JP4986739B2 - Content reproduction apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

  In recent years, in addition to the spread of digital cameras and the improvement of network environments, the increase in private content such as images taken with digital cameras and content acquired via networks has accelerated due to the advent of mass storage media.

  As for broadcast program content, various broadcast networks such as terrestrial digital broadcast, BS digital broadcast, CS digital broadcast, and cable television are increasing. At the same time, a large amount of program content is accumulated for the time being, and the lifestyle of watching it whenever you like is firmly established. For this reason, a method for easily accessing the above-mentioned large amount of content using a remote control device of a display device and a peripheral device is becoming important.

  For example, when content is played back on a display device using a remote control device, a list of contents stored in the display device or peripheral device is first displayed. At this time, each content is accompanied by a thumbnail display and the like, and is sorted using time, content name, content type, storage device, etc. as a key, and only a part of the entire head is displayed on the screen. In other words, it is possible to immediately select a program that has been recorded, but it is necessary to make efforts to select other contents, whether searching for the desired contents or browsing the contents casually. Met.

  At this time, when metadata such as genre information and program information is attached to each content, it is possible to search using the genre information and program information as a key. However, in this case, operation by many remote control devices is necessary, and when keyword input is required, character input operation in a remote control device with few keys is particularly labor intensive. .

The following techniques are disclosed as techniques for reducing the work load as described above.
In Patent Document 1, position information obtained from a position positioning system and environment information such as time, temperature, and pressure measured by an environment information sensor are recorded in a history storage RAM in association with a music reproduction history. . A technique for automatically selecting music that has been reproduced in the past under conditions most similar to the current state is disclosed.

JP 2005-038352 A

  However, the following problems have existed in the conventional technology as described above. In Patent Document 1, the location where the user played back and the played content are recorded in association with each other. For this reason, when a user exercises the above technology for the purpose of playing content, it is necessary to remember which location corresponds to which content and the exact location where the previous playback operation was performed. there were.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to provide optimal content for each operation region relating to the position of the operation input device.

Therefore, the content reproducing apparatus of the present invention, along with the reproduction of the content is performed for each user, the content operation position information related to the operation position of the operation input device when performing the operation of reproduction of the content is performed for each user obtaining means for obtaining operation instruction every reproduction of a plurality of operation areas from distribution related to the operation position of the operation input device having a particular pattern representing the lifestyle of each user by the operation position information acquired by the acquisition unit As history information, a region determination unit to be determined, a plurality of operation regions determined by the region determination unit, and information of a plurality of contents reproduced by the operation of the operation position information of each operation region are associated with each other as history information Based on the reproduction history management means stored in the storage device and the history information, when the user performs a content list display operation Characterized by comprising display control means for display by priority over the information of the other contents by the come information of the content corresponding to the operation area on the operation position of the work input device to the top of the list in the content list, the And

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide optimum content for each operation region related to the position of the operation input device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a content reproduction apparatus that is an example of an information processing apparatus (computer).

  The CPU 202 performs calculations and logic determinations for various processes, and controls each component connected to the bus 201.

  A program relating to a functional configuration or a flowchart described later is stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 205. The CPU 202 loads a program from the ROM 203 or the storage device 205 to the RAM 204 and executes processing based on this program, thereby realizing a functional configuration, a flowchart, or the like described later.

  The input device 206 is a device used when the user inputs information directly to the content reproduction device. Note that the input device 206 is not an essential component of the content reproduction device. The display device 208 is a CRT, a liquid crystal display, or the like, and displays information (or data). A network I / F 207 controls exchanges with other storage media and devices connected via the network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the content reproduction apparatus according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes a user who operates the content reproduction apparatus. A remote control device 102 is an example of an operation input device operated by the user 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes a content reproduction apparatus.

  The operation receiving unit 104 receives a signal related to the operation content of the remote control device 102. The reproduction unit 105 selects content from the content list 106 based on the received signal and reproduces it. When the user performs a reproduction operation on the remote control device 102, the operation position acquisition unit 107 acquires the operation position (operation position information) when the remote control device 102 is operated.

