder below. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the “Group 2” column next to “Group 1” is highlighted.
In FIG. 5 and FIGS. 7 and 8 to be described later, portions hidden from the screen in the folder list and the song list are not shown.
Then, the process returns to step 101.
That is, when the “Group 2” folder is selected, the music data of the first song in the list of songs belonging to “Group 2” is read from the HDD 15 instead of the songs belonging to “Group 1” being played so far, and the audio output circuit 16 Send to and play.

On the other hand, in step 107, the display display is switched to the lower-layer music selection screen 40 for displaying the music included in the folder where the cursor CF is located.
Here, on the song selection screen 40, as shown in FIG. 6, song names “AAAAAA”, “BBBBB”,... Belonging to the folder “Group 1” are vertically displayed as a song list M and the down key 24 is pressed. A cursor CM is set to a song (song name) adjacent to the lower side of the list of previously played songs. That is, when “AAAAA” at the top of the list is being reproduced, the next “BBBBB” is highlighted.
In the music selection screen 40, a folder name display section 42 is provided in a margin where the music list is displayed, and a folder name to which the music list belongs is displayed.

Even when the folder selection screen 30 is set so that songs belonging to the folder where the cursor CF is located are sequentially played back according to the song list while the down key 24 (and up key 22) is not pressed, the down key 24 is also set. The cursor CM when the is pressed for a short time to switch to the song selection screen 40 is the next song (song name) position of the song being played at that time.
The number of songs is not limited to the number that can be displayed on the screen of the display 18 at a time, but can be set as appropriate. On the initial screen of the song selection screen 40, the top of the song list is displayed at the top. Here, of the 10 songs, the first 6 songs appear on the screen.

Subsequently, in step 108, instead of the music that has been reproduced so far, the music data of, for example, “BBBBB” where the cursor CM on the music selection screen 40 is located is read from the HDD 15 and sent to the audio output circuit 16 to start reproduction.
After the reproduction of the music is started, the process proceeds to step 109.

  In step 109, it is checked whether or not the lower key 24 has been pressed. If the lower key 24 has not been pressed, it is checked in step 110 whether or not the upper key 22 has been pressed. If neither the up key 22 nor the down key 24 is pressed, the process returns to step 109, and steps 109 and 110 are repeated until either the up key or the down key is pressed.

If the lower key 24 is pressed in the check in step 109, the process proceeds to step 111, and it is checked whether it is “long press” or “short press”. At this time, the music being played is interrupted.
If it is “short press”, the process proceeds to step 112, and the cursor CM is moved to the adjacent song name below the interrupted song on the song selection screen 40. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the column “CCCCC” next to “BBBBB” is highlighted.
Note that even if the song name is close to the end of the song list and hidden from the initial screen, if the short press is repeated and the cursor CM corresponds to the adjacent song to be moved, the display is erased from the head side. The song name appears on the screen and is highlighted.

Then, the process returns to step 108.
That is, the music data of “CCCCC” at the cursor position is read from the HDD 15 and sent to the audio output circuit 16. Thereby, the reproduction of the song “CCCCC” is started and output from the speaker 17.

On the other hand, when the check result in step 111 is “long press”, the process proceeds to step 114.
In step 114, the display display is switched to the folder selection screen 30, and the position of the cursor CF is moved to a folder adjacent to the lower side of the folder to which the music piece reproduced immediately before belongs. That is, here, the same folder selection screen as in FIG. 5 is displayed in which the “Group 2” column next to “Group 1” to which the tune of “BBBBBB” being reproduced belongs is highlighted.

Then, the process returns to step 101.
That is, instead of the song that was being played until the down key 24 was pressed, the music data of the first song in the list belonging to the folder “Group 2” at the cursor position is read from the HDD 15 and sent to the audio output circuit 16 for playback. .

If the upper key 22 is pressed in the check in step 110, the process proceeds to step 116, and it is checked whether it is “long press” or “short press”. The song being played is interrupted.
If it is "short press", the process proceeds to step 117, and the cursor CM is moved to the upper adjacent song (song name) on the song selection screen 40. When the previous cursor position is “AAAAAA” at the head of the list, the last song “JJJJJJ” (see FIG. 6) of the song list is the upper adjacent song. When the number of songs in the song list is larger than the number that can be displayed at a time on the screen of the display 18, the name of the song to which the cursor is moved appears on the song selection screen 40, and the display changes so as to be highlighted.

