JP4987664B2 - Information processing apparatus and operation support screen display method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an operation support screen display method .

  In recent years, an information recording / reproducing apparatus has been developed that converts received broadcast signals into digital data, stores them in a storage medium such as a hard disk or an optical disk, and reproduces them as necessary.

In Patent Document 1, a recorded program being played back or an on-air program being watched is used as a base program, a database search is performed for programs related to the base program, and search results are arranged in order of items having a high degree of relevance with the base program. A technique for generating a base program related information page is described.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-357184 (paragraph 0071, FIG. 5)

  A storage medium having a large storage capacity, such as a hard disk, can store many programs. However, it takes time and effort for the user to find out the target program from the list of many programs stored in the storage medium and perform the operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an operation support screen display method capable of presenting operations according to recorded content and related content.

The information processing apparatus according to the present invention responds to a first selection instruction by a user from recorded content list display means for displaying a list of recorded content stored in a storage medium on a display unit and the recorded content displayed in the list. A first selection unit for selecting one recorded content, a related content detection unit for detecting a related content of the recorded content selected by the first content selection unit, and a predetermined key operation by the user the recorded content the selected operation and corresponding to the recorded content the selected, said and related content, the operation support screen generating means for generating an operation support screen for presenting operation and in accordance with the related content, a support screen display means for displaying the operation support screen generated by the operation support screen generating means, the steering Second selection means for selecting any of the operations presented on the support screen in accordance with a second selection instruction by the user; and operation control means for executing the operation selected by the second selection means; , comprising a.
The operation support screen display method according to the present invention displays a list of recorded contents stored in a storage medium on a display unit, and selects one recorded content from the displayed recorded contents according to a first selection instruction by a user. Selecting content, detecting related content of the selected recorded content, and in response to a predetermined key operation by the user, the selected recorded content, an operation according to the selected recorded content, An operation support screen that presents related content and an operation according to the related content is generated, the generated operation support screen is displayed, and any of the operations presented by the operation support screen is performed by the user The selection is performed according to the second selection instruction, and the operation selected according to the second selection instruction is executed.

According to the present invention, an operation corresponding to the selected recorded content and the related content of the recorded content can be presented on the operation support screen.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus (program reproducing apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1 includes a microcomputer block 30, an encoder unit 50, and a decoder unit 60.

  The microcomputer block 30 has an MPU (micro processing unit) or a CPU (central processing unit) (not shown), and controls the operation of each block of the recording / reproducing apparatus. The microcomputer block 30 includes a ROM in which a control program is written, a RAM for providing a work area necessary for program execution, and the like.

  The microcomputer block 30 includes a reproduction control unit 311, a recording control unit 312, and a scheduled recording control unit 313. The reproduction control unit 311 controls the reproduction processing of the received broadcast program data and the program data stored in the storage medium. The recording control unit 312 controls recording processing of program data on a storage medium. The reserved recording control unit 313 controls the reserved recording process of the program. The microcomputer block 30 includes a program information management unit 321, a recorded program information management unit 322, a recorded program list display control unit 323, a related content detection unit 324, an operation support screen generation unit 325, and an operation support screen display control unit which will be described later. 326 is also provided. The microcomputer block 30 is connected to the external network 200 via the network interface 30a, and can exchange information with the external server 210.

  An operation signal for operating the storage / reproduction device is input to the microcomputer block 30 from the key input unit 44. The key input unit 44 is, for example, operation switches or a remote controller provided on the main body of the recording / reproducing apparatus. A personal computer connected to the recording / reproducing apparatus by wired communication, wireless communication, optical communication, infrared communication, or the like may be employed as the key input unit 44. The key input unit 44 includes various operation keys such as an enter key, a stop key, an end key, and a cursor key. The user operates the key input unit 44 to record a received or input video signal or audio signal, reproduce a content stored in the storage medium, or edit a content stored in the storage medium. Execution can be instructed.

  Among the execution results of the MPU (or CPU) of the microcomputer block 30, the contents to be notified to the user are displayed on the display unit 43 or displayed on the monitor display 3001 as OSD (on-screen display).

  The information storage / reproduction apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a DVD-RAM, DVD ± RW, DVD ± R, DVD-ROM (DVD video), CD-RW, CD-R, CD-ROM (storage medium) as a storage medium (information storage medium). Both music discs and other optical disks and hard disks can be handled. These hard disks and optical disks may be replaced (or used together) with other storage media such as a semiconductor memory.

  This recording / reproducing apparatus has two types of disk drive units, an optical disk drive unit 1002 and a hard disk drive unit 2001. The optical disc drive unit 1002 includes a rotation control system, a laser drive system, an optical system, and the like for the optical disc 1001, and drives the optical disc 1001 to read and write information. The hard disk drive unit 2001 drives a hard disk to read / write information.