  The acquired operation position information and information on the content reproduced by the operation are recorded in association with each other in the RAM 204 or the storage device 205 by the reproduction history management unit 108.

  When the content reproduction operation is performed a plurality of times, the operation area determination unit 109 often determines an area where the remote control operation is performed based on the distribution of the search position where the operation of the remote control apparatus 102 is performed.

  Next, when the presentation of the reproduction history list is instructed by the user's operation using the remote control device 102, the operation region determination unit 110 determines in which region the operation position of the remote control device 102 exists. Is done. For the determined area, the content list extraction unit 111 extracts a content list corresponding to the area. Then, the content list presenting unit 112 presents the extracted content list to the user by displaying it on the display device 208 or the like.

  Further, when presenting the content list, the content list presenting unit 112 also presents to the user the same type of content as the content of the content list corresponding to the determined area, according to the user's designation or the like. Furthermore, the content list presenting unit 112 presents unviewed content to the user from among the same types of content according to user designation or the like.

  In the configuration of FIG. 2, the remote control device 102 that is operated by the user is different from the content playback device 103. However, the remote control device 102 may include the content playback device 103. Good. That is, the portable content playback device 103 may be configured such that the user directly operates the content playback device 103 and the content playback device 103 itself detects the position.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing related to a remote control signal when an operation is performed by the remote control device 102. When an operation using the remote control device 102 is performed, the processing shown in FIG. 3 is started.

  When the content reproduction device 103 receives a signal from the remote control device 102, the processing from S301 is started. First, in S301, the operation receiving unit 104 acquires the operation type of the remote control device 102 based on the received signal. Subsequently, in S <b> 302, the operation reception unit 104 performs control to distribute the process according to the operation type.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation handling process in S302 of FIG.
When the operation handling process is started, in S402, the operation reception unit 104 performs branching (sorting) according to the operation type. Steps S403 to S405 indicate processing performed as a result of the determination in S402. In addition, although explanation is omitted in S406, processing for other operations is shown. That is, if the operation receiving unit 104 determines that the type of operation is a content list display operation, the process proceeds to S403. If the operation receiving unit 104 determines that the operation type is a content selection operation, the process proceeds to S404 and is a content reproduction operation. If determined, the process proceeds to S405. If the operation receiving unit 104 determines that the type of operation is other operation, the process proceeds to S406.

  Here, the details of the process of S403 are shown in FIG. Details of the processing of S405 are shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the content list display process.
In the content reproduction apparatus 103, when a user reproduces content, first, the content for reproduction is selected. At this time, an operation performed by the user using the remote control device 102 is a content list display operation.

  When the content list display process is started, in S501, the reproduction unit 105 determines whether there is a setting of an area ID described later. If there is no area ID setting, the reproducing unit 105 advances the process to S505. If there is an area ID setting, the reproducing unit 105 advances the process to S502.

  In step S <b> 502, the operation position acquisition unit 107 acquires the operation position (operation position information) of the remote control device 102 when the content list display operation is performed. As a method for acquiring the operation position of the remote control device 102, for example, by using an electromagnetic wave such as light or radio waves emitted from the remote control device 102, an ultrasonic signal, or the like, in cooperation with a sensor installed in the vicinity, There is a method of obtaining by distance measurement or angle measurement by phase difference. In addition, when the remote control device 102 is used outdoors, there is a method of acquiring the operation position using an external service such as a GPS or a mobile communication base station.

  Next, in S503, the operation area determination unit 110 determines whether or not the operation position acquired in S502 is within the area corresponding to the area ID determined in S501. If the operation area determination unit 110 determines that the operation position acquired in S502 is within the area corresponding to the area ID determined in S501, the operation area determination unit 110 advances the process to S504. On the other hand, if the operation area determination unit 110 determines that the operation position acquired in S502 is not within the area corresponding to the area ID determined in S501, the operation area determination unit 110 advances the process to S505.