Then, the process returns to step 108.
That is, the music data at the cursor position is read from the HDD 15 and sent to the audio output circuit 16 as in the case of returning from step 112. Thereby, the reproduction | regeneration of the music is started and it outputs from the speaker 17.

On the other hand, when the check result in step 116 is “long press”, the process proceeds to step 119.
In step 119, the display display is switched to the folder selection screen 30, and the position of the cursor CF is moved to the folder adjacent to the upper side of the folder to which the music piece reproduced immediately before belongs.
Note that if the folder to which the song played immediately before belongs is “Group 1” at the top of the list, the folder “Group 9” at the end of the folder list (see FIG. 4) becomes the upper adjacent folder. When the number of folders in the folder list is larger than the number that can be displayed at a time on the screen of the display 18, the folder name to which the cursor is moved appears on the folder selection screen 30 and the display changes so as to be highlighted.

Then, the process returns to step 101.
That is, as in the case of returning from step 114, the music data of the first song in the list of songs belonging to the folder at the cursor position is read from the HDD 15 and sent to the audio output circuit 16 for reproduction.

If the upper key 22 is pressed in the previous step 103, the process proceeds to step 130, where it is checked whether it is “long press” or “short press”.
If “long press”, the process proceeds to step 131, and if “short press”, the process proceeds to step 133.
In step 131, the cursor CF is moved to an adjacent folder on the folder selection screen 30. When the previous cursor position is “Group 1” at the top of the folder list, the folder at the end of the folder list becomes the upper adjacent folder. As described in step 119, when the number of folders in the folder list is larger than the number that can be displayed at a time on the screen of the display 18, the display is changed so that the folder name to which the cursor is moved appears on the folder selection screen 30.

Then, the process returns to step 101.
That is, as in the case of returning from step 105, the music data of the first song in the list of songs belonging to the folder at the new cursor position is read from the HDD 15 and sent to the audio output circuit 16 for reproduction.

In step 133, the display is switched to the lower-layer music selection screen 40 for displaying the music included in the folder where the cursor CF is located, and adjacent to the upper side of the music list of the music played before the upper key 22 is pressed. The position of the cursor CM is set to the song to be played. This is the same as the processing in the previous step 107, although there is a difference between upper and lower corresponding to the pressed key.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 108, and the music at the cursor position is reproduced.
The processing after switching to the music selection screen 40 in this way is as follows from step 109 described above.

FIG. 8 shows the above control as a screen transition diagram.
That is, when the down key 24 is pressed for a long time on the folder selection screen 30A where the cursor CF is positioned at “Group 1”, the cursor CF moves down the folder list in the flow of steps 102, 104, and 105 to 101, and “ The folder selection screen 30 </ b> B is displayed in which the “Group 2” folder is selected. When a folder is selected, playback of the first song “KKKKK” in the song list belonging to the folder of “Group 2” is started.
Similarly, when the upper key 22 is pressed for a long time on the folder selection screen 30A, the cursor CF moves upward in the folder list by the flow of steps 103, 130, 131 to 101, and the adjacent folder (here, the folder). The folder selection screen 30C in which “the last folder in the list” is selected is displayed.

When the down key 24 is pressed for a short time on the folder selection screen 30A, the lower song selection screen 40A displaying a list of song names included in the folder “Group1” where the cursor CF is located is displayed by the flow of steps 102, 104, 107 to 108. In addition to the switching, the cursor CM on the song selection screen 40A is positioned at the song name adjacent to the song that was reproduced before the key was pressed, and the song at the cursor position is started to be reproduced. For example, if “BBBBB” was played before the key was pressed, the cursor CM is positioned at “CCCCC”.
Similarly, when the up key 22 is pressed for a short time on the folder selection screen 30A, the cursor CM is positioned at “AAAAA” above “BBBBBB” due to the flow of steps 103, 130, 133 to 108. The song selection screen 40B is displayed.

  In this way, for example, by simply pressing the down key 24 on the folder selection screen 40A, the tune feed and the tune selection screen are switched. The operation is completed with one action that does not require the operation of the right key, and it is possible to immediately know what the name of the new song that has been switched and what other songs are in the same folder.