  The data processor unit 1003 includes a buffer circuit, a modulation / demodulation circuit, an error correction unit, and the like, and handles data in a predetermined recording unit or reproduction unit. The data processor unit 1003 supplies recording data to the optical disc drive unit 1002 and the hard disk drive unit 2001. Further, the data processor unit 1003 receives the reproduction data read by the optical disk drive unit 1002 and the hard disk drive unit 2001.

  The data processor unit 1003 instructs the microcomputer block 30 to perform an editing process such as deleting a part of video objects constituting program data stored in the storage medium or connecting video objects of a plurality of different programs. It can also be done according to.

  The encoder unit 50 receives an external analog video signal and an external analog audio signal from the AV input unit 41a, or a broadcast reception signal (from a terrestrial analog tuner 41b, a terrestrial digital tuner 41c, a satellite digital tuner 41d, or a satellite analog tuner 41e). One or more) selectively input. The switch (signal selector) 53 switches the signal system to be input to the encoder unit 50 under the control of the microcomputer block 30.

  The encoder unit 50 includes a video and audio analog-to-digital converter that digitizes an input analog video signal or analog audio signal, a video encoder, and an audio encoder. Furthermore, a sub-picture encoder that represents subtitles and pictures as bitmap data can be included as appropriate.

  The encoder unit 50 includes a transport stream processing unit and a plurality of MPEG encoders. An MPEG video encoder included in the encoder unit 50 compresses an input digital video signal at a variable bit rate based on the MPEG2 or MPEG1 standard, and converts it into a digital video signal that can be recorded on a hard disk or an optical disk. The digital audio signal is converted into a digital audio signal compressed at a fixed bit rate based on the MPEG or AC-3 standard, or an uncompressed linear PCM digital audio signal.

  When the sub video signal is input to the encoder unit 50 from the AV input unit 41a (for example, a signal input from a DVD video player with an independent output terminal of the sub video signal), or a DVD video signal including the sub video signal is When the terrestrial analog tuner 41b, the terrestrial digital tuner 41c, the satellite digital tuner 41d, or the satellite analog tuner 41e is input to the encoder unit 50, the sub video signal input to the encoder unit 50 is encoded by the sub video encoder ( Sub-picture bitmap data is obtained by run-length encoding based on the DVD standard.

  The formatter 51 converts the encoded digital video signal, digital audio signal, and sub-picture data into a predetermined format using the buffer memory 52 as a work memory. That is, the formatter 51 packs the encoded digital video signal, digital audio signal, and sub-picture data into a video pack, an audio pack, and a sub-picture pack, and further collects them to define the DVD video standard. The format (DVD-Video format) or the format (DVD-VR format) defined by the DVD-recording standard is converted. However, when a digital broadcast transport stream (MPEG2-TS) is recorded as a stream, format conversion is not necessary.

  When a compressed (encoded) digital video signal or digital audio signal is directly input to the encoder unit 50, the input signal can be directly supplied to the formatter 51 without performing an encoding process. The encoder unit 50 can also directly supply the digital video signal and digital audio signal that have been digitally converted to the video mixing unit 71 and the audio selector 76.

  Information (packet of video, audio, sub-picture data, etc.) converted in format by the formatter 51 is supplied to the hard disk drive unit 2001 and / or the optical disk drive unit 1002 via the data processor unit 1003, and the hard disk, the optical disk 1001, etc. Recorded on a storage medium. In addition, information recorded on the hard disk or the optical disk 1001 can be recorded on the optical disk 1001 or the hard disk via the data processor unit 1003 and the optical disk drive unit 1002.

  When recording information on the storage medium, the formatter 51 creates segmentation information and periodically sends it to the MPU of the microcomputer block 30 (information at the time of GOP head interrupt, etc.). The segmentation information includes the number of VOBU packs, the end address of the I picture from the beginning of the VOBU, the playback time of the VOBU, and the like.

  When information is recorded on the storage medium, the MPU of the microcomputer block 30 creates management information necessary for reproducing the recorded information. When the MPU recognizes the recording end command, the MPU sends the created management information to the data processor unit 1003. Thereby, the management information is recorded on the storage medium.

  In order to reproduce a recorded program stored in a storage medium without interruption, a minimum continuous information unit (size) of recorded program data to be accessed (seeked) by the data processor unit 1003 is determined in advance. This information unit storage area is called a CDA (Contiguous Data Area). The CDA size is a multiple of an ECC (error correction code) block (16 sectors), and data is stored in units of CDA. The data processor unit 1003 receives VOBU unit data from the encoder unit 50 and supplies the CDA unit data to the optical disk drive unit 1002 or the hard disk drive unit 2001.

  When the encoder unit 50 includes, for example, two MPEG encoders, the encoder unit 50 can encode two signals. For example, the program received by the terrestrial analog tuner 41b can be DVD-VR recorded by the hard disk drive unit 2001, and at the same time, the program received by the satellite analog tuner 41e can be DVD-VR recorded by the optical disc 1001.