  In S504, the content list extraction unit 111 determines that the operation position acquired in S502 is within the area corresponding to the area ID determined to have been set in S501 (reproduction history information corresponding to that area ( (Playback history information) is acquired from the playback history table. More specifically, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires reproduction history information from a reproduction history table shown in FIG. 7 described later based on the area ID.

  In step S <b> 505, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires a content list that can be played back by the content playback device 103. Subsequently, in S506, the content list extracting unit 111 (or the content list presenting unit 112) executes a reproduction history information priority sorting process shown in FIG. 19 described later (display control).

  Subsequently, in S507, the content list presentation unit 112 displays the content list that has been subjected to the reproduction history information priority sort process (display control).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a content reproduction process performed when content is selected from the content list by the user.
When an operation for playing back the content selected from the content list is performed in the content playback device 103, the playback unit 105 acquires information on the selected content in S601.

  In step S602, the reproduction unit 105 starts content reproduction processing based on the acquired content information. Subsequently, in S603, the playback unit 105 performs a process of recording (or setting) a playback history (playback history information) of the played content in a later-described playback history table or the like.

  Subsequently, in step S604, the reproduction unit 105 acquires the number of times content reproduction processing has been performed (the number of reproductions). Here, the reproducing unit 105 acquires (or calculates) the number of times of reproduction from the reproduction history table based on the history number (history No.) 701 of the reproduction history table shown in FIG. In step S <b> 605, the reproduction unit 105 determines whether the number of reproductions exceeds a specified value (100 times in the present embodiment).

  If the playback unit 105 determines that the number of times the content has been played exceeds the specified value, the playback unit 105 proceeds to step S606. If the playback unit 105 determines that the content has not exceeded the specified value, the playback unit 105 ends the process illustrated in FIG. In step S606, the operation area determination unit 109 executes a reproduction area determination process shown in FIG. Then, the operation area determination unit 109 (or the reproduction unit 105) ends the process illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a playback history table when content playback is performed in the content playback apparatus 103. The reproduction history table is stored in the RAM 204, the storage device 205, or the like, and is managed by the reproduction history management unit 108.

  Reference numeral 701 denotes a history number recorded in the order in which the history is registered. Reference numeral 702 denotes an operation position. The operation position 702 is recorded for each content reproduction operation. Reference numeral 703 denotes information of the reproduced content. Reference numeral 704 denotes content genre information. Reference numeral 705 denotes an area ID (area ID) written when it is determined that the operation position 702 is in a specific area.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the playback area determination process.
When the reproduction area determination process is started, in step S801, the operation area determination unit 109 acquires reproduction history information from the reproduction history table of FIG.

  In step S <b> 802, the operation region determination unit 109 plots the operation position coordinates (coordinates based on the operation position information) on the virtual coordinates based on the operation position 702. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example in which operation position coordinates (points (coordinate points) indicating operation position coordinates) are plotted on virtual coordinates. FIG. 9 shows a virtual coordinate plane 901 and plotted operation position coordinates 902.

  In S803, the operation area determination unit 109 performs a process of enlarging the area in a circular shape as a concentric circle having a specific radius centered on the operation position coordinates with respect to the operation position coordinates on the virtual coordinates plotted in S802. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the result of the plot area expansion process in S803 of FIG. In FIG. 9, a dot 902 is a circular region 1002 in FIG.

  In step S804, the operation area determination unit 109 determines that the respective operation position coordinates plotted in step S802 are in contact with other plotted operation position coordinates (contact) because the area is enlarged from a point to a circle in step S803. Ratio). The operation area determination unit 109 detects the contact ratio based on the ratio of all the plotted coordinate points (circle areas) that are not in contact with other coordinate points (circle areas).

  In step S <b> 805, the operation area determination unit 109 determines whether or not the ratio of the coordinate points (circle area) in contact exceeds a specified value (80% in this embodiment). If the operation area determination unit 109 determines that the contact ratio between plot areas exceeds the specified value, the process proceeds to S806. If the operation area determination unit 109 determines that the contact ratio between plot areas does not exceed the specified value, the process proceeds to S803. Return to.

