JP5020867B2 - CONTENT REPRODUCTION DEVICE, CONTENT REPRODUCTION SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a content reproduction apparatus , a content reproduction system, and a program, and more particularly to a user interface of the content reproduction apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a graphical user interface (GUI) has been adopted as an operation unit for familiar electronic devices such as a computer, a mobile phone, a TV, and a video camera. The GUI is a user interface that provides information to the user through a display screen that uses a lot of graphics, and can perform most operations directly with a pointing device such as a mouse.
In recent years, there is a demand for a GUI that is excellent not only in design but also in operability that can cope with higher functionality of electronic devices.

For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique related to a user interface that can improve user convenience in a content reproduction apparatus capable of reproducing music content, video content, and the like.
Further, in a conventional content playback apparatus (for example, a media player or a portable audio player executed on a computer), generally, a playback time axis (so-called playback bar) indicating a playback position on the time axis of content is a GUI. It is arranged as a part of the content so that the user can visually recognize the current reproduction position in the content being reproduced.
Further, in a content playback apparatus that plays back content transmitted from a server, a user can add comment information to a predetermined playback section of video content, and comment information can be obtained when other users play back this video content. Has been realized in such a manner that the image is superimposed on the video screen.
Japanese Patent No. 3897774

By the way, in the technique of adding comment information to the content as described above, the comment information includes many user impressions and the like. Such a comment is considered to reflect the characteristics of the entire content or a predetermined playback section of the content.
However, in the prior art, a user who reproduces the content cannot appropriately browse the comment information independently of the reproduction of the content. Therefore, the user cannot refer to the comment information added to the content when reproducing the content, even though the comment information reflecting the feature of the content is added. It's not good.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a content playback apparatus and program capable of improving convenience by improving the display of comment information when comment information is added to a predetermined playback section of the content. .

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1
A content playback apparatus that is connected to a server holding content via a network and plays back the content transmitted from the server,
When comment information is added to a predetermined playback section of the content, a playback time axis indicating a playback position on the time axis of the content and comment information added to the content are displayed on the screen. Display control means for displaying,
The display control means displays a comment mark indicating that comment information is added to the predetermined playback section in association with the playback time axis, and the current playback position is added with the comment information. The comment mark display mode corresponding to the comment information is displayed in a mode different from the comment mark display mode corresponding to the other comment information, and the current playback position is displayed . The comment information to be displayed is switched according to the selection operation of the comment mark without being moved, and the display mode of the comment mark selected by the selection operation is displayed in a mode different from the display mode of the unselected comment mark. characterized in that it.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1,
The display control means switches comment information to be displayed according to a reproduction position of the content.

The invention according to claim 3 is the content playback apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The display control means displays the comment information and the comment mark in such a manner that the correspondence between the comment information and the comment mark can be recognized.
The content reproduction system of the invention according to claim 4 provides:
A content playback system comprising a server that holds content and a client terminal that plays back content transmitted from the server via a network,
The server
Sending content in response to a request from the client terminal;
The client terminal is
When comment information is added to a predetermined playback section of the content, a playback time axis indicating a playback position on the time axis of the content and comment information added to the content are displayed on the screen. Display control means for displaying,
The display control means displays a comment mark indicating that comment information is added to the predetermined playback section in association with the playback time axis, and the current playback position is added with the comment information. The comment mark display mode corresponding to the comment information is displayed in a mode different from the comment mark display mode corresponding to the other comment information, and the current playback position is displayed . The comment information to be displayed is switched according to the selection operation of the comment mark without being moved, and the display mode of the comment mark selected by the selection operation is displayed in a mode different from the display mode of the unselected comment mark. characterized in that it.

The invention described in claim 5
A program for displaying, on a computer screen, a user interface of a content reproduction apparatus that is connected to a server that holds content via a network and reproduces content transmitted from the server,
When comment information is added to the content for a predetermined playback section of the content,
A function for displaying a reproduction time axis indicating a reproduction position on the time axis of the content;
A function for displaying comment information added to the content;
A comment mark indicating that comment information is added to the predetermined playback section is displayed in association with the playback time axis, and the current playback position is the predetermined playback section to which the comment information is added. The display mode of the comment mark corresponding to the comment information is displayed in a mode different from the display mode of the comment mark corresponding to the other comment information, and is not accompanied by the movement of the current playback position. The function of switching the comment information to be displayed according to the selection operation of the comment mark, and displaying the display mode of the comment mark selected by the selection operation in a mode different from the display mode of the unselected comment mark, It is a program for causing a computer to realize it.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily recognize the presence or absence of comment information added to content, a playback section to which comment information is added, etc. using the playback time axis, and to effectively use this comment information. Since it can be used as a reference when playing back content, the convenience is greatly improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a network configuration according to the present embodiment.
In the present embodiment, a case where content (for example, a web page) is provided from the server 1 to the client 2 via the network N and the content is used in the client 2 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, a client 2 (for example, a personal computer 2a, a mobile phone 2b, etc.) is connected to the server 1 via a communication network N.
The communication network N is a telephone network such as the Internet or a telecommunications carrier, a cellular phone communication network, and the like, and connects the server 1 and the client 2 connected to the communication network N so that data communication is possible.