  Further, the packet elementary stream extracted from the transport stream may be recorded directly on the hard disk of the hard disk drive unit 2001 from the encoder unit 50. Even when the encoder section 50 has only one MPEG encoder, the hard disk drive section 2001 records the program data (MPEG2-TS) input to the encoder section 50 via the terrestrial digital tuner 41c or the satellite digital tuner 41d. At the same time, broadcast program data input through another tuner can be encoded by this single MPEG encoder.

  The decoder unit 60 includes a separator, a video decoder, a sub-picture decoder, an audio decoder, and a video processor (not shown). The separator separates each pack from a DVD format signal having a pack structure. The video decoder performs a decoding process on the main video data (video pack contents) separated by the separator. The sub-picture decoder decodes sub-picture data (sub-picture pack contents) separated by the separator. The audio data (the contents of the audio pack) separated by the separator is decoded by the audio decoder. The video processor appropriately synthesizes the decoded sub-video with the decoded main video, and superimposes the menu, highlight button, subtitles, and other sub-videos on the main video and outputs them. The decoder unit 60 further includes a memory used when performing pack separation and other signal processing.

  The video signal output from the decoder unit 60 is input to the video mixing unit 71. The video mixing unit 71 synthesizes text data, for example. The video mixing unit 71 is also connected to a line for directly receiving signals from the AV input unit 41a, the terrestrial analog tuner 41b, the terrestrial digital tuner 41c, the satellite digital tuner 41d, and the satellite analog tuner 41e. A frame memory 72 used as a buffer is connected to the video mixing unit 71. A video signal output from the video mixing unit 71 is output to the outside via an I / F (interface) 73. Alternatively, the video signal output from the video mixing unit 71 is analog-converted by the digital-analog converter 74 and output to the monitor display 3001.

  The audio signal output from the decoder unit 60 is input to the digital / analog converter 77 via the selector 76. The digital / analog converter 77 converts the digital audio signal into an analog signal and outputs it to the outside (for example, a speaker). The selector 76 is controlled by a select signal from the microcomputer block 30. When directly monitoring digital signals from the tuners 41b to 41e and the AV input unit 41a, it is also possible to directly select a signal that has passed through the encoder unit 50. is there.

  The microcomputer block 30 controls the optical disk drive unit 1002, the hard disk drive unit 2001, the data processor unit 1003, the encoder unit 50, the decoder unit 60, and the like based on time data from an STC (system time clock) 38. Recording and playback operations are normally executed in synchronization with the time clock from the STC 38, but other processes may be executed at a timing independent of the STC 38.

  The microcomputer block 30 uses an electronic program service for terrestrial analog broadcasting (ADAMS: TV-Asahi Data and Multimedia Service in Tokyo area) or an electronic guide information / electronic program guide (EPG) service for terrestrial / satellite digital broadcasting. Thus, electronic program guide information (including not only broadcast programs but also various information services) can be acquired. It is also possible to fetch electronic program guide information (DEPG) from an external server 210 via the network 200.

  The acquired electronic program guide information is managed by the program information management unit 321. The program information management unit 321 manages the electronic program guide information by providing a program information management table as shown in FIG. 2 in the ROM of the microcomputer block 30. In the example of FIG. 2, data such as “channel”, “broadcast date”, “broadcast start time”, “program length”, and “program name” are stored for each broadcast program. Further, a “reserved” attribute is given to a program for which a user has made a recording reservation. The program information management unit 321 also includes information indicating the relevance such as “series name” for related programs such as a series of programs broadcast at a fixed time every day or a fixed time every day of the week. to manage. The same series name is assigned to programs belonging to the same series even if the broadcast day of the week or the broadcast time zone are different. The program information management unit 321 normally manages electronic program guide information for a predetermined period (for example, one week).

  Information of a recorded program (recorded content) recorded on a storage medium such as a hard disk or an optical disk is managed by a recorded program information management unit 322. The recorded program information management unit 322 manages recorded program information by providing a recorded program information table as shown in FIG. 3 in the ROM of the microcomputer block 30. In the example of FIG. 3, “program name”, “recording quality”, “recording length”, “channel”, “broadcast date”, “broadcast start time”, “viewing information”, “series name”, etc. of the recorded program Is stored. FIG. 3 is a recorded program information table for managing information of programs recorded on the hard disk. A recorded program information table may be provided for each storage medium, and recorded program information may be managed for each storage medium. However, information about programs recorded on a plurality of storage media is stored in one recorded program information table. You may make it manage collectively.

  The recorded program information management unit 322 also manages information indicating a user's usage tendency of a recorded program (recorded content). FIG. 4 is an example of a “watch-out list” provided in the ROM of the microcomputer block 30 managed by the recorded program information management unit 322. The watch list stores the series names of broadcast series that the user tends to delete immediately after playback.

  The recorded program list display control unit 323 displays the recorded program list D1 stored in the storage medium on the monitor display 3001 in accordance with a user instruction (see FIG. 7).