  In the state of FIG. 10, any coordinate point (circle area) has not yet contacted other coordinate points (circle area). In such a case, the operation area determination unit 109 advances the processing to S803, further increases the radius in S803, and enlarges the circle area of the coordinate point. Thereafter, the processing from S803 to S805 is repeatedly performed. When the contact ratio exceeds 80% in S805, the operation region determination unit 109 advances the processing to S806. The state at this time is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result of the plot area expansion process in S803 of FIG. In FIG. 11, the coordinate points (circle areas) indicated by 1101 to 1104 are in contact with each other, and the coordinate points (circle area) indicated by 1105 are in contact with other coordinate points (circle areas). Are not touching.

  Next, in step S806, the operation region determination unit 109 performs envelope processing so that the outer periphery of the regions that are in contact with each other as indicated by reference numerals 1101 to 1104 in FIG. I do. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the result of the envelope processing in S806 of FIG.

  Subsequently, in S807, the operation area determination unit 109 excludes a coordinate point (circle area) that exists alone as indicated by 1205 in FIG. 12 from the virtual coordinate plane. Subsequently, in S808, the operation area determination unit 109 determines each area composed of coordinate points (circle areas) on which the envelope processing has been performed as independent areas (see FIG. 13). FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the result of the area determination process in S803 of FIG. That is, in S808, the operation area determination unit 109 determines (determines) the operation area based on the operation position information or the distribution information of the operation position coordinates.

  In step S809, the operation area determination unit 109 sets an area ID for identifying each area determined by the area determination process in step S803. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example in which IDs A and B are attached to the respective areas.

  Subsequently, in S810, the operation area determination unit 109 records an area ID for each content for which a reproduction operation has been performed, in the reproduction history table of FIG. By performing the processing as shown in FIG. 8, the content reproduction history can be classified and identified for each region to which the operation position where the user has performed the reproduction operation using the remote control device 102 belongs.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the remote control device 102. Reference numeral 1501 denotes a menu button for calling various functions. Reference numerals 1502 to 1505 are cursor buttons, which are buttons for selecting menu items displayed by operating the menu button 1501. Reference numeral 1506 denotes a determination button for instructing execution of the function for the selected menu item.

  16 and 17 are diagrams illustrating an example of a room in which the content reproduction apparatus 103 is operated as viewed from the ceiling surface. Reference numerals 1602 and 1702 denote various devices and furniture existing in the room. Reference numeral 1603 denotes an operation position when a reproduction operation by the user using the remote control device 102 shown in FIG. 15 is performed.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a reproduction history table in which the area ID is recorded in S810 of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the reproduction history priority sorting process according to the first embodiment.
In S1901, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires region information (region ID) of the operation position of the remote control device 102 when the content list display operation of FIG. 5 is performed.

  Subsequently, in S1902, the content list extraction unit 111 refers to the reproduction history table of FIG. 18 and acquires content history information.

  Subsequently, in S1903, the content list extraction unit 111 performs a reproduction history area sorting process based on the area ID acquired in S1901 among the acquired history information (reproduction history information). FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reproduction history table when the sorting process is performed.

  Subsequently, in S1904, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires difference information of the content list held by the content reproduction device 103 other than the content in the reproduction history table of FIG. In step S1905, the content list extraction unit 111 combines the content information sorted in step S1903 and the content list difference acquired in step S1904, and ends the process illustrated in FIG.

Hereinafter, an example of the content reproduction process described above will be described using a more specific example.
When a user reproduces content, first, a content list display operation is performed using the remote control device 102 in order to select content. When the content reproduction apparatus 103 receives an operation signal related to a content list display operation from the remote control apparatus 102, the content reproduction apparatus 103 starts the processing shown in FIG.

  After acquiring the operation type, the content reproduction apparatus 103 executes the content list display process (FIG. 5) of S403 in the operation corresponding process of FIG. Then, the playback unit 105 of the content playback apparatus 103 determines whether or not there is a region ID setting in S501 of FIG. 5, and proceeds to S505 because it does not exist in the initial stage. In step S505, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires a content list. In S506, the content list extraction unit 111 (or the content list presentation unit 112) does not perform the sort process because there is no reproduction history. In step S507, the content list presenting unit 112 presents the content list to the user as it is.