In such a network system, for example, when a user activates a web browser on the client 2 and designates a URL, the client 2 sets the server 1 holding the corresponding content (for example, an HTML file) on the Internet. Search above and request content data.
On the other hand, the server 1 that holds the requested content transmits the requested content to the client 2. Then, the client 2 analyzes the content of the received content and displays a web page or the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of the hardware configuration of the server 1. The server 1 in this embodiment is, for example, a web server that provides a music content distribution service.
As shown in FIG. 2, the server 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a database 13, and the like, and each unit is electrically connected by a bus line 14.

The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 112, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 113.
The CPU 111 performs various arithmetic processes and performs centralized control of each unit. The RAM 112 has a work area for temporarily storing data when the CPU 111 performs arithmetic processing. The ROM 113 stores programs such as an operating system (OS) executed by the CPU 111, server software, and web applications.
The communication unit 12 performs processing according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP, and transmits / receives data to / from the client 2 via the network N.
The database 13 stores, for example, web page data, music content, a playlist of music content, and the like. The playlist is a list for continuously playing a series of music contents, and usually the music contents are played in the order registered in the playlist.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a music table stored in the database 13. This music table is used for managing the music content stored in the database 13.
As shown in FIG. 4, a unique music ID is assigned to each music content in the music table. Corresponding to this, for example, the file name, title name (music name), playback time, artist name of music data Data such as album name, genre, and comment information are stored.

In FIG. 4, for example, the music content specified by the music ID “M001” is the music of the title “AAA”, the playback time “4:00”, and the genre “J-POP” performed (sung) by the artist “aaa”. This indicates that the music is recorded in the album “XYZ”. In addition, the file name of this music content is “AAA.wma”.
The actual music content data (for example, data of the file name “AAA.wma”) may be stored in the same database 13 or may be stored in another database.

  Further, it is shown that a comment A, a comment B, and a comment C are added as comment information to the music content specified by the music ID “M003”. This comment information is composed of, for example, information stored in the comment table shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the comment table stored in the database 13.
As shown in FIG. 5, the comment table stores a comment name, specific text information, a playback point to which the comment information is added, a user name who posted the comment information, and the like. That is, the comment information includes these pieces of information. Here, the playback point is a point to which the comment information is added in the music content, and is specified by a playback time from the start of the music content, for example.

In FIG. 5, for example, a comment A is a comment posted by the user A at a playback point of “1:00” from the start of playback of the music content, with specific text information “Guitar performance is great!” It shows that there is. In a content playback apparatus capable of displaying comment information, when the playback position of the music content reaches the playback point of the comment information, the comment information (text information) added to the playback point is displayed. At this time, the comment information is displayed for a predetermined time after the playback point has passed. That is, it can be said that the comment information is added to a predetermined playback section (for example, 10 seconds from the playback point) of the music content.
Note that the information indicating the playback section of the comment information may be set in association with each comment information in the server 1 (for example, the playback section is set when the user posts the comment information). The content playback software on the client 2 side may be set uniformly (for example, 10 seconds from the playback point).

  Here, as a method for reproducing the music content distributed from the server 1 by the client 2, generally, the music content held by the server 1 is stored in the hard disk (a storage unit 22 described later) of the client 2 and downloaded for reproduction. There are playback and streaming playback that starts playback when a part of the music content distributed from the server 1 is received. In the present embodiment, as an example, a case where streaming reproduction is performed in the client 2 will be described. In this case, the music content that is registered in the music table and can be distributed is in a file format that supports streaming.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the playlist table stored in the database 13.
As shown in FIG. 6, a unique playlist ID is assigned to each playlist in the playlist table. Correspondingly, for example, the title name of the playlist and the ID of the music content constituting the playlist are listed. (For example, music ID of FIG. 4), artist name, album name, genre, and other data are stored.
In FIG. 6, for example, a playlist identified by a playlist ID “P001” has a title “pList1” and is composed of song contents with song IDs “M001, M002, M003...”. Yes. The playlist “pList1” is composed of music contents recorded on the album “XYZ” performed (sung) by the artist “aaa”, and indicates that the genre is “J-POP”. Yes.