  When one recorded program is selected from the recorded programs displayed in the recorded program list D1, the related content detection unit 324 sets the information on the content related to the selected recorded program as the series name of the selected recorded program. Based on the program information management table (see FIG. 2) and the recorded program information table (see FIG. 3). Information on related content (program content and music content) is also acquired from the server 210 via the network.

  The operation support screen generation unit 325 uses the related content information detected by the related content detection unit 324 to generate operation support screen data for presenting an operation to be performed next by the user.

  The operation support screen display control unit 326 displays the operation support screen on the monitor display 3001 based on the data generated by the operation support screen generation unit 325 (see FIG. 9). The operation support screen presents and recommends an operation corresponding to the related content of the selected recorded program to the user.

  Next, the reproduction processing of the recorded program and the deletion processing from the storage medium according to the present embodiment of the storage / reproduction device will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the recorded program playback process executed by the playback control unit 311.

  When the user gives an instruction to reproduce any recorded program stored in the storage medium, the reproduction control unit 311 sets the series name of the program instructed to be reproduced as the “series name of the previous reproduction” as a microcomputer. It memorize | stores in ROM which the block 30 has (block A1). In the case of a program that does not have a series name, the program name may be stored as “series name of previous playback”. The “previous playback series name” stored here is referred to by the recorded program information management unit 322 in the program deletion process of FIG.

  Thereafter, the playback control unit 311 performs playback processing of the recorded program instructed to be played back (block A2). The playback control unit 311 reads the recorded program data stored in the storage medium, causes the decoder unit 60 to decode the data, and outputs the decoded program data to the monitor display 3001 and the speaker.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the program deletion process executed by the recorded program information management unit 322.

  When the user instructs to delete one of the recorded programs from the storage medium, the recorded program information management unit 322 displays the series name of the program instructed to be deleted (in the case of a program having no series name, the program name). ) And the recorded program playback process of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the series name stored as “series name of previous playback” is the same (block B <b> 1). That is, it is determined whether the series name of the program last reproduced by the reproduction control unit 311 is the same as the series name of the program instructed to be deleted this time.

  When the “series name of the previous playback” and the series name of the program instructed to be deleted this time are the same (YES in block B1), the recorded program information management unit 322 looks at this series name in the erase list. It is determined whether it is included (block B2). If the series name is not included in the erase list (NO in block B2), the recorded program information management unit 322 sees the series name and adds it to the erase list (block B3). Thereafter, the recording control unit 312 deletes the program instructed to be deleted from the storage medium (block B4). If the series name is included in the erase list (YES in block B2), the recording control unit 312 deletes the program instructed to be deleted from the storage medium (block B4). In other words, when the playback control unit 311 deletes a program of the series that was last played back, the series name of the program is viewed and stored in the erase list.

  On the other hand, when the “series name of previous playback” and the series name of the program instructed to be deleted this time are not the same (NO in block B1), the recorded program information management unit 322 displays the program instructed to be deleted. It is determined whether or not the series name is included in the erase list (block B5). If the series name is included in the erasure list (YES in block B5), the recorded program information management unit 322 deletes the series name from the erasure list (block B6). Thereafter, the recording control unit 312 deletes the program instructed to be deleted from the storage medium (block B4). If the series name is not included in the erase list (NO in block B5), the recording control unit 312 deletes the program instructed to be deleted from the storage medium (block B4). That is, when a program other than the series last played by the playback controller 311 is deleted, the series name of the program is deleted from the erase list.

  In this way, the user's usage tendency of the recorded program (operation-oriented whether or not the user tends to erase the program immediately after viewing the program) is managed for each program series by the watching list.

  Next, the operation support processing according to the present embodiment of the storage / playback apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a recorded program (recorded content) list D1 that the recorded program list display control unit 323 displays on the monitor display 3001 in response to a user instruction. In the example of FIG. 7, a list of recorded programs stored in the hard disk drive unit 2001 is displayed.

  From this recorded program list D1, the user can select one recorded program by operating the cursor key of the key input unit 44. The selected recorded program is highlighted on the recorded program list (“Water 10 girl # 1” in FIG. 7). When one of the recorded programs is selected and the user operates a predetermined key (stop key in the present embodiment), the operation support process shown in FIG. 8 is started.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation support process according to the present embodiment.

  When the stop key is operated after the recorded program is selected and the operation support process is started, the related content detection unit 324 gives the content related to the selected recorded program (in this embodiment, the same series name is given). Content) is detected (block C1). Here, the related content detection unit 324 detects a program having the same series name as the selected recorded program from the recorded program information table (see FIG. 3). Also, a program having the same series name as the selected recorded program is detected from the program information management table (see FIG. 2). Furthermore, the related content detection unit 324 also acquires the content given the same series name as the selected recorded program from the server 210 via the network. Related content that can be acquired from the server 210 includes, for example, advertisement information related to the program, program content distributed by the server, music content, and the like.