  Next, the user uses the remote control device 102 to select specific content from the presented content list. Then, the content reproduction apparatus 103 performs the process of S404 in FIG. More specifically, the user operates the cursor button of the remote control device 102 to select specific content, and then operates the enter button 1506 to select content to be played back. Then, the content playback apparatus 103 starts the content playback processing (FIG. 6) in S405.

  In FIG. 6, the playback unit 105 first acquires information on the selected content (S601), and performs actual playback processing (S602). Thereafter, in S603, the playback unit 105 records the playback history in a playback history table as shown in FIG. Next, the reproducing unit 105 acquires the number of times of reproduction from the reproduction history table (S604), and determines whether or not the number of times exceeds a specified value (S605). In the initial state, since the number of reproductions does not exceed the specified value, the reproduction unit 105 ends the process shown in FIG. 6 as it is.

  Hereinafter, the reproduction unit 105 repeatedly performs the above-described process every time a reproduction operation is performed until the number of reproductions exceeds a specified value. At this time, in S506, the content list extracting unit 111 (or the content list presenting unit 112) simply prioritizes and sorts the content list in the reproduction history regardless of the operation position where the user performs the reproduction operation. Then, the content list presentation unit 112 presents a content list.

  Thereafter, after several playback operations, in the content playback process of FIG. 6, the playback unit 105 determines that the number of playbacks exceeds the specified value, and proceeds to S606 (FIG. 8).

  In step S801, the operation region determination unit 109 acquires the reproduction history information shown in FIG. 7, and in step S802, plots (or records) the operation position coordinates as points, as indicated by 1603 in FIG. Thereafter, as described above, the operation region determination unit 109 performs region determination processing through the processing from S803 to S808. In step S809, the operation area determination unit 109 sets an area ID for identification for the determined area. FIG. 17 illustrates the state at this time. In FIG. 17, the operation position information (operation position coordinates) that existed alone in FIG. 16 is excluded, and the range determined as an area is from A to H so that 1703 is representative thereof. An example in which the area ID is set is shown.

  In S810, operation region determination unit 109 writes the region ID corresponding to each reproduced content in the reproduction history table of FIG. An example of the reproduction history table at this time is shown in FIG. At this time, it is determined that the coordinate point (circle region) is not in contact with any adjacent coordinate point (circle region), and the content ID corresponding to the removed coordinate point is not written. It remains unset.

  Assume that the user performs an operation for reproducing new content in a state where the area ID is recorded in the reproduction recording table in this way. Then, the content reproduction apparatus 103 starts the content list display process (FIG. 5) through the processes from FIG. 3 to FIG. Since there is a region ID setting this time, the reproducing unit 105 advances the process from S501 to S502.

  In step S <b> 502, the operation position acquisition unit 107 acquires the operation position (operation position information) of the remote control device 102 when the content list display operation is performed. Next, in S503, the operation area determination unit 110 determines whether or not the operation position is within the area corresponding to the area ID recorded in the reproduction history table of FIG. Here, if the acquired operation position is not included in an area corresponding to any area ID recorded in the reproduction history table of FIG. 18, the operation area determination unit 110 advances the process to S505. . After S505, the content reproduction apparatus 103 performs the same processing as the previous time. As a result, the content reproduction apparatus 103 presents the content list without using region information to the user.

  On the other hand, if the acquired operation position is in the area corresponding to the area ID recorded in the reproduction history table of FIG. 18 in S503, the operation area determination unit 110 advances the process to S504. In S504, the content list extraction unit 111 determines that the operation position acquired in S502 is within the area corresponding to the area ID determined to have been set in S501 (reproduction history information corresponding to that area ( (Playback history information) is acquired from the playback history table.

  In step S <b> 505, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires a content list held by the content reproduction device 103. Subsequently, in S506, the content list extracting unit 111 (or the content list presenting unit 112) executes a reproduction history priority sorting process (FIG. 19).