  The playlist is created by the server 1 by extracting a plurality of music contents from the music table according to predetermined conditions such as albums or artists. Further, for example, a user may create a playlist in which favorite music contents are collected from the music table and register the playlist in the database 13. In this case, information regarding the user who created the playlist (for example, user ID) and information indicating the characteristics of the playlist may be registered.

  Information stored as a title, artist, album, and genre in the music table or playlist table described above is used when music content or a playlist that matches the search keyword transmitted from the client 2 is extracted.

In FIG. 2, the CPU 111 of the server 1 executes predetermined software (such as a web page stored in the database 13) in response to a request from the client 2 by executing server software stored in the ROM 113. ).
In addition, by executing a web application program stored in the ROM 113, processing based on data transmitted from the client 2 is performed.

For example, when a keyword (search keyword) for searching for a desired music content or playlist is input and transmitted in the web browser of the client 2, a suitable music content or playlist is extracted based on the search keyword. The extraction result (for example, individual music content or playlist) is transmitted to the client 2.
Then, when a transmission request for music content is made from the client 2, the corresponding music content is transmitted to the client 2.

In this embodiment, when comment information is added to the music content, the server 1 transmits this comment information to the client 2 together with the music content.
In the client 2, display control in the GUI of the content reproduction software is performed based on the comment information added to the music content.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the hardware configuration of the client 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, the client 2 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, an operation unit 24, a display unit 25, and the like, and each unit is electrically connected by a bus line 26. .

The configuration of the control unit 21 is the same as the configuration of the control unit 11 of the server 1. The ROM 213 stores programs such as an OS, a web browser, and content reproduction software.
This content playback software is, for example, software (so-called multimedia player) capable of streaming playback of music content distributed from the server 1 and functioning as a plug-in on a web browser. In addition, it has a playlist function for continuously reproducing a series of contents according to the playlist.

Furthermore, the content playback software has the following functions in addition to the main music content playback function. In other words, the content playback software allows a user who receives a music distribution service from the server 1 (for example, a user who is logged in to a website provided by the server 1, hereinafter referred to as a login user) to a music content. A function (hereinafter referred to as a comment function) that allows a logged-in user who is playing this music content to view comments is added.
Further, a login user who uses the same playlist may be provided with a function (so-called chat function) that allows a text-based conversation in real time through a network.

The storage unit 22 is composed of, for example, a hard disk, and can store data of content (for example, music content) downloaded from the server 1.
The communication unit 23 performs processing according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP and transmits / receives data to / from the server 1 via the network N.
The operation unit 24 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and is used when a user inputs information. For example, when requesting distribution of a desired music content to the server 1 that provides a music content distribution service, the user searches the keyword input field on the web page using the operation unit 24 to search keywords (for example, artist name, music name, album). Name). Further, in the GUI of the content reproduction software, the operation unit 24 performs operations for reproducing desired music content and adjusting the volume.
The display unit 25 is configured by a display device such as a liquid crystal display, for example, and displays a predetermined screen based on a display control command from the control unit 21. On the display unit 25, for example, GUIs of various applications (for example, a web browser and content reproduction software) are displayed.

For example, the CPU 211 of the client 2 executes a web browser stored in the ROM 213, and requests the server 1 for a web page specified by the URL when the user inputs the URL through the operation unit 24. Then, the web page data transmitted from the server 1 is analyzed and displayed on the web browser window.
Further, in the web page that distributes the music content, the CPU 211 activates the content reproduction software and causes it to function as a plug-in on the web browser. At this time, the GUI of the content reproduction software is displayed in the web browser window. In addition, in the web browser window, in addition to the GUI of the content playback software, information related to the web page, for example, various information related to music, is displayed, and the user can search for desired music content and playlists. A keyword entry field is provided.