  Next, the operation support screen generation unit 325 generates display data of the operation support menu D2 using the related content information detected by the related content detection unit 324 (block C2). Based on the data generated by the operation support screen generation unit 325, the operation support screen display control unit 326 pops up an operation support menu D2 as shown in FIG. 9 on the recorded program list D1 (block C3). The operation support screen display control unit 326 may highlight a predetermined menu item when initially displaying the operation support menu D2 on the monitor display 3001.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the operation support menu D2 pop-up displayed on the recorded program list D1.

  The operation support menu D2 shown in FIG. 9 includes menu items such as “delete selected program”, “playback of related recording program”, “reservation recording of related program”, “close operation support menu”, and the like. .

  For example, if the recorded program “Minami 10 Onna # 1” is selected, the related content detection unit 324 selects “Minami 10 Onna # 1” from the recorded program information table (see FIG. 3) in block C1. The program “Minami 10 Onna # 2” already recorded on the storage medium is detected, and the program information management table (see FIG. 2) related to “Mizu 10 Onna # 1” is scheduled to be broadcast. The program “Water 10 Onna # 3” is detected.

  The operation support screen generation unit 325 generates operation support menu data based on the detection result by the related content detection unit 324. In other words, the operation support screen generating unit 325 uses the menu word “Delete On Wednesday # 1” as the “Delete Selected Program” item, and “On Water # 10 #” as the “Reproduce related recording program” item. The data of the operation support menu D2 including the menu wording of “Play 2” and the menu wording of “Reserve # 3 on water 10” as the “Recording reservation of related program” item is generated.

  Here, the display order of the menu items is determined based on the menu ID table shown in FIG. When the series name of the selected program is included in the erase list, “1000” is given to the menu ID of the menu item “Delete selected program” and is included in the erase list. If not, “4000” is given. Further, “2000” is given to the menu ID of the menu item “reproduction of related recording program”, and “3000” is given to the menu ID of “reservation recording of related program”. When the related content detection unit 324 acquires server service items such as content related to the selected recorded program and advertisement information from the server 210, the server 210 designates the menu ID of the menu item “server service”. Value is given.

  This menu ID represents the display order in the operation support menu D2. The operation support screen generation unit 325 generates operation support menu data so that menu items with a small menu ID are displayed in order.

  In the example of FIG. 9, since the selected recorded program “Mizu 10 Onna # 1” is a program of the “Mizu 10 Onna” series stored in the watch list (see FIG. 4), The “delete” item is assigned 1000 as the menu ID. For this reason, in the operation support menu D2 of FIG. 9, the menu item “Delete water # 1 of water 10” is displayed at the top.

  On the other hand, if the “Woman 10” series is deleted from the erase list, 4000 is given to the menu ID of the “Delete selected program” item. In this case, the display of the operation support menu D2 is as shown in FIG. 11, and the menu item “Delete water # 1 of water 10” is displayed at the lower level.

  When the related content detection unit 324 acquires the server service content related to the selected recording program from the server 210, the value specified by the server 210 is assigned to the menu ID of the “server service” menu item. The

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the operation support menu D2 displayed when the related content detection unit 324 acquires advertisement information related to the selected recording program. In the example of FIG. 12, content information “Wanna 10 DVD release” is given. When the server 210 gives a value such as 1100 as the menu ID corresponding to the server service, the “server service” menu item is displayed second from the top as shown in FIG.

  Further, the server 210 may be able to specify a menu item to be highlighted when the operation support screen display control unit 326 initially displays the operation support menu D2. When the related content detection unit 324 acquires the menu ID of the menu item to be highlighted from the server 210 in addition to the server service information, the operation support screen display control unit 326 selects the menu item corresponding to the menu ID. Highlight.

  In the example of FIG. 12, since 1100 is transmitted as the menu ID to be highlighted from the server 210, the item “server service” corresponding to this menu ID is highlighted.

  Further, the server 210 may be able to specify what menu items are included in the operation support menu D2. When the related content detection unit 324 acquires from the server 210 the menu items to be included in the operation support menu D2 and the menu IDs in addition to the server service information, the operation support screen display control unit 326 is designated by the server 210. Menu items are displayed in the order specified by the server 210.

  When the related content detection unit 324 detects a plurality of related programs of the selected program from the recorded program information table (see FIG. 3), one related program is included in the menu wording of the “playback of related recorded program” item. One needs to be selected. In this case, one program is selected according to a predetermined selection rule, for example, a program of broadcast times after the selected program is selected in the order of broadcast times or preferentially selected from unviewed recorded programs. Is done. Here, for example, in the case of the above-mentioned “Mizu 10 Onna” series of programs, the broadcast times are designated by the numbers after “#” included in the program name.