  In S1901 of FIG. 19, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires region information (region ID) of the operation position of the remote control device 102 when the content list display operation of FIG. 5 is performed. Here, it is assumed that the area A is acquired.

  In step S1902, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires content history information from the reproduction history table of FIG. Subsequently, in S1903, the content list extraction unit 111 performs a reproduction history area sorting process on the reproduction history information acquired in S1902 based on the distance information from the area A. As described above, FIG. 20 is a reproduction history table showing an example of the result of the reproduction history area sorting process.

  Next, in step S1904, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires a difference between content lists that are not recorded in the reproduction history table. In step S1905, the content list extraction unit 111 performs content list composition processing with playback history information in the playback history table of FIG.

  Subsequently, in S507 of FIG. 5, the content list presentation unit 112 presents the synthesized content list to the user.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, an area in which the user often performs an operation based on the reproduction history of the content performed by the user in the past and the coordinates (operation position information) on which the reproduction operation has been performed. Identify. After that, when displaying the content list for the purpose of reproduction in the area, it is possible to preferentially display the list of contents that have been reproduced in the past in the area where the operation was performed.

  The area has a specific pattern depending on the lifestyle of a specific user or multiple users, i.e., the seating position on the table or sofa, the situation during meals, family gathering, or relaxing before going to bed. To get. Therefore, when the contents list is displayed in the area when the operation is performed in each area, the user's convenience can be improved by using the past reproduction history information in the area.

  In addition, with respect to the determined area, it is possible to always update the state of the area to the latest by periodically performing the determination process as the number of user operations increases.

  In the present embodiment, description has been made using a single remote control device 102 and a single reproduction history table. However, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of remote control devices, a playback history table corresponding to each remote control device, and a playback history table corresponding to each time zone such as morning, noon, night, weekdays, and weekends may be used.

  By providing a reproduction history table for each of a plurality of users who use different remote control devices (that is, for each remote control device (for each operation input device)), it is possible to generate an appropriate area, and for each user. A content list tailored to your hobbies and preferences can be provided. Also, by providing a playback history table for each time zone, a content list suitable for the situation, such as a busy breakfast, the evening when the child is watching, the night time when the whole family is aligned, and the late night time zone. Can be provided.

  In addition, the content playback apparatus 103 can handle content stored in a single device connected via a network or content stored in a system including a plurality of devices via a network without discrimination. It may be. At this time, the content playback device 103 may create (or hold) the playback history table for each device (or each storage device of the device) where the content is stored, and determine the region.

  With such a configuration, when the user searches for the target content, if the device in which the content is stored is known in advance, an operation for selecting the device can be performed first. By the selection operation, the operation position information relating only to the device selected for the operation position information can be obtained, and a content list including the target content at the head can be provided to the user more reliably.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, when the content list using the region information is presented, the content that has been reproduced in the past is used as the content that is preferentially presented, but the content that has been reproduced in the past is used. Other content of the same type may be presented.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the content reproduction apparatus according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 21, 2101 to 2112 have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment mobile phone.

  The same type extraction unit 2113 extracts content of the same genre as the content extracted by the content list extraction unit 2111. Further, the unviewed extraction unit 2114 extracts unviewed content from the content extracted by the same type extraction unit 2113.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the reproduction history priority sorting process according to the second embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, it is a process of constructing information on content to be displayed in the content list after the region information (region ID) is set. The process shown in FIG. 22 is started when the user executes a content list display operation and the operation area information, the reproduction history table, and the content list are acquired.

  In step S <b> 2201, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires area information (area ID) of an operation position where the user has operated the remote control device 2102. Subsequently, in S2202, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires content history information.

  Subsequently, in S2203, the content list extraction unit 111 extracts history information (reproduction history information) of the acquired area ID. Subsequently, in S2204, the content list extraction unit 111 extracts common genre information from the extracted history information. Here, the common genre information is genre information common to a plurality of contents. The content list extraction unit 111 extracts the genre information that is common to a plurality of contents in descending order.