Further, on the song selection screen, by pressing the down key 24 or the up key 22 for a short time, the key pressed in the flow of steps 109, 111, 112 to 108 or the flow of steps 110, 116, 117 to 108 is changed. Correspondingly, the cursor CM moves downward or upward in the music list to switch and select music in the music list, and the selected music is reproduced.
That is, if the upper key is pressed for a short time on the music selection screen 40A, the music selection screen 40C is displayed. If the lower key is pressed for a short time, the music selection screen 40D is displayed.

When the down key or the up key is pressed for a long time on the song selection screen, it corresponds to the down key or the up key pressed by the flow from step 109, 111, 114 to 101 or the flow from step 110, 116, 119 to 101. The screen switches to the upper folder selection screen where the cursor is located in the folder adjacent to the folder below or above the song displayed on the song selection screen, and the first song in the song list belonging to the folder at the cursor position is played. Is done.
That is, when the lower key 24 is pressed and held on the song selection screen 40A, the folder selection screen 30B is displayed. When the upper key is pressed and held, the folder selection screen 30C is displayed.

In the present embodiment, the upper key 22 and the lower key 24 correspond to the keys in the invention, respectively, one of which corresponds to the first key and the other corresponds to the second key. Further, long press of each key corresponds to the first operation mode, and short press corresponds to the second operation mode.
Also, steps 104, 111, 116 and 130 in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively constitute a key mode determining means, and steps 101 and 108 constitute a reproducing means.
Steps 107, 114, 119, and 133 constitute screen switching means.

The embodiment is configured as described above. Songs are grouped into a plurality of folders, and a folder selection screen 30 for displaying a list of folders and a song selection screen 40 for displaying a list of songs belonging to individual folders are displayed on the display 18. , And the cursor can be moved along each list on the folder selection screen and the song selection screen by key operation, the song belonging to the folder where the cursor is located is played on the folder selection screen, and the cursor is displayed on the song selection screen When the key 22 or 24 is pressed for a long time on the folder selection screen 30 in the playback device that plays back a positioned song, the cursor CF is moved from the current folder in the folder list to the adjacent folder, and the folder selection screen 30 When the key 22 or 24 is pressed for a short time, the display 1 Is switched to the song selection screen 40 that displays songs belonging to the folder where the cursor CF is located, and the cursor CM on the song selection screen 40 is moved from the song played on the folder selection screen to the adjacent song name. To play the song.
This allows you to switch to the song selection screen and simultaneously send the song from the song that was playing on the folder selection screen to the adjacent song with a single action by simply pressing a key on the folder selection screen. Without requiring a separate key operation, it is possible to immediately know the name of a new song that has been switched and the names of other songs belonging to the same folder.

When the key 22 or 24 is pressed for a short time on the song selection screen 40, the cursor CM moves from the song before the key operation in the list to the adjacent song (song name), while the key 22 or 24 on the same song selection screen 40 is moved. When the button is pressed and held, the display 18 is switched to the folder selection screen 30 and the cursor CF on the folder selection screen 30 is moved from the folder to which the song on the song selection screen before the key operation belongs to an adjacent folder. Therefore, the screen switching and the song feeding are simultaneously performed with one action by simply pressing and holding the key from the song selection screen, and the operation is simple.
Further, since only a key for selecting the list in each screen is required, and a separate screen switching key is not required, the degree of freedom in layout is increased.

  In particular, the keys 22 and 24 correspond to the up and down directions of the folder list F and the music list M on the display 18, and the operated key is the up key as the above-mentioned adjacent folder or adjacent music. It can be selected downward or upward depending on whether the key is down or down.

  Further, when the cursor CF is moved to a new folder on the folder selection screen 30, it is set to play from the first song in the list of songs belonging to the folder, so the lower key 24 or the upper key 22 is used. Simply select a folder to play the first song, and no other operation is required.

  In the embodiment, on the initial screen of the folder selection screen 30 at the start of control, the cursor CF is positioned at “Group 1” at the top of the folder list. It can also be located in the folder selected at the end of use, and its setting is arbitrary.

The list of folders and song names is displayed side by side on the screen of the display 18, and the keys for moving the cursors CF and CM are also corresponding to the up key 22 and the down key 24, but the list is displayed in the horizontal direction. When displaying them side by side, the keys may also be named left key and right key and arranged in the left-right direction.
The cursors CF and CM are shown in reverse display in the folder name and song name columns, but may be displayed in color, arrows, or other symbols.