  Further, even when the related content detection unit 324 detects a plurality of related programs of the selected program from the electronic program guide, it is necessary to select one related program to be incorporated in the menu wording of the “related program recording reservation” item. is there. Also in this case, for example, a program of the broadcast times after the selected program is selected in the order of the broadcast times, or a related program scheduled to be broadcast in a time zone close to the broadcast time zone of the selected program is preferentially selected. A selection rule such as is given in advance.

  Note that this selection rule is not limited to the above example, the one with the earliest broadcast start date and time may be selected, or the subsequent broadcast of the processing target program may be preferentially selected. Good. The selection rule may be arbitrarily set by the user.

  When the operation support menu D2 is displayed as described above (block C3), the user can select any menu item from the displayed operation support menu D2 (block C4).

  When the menu item “close operation support menu” is selected or the end key is operated to end the operation support process (“END” in block C4), the operation support process ends. .

  When the menu item “delete selected program” is selected (“delete” in block C4), the recording control unit 312 deletes the data of the selected program from the storage medium (block C5). Alternatively, the program data may be moved to a predetermined trash folder without deleting the data here. Alternatively, a deletion confirmation screen may be displayed on the monitor display 3001.

  When the menu item “playback of related recorded program” is selected (“playback” in block C4), the recorded program (in the example of FIG. 9) incorporated in the menu wording of the “playback of related recorded program” item. The regeneration process of “water 10 lady # 2”) is executed by the regeneration control unit 311 (block C6).

  When the “related program recording reservation” menu item is selected (“reservation” in block C4), the program incorporated in the menu wording of the “related program recording reservation” item (in the example of FIG. 9, “ The reserved recording process of the water 10 lady # 3 ") is executed by the reserved recording control unit 313 (block C7). In this recording reservation process, it is possible to set so that the same series of programs is recorded every time.

  When the item “server service” is selected (“service use” in block C4), the server service use screen transmitted from the server 210 is displayed on the monitor display 3001, and server service use processing is performed (block C8). ). When the server 210 provides content related to the selected recorded program, this content can be played back. In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, when DVD release information is provided from the server 210 as advertisement information related to the selected recorded program, this DVD purchase reservation screen is displayed on the monitor display 3001, and the DVD purchase reservation is displayed. It can be performed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when one of the recorded programs is selected on the recorded program list D1 and a predetermined key operation is performed, the user selects the related program of the selected recorded program and the related program. The operation support menu D2 including the operation items expected to be performed is displayed, and the next operation can be recommendedly presented to the user. In addition, the display order of the operation items can be determined according to the viewing tendency of the user. The server 210 can also specify the display order of the operation items.

  Therefore, the user does not need to search for the related recorded program from the recorded program list in order to instruct the reproduction of the recorded program (the same series of programs) related to the selected program. In addition, it is possible to instruct the recording reservation of the related program without taking the trouble of searching the program table for the program related to the selected program (the same series of programs). In addition, when a series of programs that the user views immediately after viewing is selected, an item for deleting the selected recorded program is displayed at the top of the operation support menu D2. For this reason, the user can easily delete the program of the series that he / she sees as soon as he / she sees it, with a small number of operations.

  In the present embodiment, program deletion, playback, reservation, and use of a server service are performed according to the menu item selected by the user from the operation support menu D2. In addition, the item “content protection” may be selected to prevent erroneous erasure of content.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, portions corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by corresponding reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The configuration of the second embodiment is represented by the block diagram shown in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, in block C3 of the operation support process in FIG. 8, the operation support screen display control unit 326 displays the operation support menu D2 on the recorded program list D1 based on the data generated by the operation support screen generation unit 325. Was popped up. In the present embodiment, the operation support screen display control unit 326 switches the display on the monitor display 3001 from the recorded program list D1 to the operation support list D3.

  Also in the present embodiment, the recorded program list display control unit 323 causes the monitor display 3001 to display a recorded program (recorded content) list D1 as shown in FIG. When one of the recorded programs is selected from the recorded program list D1 and the user operates a predetermined key (stop key in this embodiment), the operation support process shown in FIG. 13 is started.

  When the operation support process is started, the related content detection unit 324 stores information on the content related to the selected recorded program (the content given the same series name) in the program information management table (see FIG. 2). The recorded program information table (see FIG. 3) and the server 210 are detected (block E1).

  Next, the operation support screen generation unit 325 generates display data of the operation support list D3 using the related content information detected by the related content detection unit 324 (block E2). The operation support screen display control unit 326 displays an operation support list D3 as shown in FIG. 14 on the monitor display 3001 based on the data generated by the operation support screen generation unit 325 (block E3).

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the operation support list D3 displayed on the monitor display 3001. The operation support list D3 displays a list of related contents detected by the related content detection unit 324.

  For example, if the recorded program “Mizu 10 Onna # 1” is selected, the related content detection unit 324 uses the same series as “Mizu 10 Onna # 1” from the recorded program information table in block E1. , “Minami 10 Onna # 2” and “Minami 10 Onna # 3” information already recorded in the storage medium is detected, and the program “Mizu-no-Ona # 3” is scheduled to be broadcast from the program information management table. The information of “10 women # 4” and “10 women of water # 5” is detected. Also, the distribution information of the program content “Mizu 10 Onna Special” related to the selected recorded program, and the related advertisement information “Minami 10 Onna DVD Release” information are acquired from the server 210.