As described above, when the server 1 provides the music content distribution service (web site) to the client 2, the GUI of the content reproduction software is displayed in the window of the web browser of the client 2. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied when displaying the GUI of the content reproduction software.
That is, in the content playback software, when comment information is added to the music content to be played back, the user can easily recognize what comment information is added to which playback point (playback section) of the music content. I am doing so.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a GUI of content reproduction software. This GUI is displayed, for example, when content playback software is activated in the client 2 and music content is played back.
In FIG. 7, the content reproduction software reproduces the music content (see FIGS. 4 to 6) of the third registered title “CCC” among the music content registered in the playlist “pList1”. Shows the case. Further, the user name of the client 2 is “user D”.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the main frame Fm constituting the GUI of the content reproduction software includes, for example, information related to the music content to be reproduced (for example, the title name of the playlist (when registered in the playlist), the artist name) , Album name) I1, an image related to the music content to be played (such as a jacket image of the album) I2, information I3 indicating the progress of the music content and the title of the music content being played, the configuration of the playlist currently used, etc. Displayed playlist information I4, etc. is displayed. In addition, operation buttons B (play / stop button, fast reverse button, fast forward button, volume button) for performing music content playback processing are arranged.

The information I3 indicating the progress status of the music content includes a playback bar PB as a playback time axis indicating the playback position on the time axis of the music content, and a comment mark Ua indicating that comment information is added to the music content. To Ud.
The playback bar PB indicates the current playback position of the music content (or the stop position when the music content is in a paused state) according to the display mode in the area. For example, in the playback bar PB shown in FIG. 7, the beginning to the playback position of the music content of the title “CCC” is shaded, and 1:20 from the start (remaining playback time 3:40) is the current playback position. It is shown that.

The comment marks Ua to Ud are displayed in association with the playback time axis, and are displayed at positions corresponding to playback points on the playback bar PB, for example.
That is, the comment information including the comments A to D is added to the music content of the title “CCC” (see FIG. 4, but the comment D is omitted in FIG. 4). The marks Ua to Ud are displayed on the reproduction bar PB according to the respective reproduction points (see FIG. 5). For example, since the playback point of the comment B is “1:20”, the comment mark Ub is displayed at a position of 1:20 on the playback bar PB.

In addition, when the current playback position of the music content is included in a playback section (for example, 10 seconds from the playback point) to which comment information is added, the display mode of the comment mark corresponding to the comment information is other than The display mode is different from the display mode of the comment mark corresponding to the comment information. For example, in FIG. 7, the current playback position (1:20) is included in the playback section (1:20 to 10 seconds) to which the comment B is added, so the comment mark Ub is another comment mark Ua, Uc. , Ud, and a different display mode (shaded lines in FIG. 7).
Thereby, since the presence or absence of comment information at the current playback position can be easily recognized, it is possible to refer to what other users have thought about the playback section.

Further, the comment marks Ua to Ud function as operation buttons for displaying desired comment information CMT in the subframe Fs. That is, when the user performs an operation of selecting any of the comment marks Ua to Ud, comment information corresponding to the selected comment mark is displayed in the subframe Fs.
Thereby, the user can browse desired comment information with a simple operation. This is particularly useful when a large amount of comment information is added to the music content.

On the other hand, a screen for realizing the comment function is displayed in the subframe (comment information display frame) Fs constituting the GUI of the content reproduction software. In the subframe Fs, for example, a comment input field IPT for inputting a comment such as an impression on the music content currently being played by the user D, the user D or other logged-in users (for example, users A to C). The comment information CMT entered by () is displayed.
In the comment input field IPT, when comment information is posted during reproduction of the music content, this comment information is transmitted to the server 1, and the contents of the music table (see FIG. 4) and the comment table (see FIG. 5) are updated. The For example, the playback position of the music content when the comment information is posted is set as the playback point of the posted comment information. When the updated content is transmitted from the server 1 to the client 2, the comment information updated in the GUI of the content reproduction software is reflected and displayed.
Note that since a technique for adding comment information to music content can use a known technique, a detailed description is omitted here.

The comment information CMT includes a user icon ICN and a user name UN indicating the user who posted the comment information, text information TXT indicating the specific content of the comment information, and a playback point PP of the comment information. In the present embodiment, three pieces of comment information CMT1 to CMT3 are displayed as the comment information CMT, and the middle comment information CMT2 is displayed in focus with a thick frame.
Specifically, the comment information to be focused (for example, comment B) is the middle comment information CMT2, and this comment information CMT2 and the comment information (for example, comment A and comment C) at which the playback point fluctuates are the upper and lower comments. Information CMT1 and CMT3. For example, when the current reproduction position of the music content reaches the reproduction point of the comment information, the comment information becomes comment information to be focused.