  In step S <b> 2205, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires a list of all content held by the content reproduction apparatus 2103. Subsequently, in S2206, the content list extraction unit 111 extracts content that matches the genre information extracted in S2204.

  Subsequently, in S2207, the content list extraction unit 111 moves the content extracted in S2206 to the top of the list for content that has not been viewed, that is, content that has been recorded and recorded but has not yet been viewed. Sort processing to be performed.

  Subsequently, in S2208, the content list extraction unit 111 acquires difference information of the content list held by the content reproduction device 103 other than the content in the reproduction history table of FIG. In step S2209, the content list extraction unit 111 synthesizes the content list and ends the processing illustrated in FIG. As a result, the synthesized content list is presented to the user by the same processing as in S507 of FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a user performs a display operation of a content list in a specific area, content of the same genre as content that has been reproduced in the past in the area is given to the user. Can be preferentially presented. In addition, unviewed content can be preferentially presented among the same genre content.

  With this configuration, content that has a genre related to the user's operation area can be called without performing any special operation related to the area, as content that matches the area's living conditions. It becomes.

  Furthermore, by giving priority to unviewed content for the corresponding content, it is possible to save the user who is searching for content that has been stored but not yet viewed.

(Third embodiment)
In the first or second embodiment, the process of presenting the content list is changed depending on whether or not the operation position where the user has operated the remote control device is in an area existing in the reproduction history table. It was. That is, in the above-described embodiment, when the operation position where the user operated the remote control device is not inside the area, the content list using the area information is not presented.

  In the present embodiment, even when the operation position where the user has operated the remote control device is not within the area, by detecting the relationship between the operation position and the area adjacent to the operation position, It is possible to present a content list using area information.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining an operation in a case where the operation position where the user has operated the remote control device is not within the area. Here, 2301 is an operation point (operation position) where the user has operated the remote control device. Reference numerals 2302 to 2304 indicate a region adjacent to the operation position and a region ID of the region. The concentric circles that overlap with the operation point 2301 as the center indicate the distance from the position close to the center to the area A, the distance to the area B, and finally the distance to the area C. Therefore, in this case, the area closest to the operation point 2301 is the area A.

  When the operation point is not inside the area, the content reproduction apparatus of this embodiment compares the distances to the respective areas adjacent to the operation point as shown in FIG. select. Further, the content reproduction apparatus performs an operation similar to that performed when an operation is performed within the selected area, and presents a content list to the user with priority on the content that has been previously reproduced in this area.

  Further, when the position where the user operates the remote control device is an intermediate region of a plurality of specific regions, the content reproduction device combines the reproduction history information of the plurality of regions and presents it as a content list. You may do it.

  With this configuration, the user can operate near the middle of multiple areas if he / she does not know which area to operate to achieve the desired result. Can be done. As a result, the user can obtain the reproduction history information of both areas, and can find the target content earlier.

  Furthermore, when an operation is performed at an intermediate position between the plurality of areas described above, the reproduction history information corresponding to each area may be combined at a ratio according to the proximity. With this configuration, the user can control the ratio of the reproduction history information to be synthesized.

(Other embodiments)
The object of the present invention is achieved by the following. That is, a recording medium (or storage medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded is supplied to the system or apparatus. Then, the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention.

  In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer of the system or apparatus, an operating system (OS) or the like operating on the system or apparatus based on the instruction of the program code Do everything. The case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

  Further, it is assumed that the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the system or apparatus or a function expansion unit connected thereto. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. It is.

  When the present invention is applied to the recording medium, the recording medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to provide optimal content for each operation region related to the position of the operation input device.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible. In addition, you may implement combining each embodiment mentioned above arbitrarily.