  The operation support screen generation unit 325 generates operation support list data based on the detection result by the related content detection unit 324. That is, the operation support screen generation unit 325 generates display data for displaying a list of detected contents. The operation support screen display control unit 326 displays the operation support list D3 illustrated in FIG. 14 on the monitor display 3001 based on the generated display data.

  The detected related content is displayed on the operation support list D3, for example, in order of content type, broadcast time, or broadcast date. The server 210 may be able to specify in what display order the related content is displayed. When the related content detection unit 324 acquires information specifying the display order from the server 210 in addition to the server service information, the operation support screen display control unit 326 displays the related content in the order specified by the server 210. Let

  In the example of FIG. 14, the selected recorded program itself “Water 10 Onna # 1” is highlighted. However, the server 210 may be able to specify the content to be highlighted when the operation support list D3 is initially displayed. When the related content detection unit 324 acquires from the server 210 information on related content to be highlighted in addition to the server service information, the related content is highlighted.

  When the operation support list D3 is displayed on the monitor display 3001 as described above (block E3), the user selects any content from the displayed operation support list D3 by using the enter key or delete key of the key input unit 44. (Block E4).

  The operation performed in response to content selection by the user is determined according to the type of content to be selected and the type of key used for selection.

  FIG. 15 is an operation determination table for determining an operation performed in response to content selection.

  When a recorded program stored in the storage medium (in the example of FIG. 14, “Onna # 1 to # 3” of water 10) is selected by operating the delete key, the selected recording is performed according to the setting of FIG. The program is instructed to be deleted (“Delete” in block E4). The recording control unit 312 deletes the data of the selected program from the storage medium (block E5). Alternatively, the program data may be moved to a predetermined trash folder without deleting the data here. Alternatively, a deletion confirmation screen may be displayed on the monitor display 3001.

  The recorded program stored in the storage medium (in the example of FIG. 14, “Mizu 10 Onna # 1 to # 3”) or the content distributed by the server 210 (in the example of FIG. 14 “Mizu 10 Onna Special”) is stored. When selected by operating the enter key, reproduction of the selected content is instructed according to the setting shown in FIG. 15 (“play” in block E4). In this case, the reproduction process of the selected content is executed by the reproduction control unit 311 (block E6). Here, when the content distributed by the server 210 cannot be acquired from the server 210, a predetermined error display may be performed.

  When the already reserved program detected from the program guide information (“Mizu 10 Onna # 4” in the example of FIG. 14) is selected by operating the enter key, the selected program is selected according to the setting of FIG. Reservation confirmation of the selected program is instructed (“Reservation management” in block E4). The scheduled recording control unit 313 causes the user to confirm the recording reservation by displaying the recording reservation information of the selected program on the monitor display 3001 (block E7).

  In addition, when a reserved program ("Minami 10 Onna # 4" in the example of FIG. 14) is selected by operating the delete key, an instruction to delete the reservation of the selected program is given according to the setting of FIG. (Reservation management in block E4). The reserved recording control unit 313 cancels the recording reservation of the selected program (block E7).

  When a program that is detected from the program guide information and has not yet been reserved ("Minami 10 Onna # 5" in the example of FIG. 14) is selected by operating the enter key, this program is set according to the setting of FIG. The recording reservation of the selected program is instructed (“Reservation management” in block E4). The scheduled recording control unit 313 reserves recording of the selected program (block E7).

  When the advertisement information (in the example of FIG. 14 “Wanna 10 DVD release”) is selected by operating the enter key, the use of the selected advertisement information service is instructed according to the setting of FIG. 15 ( “Service use” in block E4). In this case, the server service use screen transmitted from the server 210 is displayed on the monitor display 3001, and server service use processing is performed (block E8). When DVD release information is provided from the server 210, this DVD purchase reservation screen is displayed on the monitor display 3001, and a DVD purchase reservation can be made.

  In other cases (“Other” in block E4), the display of the operation support list is continued (block E4).

  When the end key is operated to instruct the end of the operation support process (“END” in block E4), the operation support process ends.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when any recorded program is selected on the recorded program list D1 and a predetermined key operation is performed, the content that the user is expected to use next is displayed by the operation support list D3. A list can be displayed.

  For this reason, the user does not need to search for the content to be used next from the program guide or the recorded program list.

  In the present embodiment, all the detected related contents are displayed in a list in the operation support list D3. Therefore, even when the related content detection unit 324 detects a large number of related contents, these related programs are operated and supported. All can be confirmed from the list D3.

  In the present embodiment, when a user selects content from the operation support list D3, content deletion, playback, reservation management, and use of a server service are performed. In addition to this, “content protection” may be selected to prevent erroneous deletion of content.