  Also, two keys, the down key 24 and the up key 22, are provided as keys, and folder feed and music feed can be arbitrarily selected in the down and up directions in the list. Only in one direction, the effect of the present invention is obtained that switching between the folder selection screen 30 and the music selection screen 40 and music feed or folder feed are performed in one action.

In the embodiment, the music data is stored in the HDD 15. However, the storage medium is not limited, and a DVD, a flash memory, or other appropriate media can be used.
In addition, although music (music) has been described as an example of content, the present invention is not limited to this, and various reproductions such as videos, images, and talks can be targeted.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of selection switching control of a folder and music. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of selection switching control of a folder and music. It is a figure which shows the folder selection screen at the time of a control start. It is a figure which shows the change of the folder selection screen when a down key is long-pressed. It is a figure which shows a music selection screen. It is a figure which shows the change of a music selection screen when a down key is pressed shortly. It is a screen transition diagram which shows the switching state corresponding to key operation. It is a figure which shows a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

10 control unit 11 CPU
12 Memory 15 HDD
16 Audio output circuit 17 Speaker 18 Display 19 Interface 20 Operation input part 22 Up key 24 Down key 30, 30A, 30B, 30C Folder selection screen 32 Song name display part 40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D Song selection screen 42 Folder name display Part CF, CM Cursor F Folder list M Song list

Claims (5)

Group content into folders,
Screen switching means for switching between a folder selection screen for displaying a list of folders and a content selection screen for displaying a list of contents belonging to individual folders on the display;
A key for controlling a movable cursor along each list on the folder selection screen and the content selection screen;
A playback device having playback means for playing back the content belonging to the folder where the cursor is positioned on the folder selection screen, and playing back the content where the cursor is positioned on the content selection screen;
When the operation mode of the key is a long press of a predetermined time that is longer than a predetermined reference time after the key is pressed, it is determined as the first operation mode, and the key is pressed. A key mode determination means for determining that the operation mode is the second operation mode when the duration time from release to release is shorter than the determination reference time .
In the folder selection screen to reproduce the content belonging to the folder where the cursor is located, when the key is operated in a first operating mode, to the folder in which the cursor is adjacent from the current folder in the list of the folders When the key is operated in the second operation mode on the folder selection screen, the screen switching means switches the display on the display to a content selection screen for displaying content belonging to the folder where the cursor is located, and A playback apparatus, wherein a cursor on a selection screen moves from a content played on the folder selection screen to an adjacent content. When the key is operated in the second operation mode on the content selection screen, the cursor moves from the content before the key operation in the list to the adjacent content,
In the content selection screen, when the key is operated in the first operation mode, the screen switching unit switches the display on the display to the folder selection screen,
The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cursor on the folder selection screen moves from the folder to which the content on the content selection screen before the key operation belongs to an adjacent folder. The folder list on the folder selection screen and the content list on the content selection screen are displayed side by side in the same direction on the display,
The key comprises a second key corresponding to the first key corresponding to one direction along a list of folders and a list of contents on the display,
The adjacent folder or adjacent content is a folder or content adjacent in the one direction or the reverse direction along a list of folders or a list of contents corresponding to the operated first key or second key. The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the playback apparatus is provided. The folder when the cursor on the selection screen was located in the new folder and moving said reproducing means any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the playback from the beginning of the song list of content belonging to the folder The playback device according to item . Group content into folders,
The display switches between a folder selection screen for displaying a list of folders and a content selection screen for displaying a list of contents belonging to individual folders.
The cursor can be moved along each list on the folder selection screen and content selection screen by key operation.
In the playback device for playing back the content belonging to the folder where the cursor is located on the folder selection screen and playing the content where the cursor is located on the content selection screen,
When the key is pressed for a predetermined determination reference time or longer on the folder selection screen in which content belonging to the folder where the cursor is located is played , the cursor is moved from the current folder in the folder list to an adjacent folder. When the key is moved for a short time shorter than a predetermined reference time on the folder selection screen, the display is switched to a content selection screen that displays content belonging to the folder where the cursor is located, and the content selection A content selection method for a playback apparatus, characterized in that a cursor on the screen is moved from content played on the folder selection screen to adjacent content.

Images