  In the comment information CMT, for example, when the music content is started to be reproduced, the comment information added to the music content is displayed in order from the top. The user can operate the scroll bar arranged on the right side of the reproduction point PP to enable scroll display. That is, all the comment information added to the music content can be appropriately browsed by scrolling the user.

Furthermore, the comment marks Ua to Ud displayed on the reproduction bar PB of the main frame Fm and the comment information CMT1 to CMT3 displayed on the subframe Fs are displayed in a manner in which the mutual correspondence can be recognized. For example, by making the display colors of the comment marks Ua to Ud and the display colors of the comment information (for example, the user name UN and the text information TXT) the same, the correspondence between the two becomes clear.
Thereby, it is possible to easily recognize to which playback section the comment information CMT1 to CMT3 currently displayed is the comment information added.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the comment marks Ua to Ud are displayed in association with the reproduction bar PB, the user can know in which reproduction section of the music content the comment information is added. For example, if comment information indicating praise is added, you may be interested in watching this section. If comment information indicating disappointment is added, skip this section. You might think.
In other words, the playback section to which the comment information is added can be said to be a point where other users have shown interest, so that the user D can refer to the comment information for reference when playing the music content. be able to.

  Note that the comment information CMT displayed in the subframe Fs is automatically switched according to the current playback position of the content, as will be described later. When the user performs an operation (click operation) for selecting any one of the comment marks Ua to Ud, switching is performed accordingly.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of display control processing for displaying a comment mark and comment information. This display control process is executed when, for example, the content reproduction software stored in the ROM 213 is activated by the CPU 211 of the client 2 and the music content is reproduced. Note that the entire GUI of the content reproduction software is displayed by another display control process.

In FIG. 8, in step S <b> 101, information related to music content transmitted from the server 1 is analyzed. The information relating to the music content includes information on the music content stored in the music table shown in FIG. 4 and comment information stored in the comment table shown in FIG.
In step S102, a comment mark is displayed on the reproduction bar PB based on the analysis result. Specifically, a comment mark is displayed at a corresponding position on the playback bar PB based on the playback time of the music content and the playback point of each comment information.
If comment information is not added to the music content, no comment mark is displayed. However, since the comment information may be posted during the reproduction of the music content, the display control process is continued.
In step S103, the comment information added to the music content is displayed from the top. For example, in FIG. 7, among the comment information added to the music content of the title “CCC”, the comment information of the comment A having the first playback point is the central comment information CMT2, and the playback point is the next comment B. The comment information is the comment information CMT3 below.

  In step S104, it is determined whether the playback position of the music content has reached the start position of the playback section to which the comment information is added, that is, whether there is comment information added to the current playback position. The start position of the playback section is the playback point in FIG. If it is determined that the current playback position has reached the playback point, the process proceeds to step S105. If it is determined that the playback point has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S105, the comment mark corresponding to the comment information added to the current reproduction position is displayed in the first mode. Here, the comment mark corresponding to the comment information not added to the current reproduction position is displayed in the second mode. The first mode is a display mode different from the second mode. For example, a display mode in which comment marks are hatched is a first mode, and a display mode in which comment marks are painted white is a second mode.
In step S106, corresponding comment information, that is, comment information added to the current reproduction position is displayed in the center as comment information CMT2.

For example, in FIG. 7, the playback position of the music content has reached the start position (playback point “1:20”) of the playback section to which the comment B is added. Therefore, the comment mark Ub corresponding to the comment B is in the first mode (hatched). On the other hand, the comment marks Ua, Uc, Ud corresponding to other comment information are in the second mode (white coating). In the subframe Fs, the comment B is displayed in the center as comment information CMT2.
For example, in FIG. 9, the playback position of the music content has reached the start position (playback point “2:10”) of the playback section to which the comment C is added. Therefore, the comment mark Uc corresponding to the comment C is in the first mode (hatched). On the other hand, the comment marks Ua, Ub, Ud corresponding to other comment information are in the second mode (white coating). In the subframe Fs, the comment C is displayed in the center as comment information CMT2.

  If the current playback position is included in the playback section of a plurality of comment information, the comment mark corresponding to the plurality of comment information is set as the first mode. In this case, the comment information with the slowest playback point is displayed in the center as the comment information CMT2 in the subframe Fs.