  Further, the content display order on the operation support list D3 may be determined based on the user operation history.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, content having the same series name is related content, but the relevance may be determined by attributes other than the series name. For example, when information such as “genre” and “performer” for each program is stored in the program information management table managed by the program information management unit 321, the “genre” and “performer” information is stored. The relevance may be determined based on the above.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus (program reproducing apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the program information management table for managing electronic program guide information. The figure which shows the recorded program information table for managing the information of the recorded program. The figure which shows an example of the erase list. The flowchart of the recorded program reproduction process which a reproduction | regeneration control part performs. The flowchart of the program deletion process performed by the recorded program information management part. The figure which shows an example of the video recording program (video recording content) list | wrist D1. The flowchart of the operation assistance process by 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the operation assistance menu D2 popup-displayed on the video recording program list D1. The figure which shows an example of a menu ID table. The figure which shows an example of the operation assistance menu D2. The figure which shows the other example of the operation assistance menu D2. The flowchart of the operation assistance process by 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the operation assistance list | wrist D3. The figure which shows an example of the operation | movement determination table for determining the operation | movement performed according to content selection.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1001 ... Optical disk, 1002 ... Optical disk drive part, 1003 ... Data processor part, 2001 ... Hard disk drive part, 30 ... Microcomputer block, 41a ... AV input part, 41b ... Terrestrial analog tuner, 41c ... Terrestrial digital tuner, 41d ... Satellite digital tuner, 41e ... satellite analog tuner, 50 ... encoder unit, 60 ... decoder unit, 311 ... reproduction control unit, 312 ... recording control unit, 313 ... reserved recording control unit, 321 ... program information management unit, 322 ... recorded program Information management unit, 323 ... recorded program list display control unit, 324 ... related content detection unit, 325 ... operation support screen generation unit, 326 ... operation support screen display control unit, 3001 ... monitor display.

Claims (16)

Recorded content list display means for displaying a list of recorded content stored in the storage medium on the display unit;
A first selection means for selecting one recorded content from the recorded content displayed in a list in response to a first selection instruction by a user;
Related content detection means for detecting related content of the recorded content selected by the first content selection means;
In response to a predetermined key operation by the user, a recorded content the selected operation and corresponding to the selected recorded contents, the related content and the operation support screen for presenting operation and in accordance with the related content Operation support screen generating means for generating
Support screen display means for displaying the operation support screen generated by the operation support screen generation means;
Second selection means for selecting any of the operations presented on the operation support screen in response to a second selection instruction by the user;
Action control means for executing the operation selected by the second selection means;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation support screen presents deletion of the recorded content as an operation corresponding to the selected recorded content. An operation tendency storage means for storing an operation tendency of the user for the content series including the selected recorded content;
The information processing according to claim 2, wherein a presentation position on the operation support screen of the selected recording content and a deletion operation corresponding to the selected recording content is determined according to an operation tendency of the user. apparatus. The operation tendency storage means stores a content series name that the user has a tendency to delete content immediately after viewing.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recorded content in which the content series name is stored by the operation tendency storage unit and the deletion operation corresponding to the recorded content are presented on the operation support screen. It further comprises program guide management means for managing program guide information,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related content detection unit detects the related content from program guide information managed by the program guide management unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the operation support screen presents a recording reservation for the related content as an operation according to the related content. Further comprising recorded content management means for managing recorded content stored in the storage medium;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related content detection unit detects the related content from the recorded content managed by the recorded content management unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation support screen presents reproduction of the related content as an operation corresponding to the related content.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation support screen presents deletion of the related content as an operation corresponding to the related content.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related content detection unit detects the related content from an external server via a network.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the operation support screen presents reproduction of content distributed by the external server as an operation corresponding to the content distributed by the external server. The related content includes advertising service content related to the selected recorded content provided by the external server,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the operation support screen presents use of the service content as an operation according to the service content.   The presentation position on the operation support screen of the selected recorded content, the operation according to the selected recorded content, the related content, and the operation according to the related content is set by an external server via the network. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, which is specified.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selected recorded content and the related content are displayed in a list on the operation support screen. A third selection unit for selecting one content from the recorded content and the related content displayed in the list in response to a third selection instruction by the user;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an operation corresponding to the content selected by the third selection unit is determined according to a key type used by the user for the third selection instruction. List the recorded contents stored in the storage medium on the display unit,
In response to a first selection instruction by the user from the list of recorded contents, one recorded content is selected,
Detecting related content of the selected recorded content;
In response to a predetermined key operation by the user, a recorded content the selected operation and corresponding to the selected recorded contents, the related content and the operation support screen for presenting operation and in accordance with the related content Produces
To display the generated operation support screen,
Select one of the operations presented by the operation support screen according to a second selection instruction by the user,
An operation support screen display method for executing an operation selected in accordance with the second selection instruction .

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