It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the content reproduction apparatus which is an example of information processing apparatus (computer). It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the content reproduction apparatus in 1st Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing related to a remote control signal when an operation is performed by the remote control device. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation corresponding | compatible process of S302 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a content list display process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration process of a content performed when a user selects a content from a content list. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reproduction history table when content is reproduced in the content reproduction device 103. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration area | region determination process. It is a figure which shows an example which plotted the operation position coordinate (the point (coordinate point) which shows the operation position coordinate) on the virtual coordinate. It is a figure which shows an example of the result of the plot area expansion process in S803 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the result of the plot area expansion process in S803 of FIG. 8 in multiple times. It is a figure which shows an example of the result of the envelope process in S806 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the result of the area | region determination process in S803 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example in which ID of A and B was attached | subjected to each area | region. It is a figure which shows an example of the remote control apparatus. It is FIG. (1) which shows an example which looked at the room where the content reproduction apparatus 103 is operated from the ceiling surface. It is FIG. (2) which shows an example which looked at the room where the content reproduction apparatus 103 is operated from the ceiling surface. It is a figure which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration history table by which area | region ID was recorded in S810 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration log | history priority sort process in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration history table at the time of a sort process being performed. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the content reproduction apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration log | history priority sort process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement when the operation position where the user operated the remote control apparatus does not exist in the inside of an area | region.

Explanation of symbols

101 User 102 Remote control device 103 Content playback device

Claims (7)

Acquiring operation position information related to the operation position of the operation input device when the content reproduction operation performed for each user is performed, for each operation instruction for reproducing the content , along with the content reproduction performed for each user. Means,
Area determining means for determining a plurality of operation areas from a distribution relating to operation positions of an operation input device having a specific pattern representing a lifestyle for each user of the operation position information acquired by the acquisition means ;
A reproduction history in which a plurality of operation areas determined by the area determination means and information of a plurality of contents reproduced by the operation of the operation position information of each operation area are associated with each other and stored in the storage device as history information Management means;
Based on the history information, the content information corresponding to the operation area related to the operation position of the operation input device when the user performs the content list display operation may be placed at the top of the list in the content list. Display control means for giving priority to the content information of the display,
A content playback apparatus comprising: The display control means displays the information of the content corresponding to the operation area together with the content information of the same type as the content at the top of the list in the content list, giving priority to the information of other content. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The display control means prioritizes information on other contents by placing information on unviewed contents of the same type as the contents together with information on contents corresponding to the operation area at the top of the list in the contents list. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction apparatus is displayed . The region determination means is a concentric circle centered on each operation position based on a distribution related to the operation position of the operation input device having a specific pattern representing a lifestyle for each user of the operation position information acquired by the acquisition means. 4. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a range obtained by connecting the outer peripheral portions with a straight line or a curve function is determined as an operation region . The content reproduction device according to claim 1 , wherein the content reproduction device is included in the operation input device. An information processing method in a content reproduction apparatus,
Acquiring operation position information related to the operation position of the operation input device when the content reproduction operation performed for each user is performed, for each operation instruction for reproducing the content, along with the content reproduction performed for each user. Steps,
A region determination step for determining a plurality of operation regions from a distribution related to operation positions of the operation input device having a specific pattern representing a lifestyle for each user of the operation position information acquired in the acquisition step;
A reproduction history in which a plurality of operation areas determined in the area determination step and information on a plurality of contents reproduced by the operation of the operation position information of each operation area are associated with each other and stored in the storage device as history information Administrative steps;
Based on the history information, the content information corresponding to the operation area related to the operation position of the operation input device when the user performs the content list display operation may be placed at the top of the list in the content list. A display control step for displaying in preference to the content information of
An information processing method comprising: On the computer,
Acquiring operation position information related to the operation position of the operation input device when the content reproduction operation performed for each user is performed, for each operation instruction for reproducing the content, along with the content reproduction performed for each user. Steps,
A region determination step for determining a plurality of operation regions from a distribution related to operation positions of the operation input device having a specific pattern representing a lifestyle for each user of the operation position information acquired in the acquisition step;
A reproduction history in which a plurality of operation areas determined in the area determination step and information on a plurality of contents reproduced by the operation of the operation position information of each operation area are associated with each other and stored in the storage device as history information Administrative steps;
Based on the history information, the content information corresponding to the operation area related to the operation position of the operation input device when the user performs the content list display operation may be placed at the top of the list in the content list. A display control step for displaying in preference to the content information of
A program characterized by having executed.

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