In FIG. 8, in step S107, it is determined whether or not the playback position of the music content has reached the end position of the playback section to which the comment information is added. For example, the playback point of comment information + 10 seconds is set as the end position of the playback section. When it is determined that the current playback position has reached the end position of the playback section, the process proceeds to step S108, and when it is determined that the end position of the playback section has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S109.
In step S108, the comment mark corresponding to the corresponding comment information is returned to the second mode and displayed.

  For example, in FIG. 7, after 10 seconds, the current playback position becomes 1:30 and the playback section to which the comment B is added ends, so the display mode of the comment mark Ub corresponding to the comment B is the first mode. The mode is switched from (shaded) to the second mode (white display). At this time, in the subframe Fs, the comment B remains displayed at the center as the comment information CMT2.

  As described above, the display mode of the comment mark and the comment information to be displayed are switched according to the current playback position, so that the user can accurately determine whether or not the comment information is added to the playback section including the current playback position. It can be recognized and the contents of the comment information can be easily obtained. For example, even when the user manually switches the display of comment information in the subframe Fs, the presence or absence of comment information added to the current playback position can be recognized.

In FIG. 8, in step S109, it is determined whether or not a comment mark selection operation (click operation) has been performed by the user. If it is determined that a comment mark selection operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S106. If it is determined that a comment mark selection operation has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S110.
That is, when a comment mark selection operation is performed, comment information corresponding to the comment mark selected and operated in step S106 is displayed in the center as comment information CMT2.

FIG. 10 shows a case where the selection operation of the comment mark Ud is performed in the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, when the comment mark Ud is selected, the comment information (comment D) corresponding to the comment mark Ud is displayed as the comment information CMT2 in the subframe Fs. In FIG. 10, the comment mark that has been selected is indicated by shading so that it can be recognized which comment mark has been selected. Since the comment D is comment information added at the end of the music content, the comment information is not displayed in the comment information CMT3 in FIG.
Thus, the comment information to be displayed is switched in accordance with the selection operation by the user, so that the user can browse the desired comment information freely and easily.

  In FIG. 8, in step S110, it is determined whether or not the reproduction of the music content has been completed. If it is determined that the reproduction has been completed, the process ends. If it is determined that the reproduction has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S104.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the client 2 is connected to the server that holds the music content via the network by starting the content playback software, and plays back the music content transmitted from the server. It becomes.
In the client 2, when comment information is added to a predetermined playback section of the music content, a playback bar (playback time axis) PB indicating the playback position on the time axis of the music content, and the music content The comment information CMT added to is controlled to be displayed on the screen.
Further, comment marks Ua to Ud indicating that comment information is added to a predetermined reproduction section are displayed in association with the reproduction bar PB.
As a result, the user can easily recognize the presence or absence of comment information added to the content, the playback section to which comment information is added, etc. using the playback time axis, and effectively use this comment information. Since it can be used as a reference when playing back content, the convenience is greatly improved.

  In addition, even if the comment marks Ua to Ud are not displayed in association with the playback bar (playback time axis) PB, in the comment information arranged in the content playback order in the subframe (comment information display frame) Fs in a certain area. If the comment information regarding the current content playback location or the comment information portion of the playback location closest to the current playback location is displayed while being moved in order as the content playback progresses, the comment information added to the content The user can easily recognize the presence or absence of a playback section, a playback section to which comment information is added, and the like.

  As mentioned above, although the invention made by this inventor was concretely demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the display of the GUI of content reproduction software that functions as a plug-in of the web browser has been described. It may be a simple content playback software (so-called network media player).
Of course, the content reproduction software can be applied not only to music content but also to video content.

Further, the playback bar PB may function as a button for designating a playback position in the music content. That is, when the user performs a selection operation (click operation) at a position to be reproduced within the area of the reproduction bar PB, the music content is reproduced from the selected position.
This makes it easy to pick up and replay the location where the comment information is added and to check the comment information. This is useful when trying to understand the overall characteristics of the music content from the comment information. It is.

  Note that the content reproduction software GUI as described above can be created using a development tool (for example, Flex2 manufactured by Adobe).

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is the schematic shown about the network structure which concerns on this embodiment. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a hardware configuration of a server 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a hardware configuration of a client 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown about one structural example of the music table stored in the database. It is explanatory drawing shown about one structural example of the comment table stored in the database. It is explanatory drawing shown about the structural example of the playlist table stored in the database. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of GUI of content reproduction software. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the display control process for displaying a comment mark and comment information in GUI of content reproduction software. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of GUI of content reproduction software. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of GUI of content reproduction software.

Explanation of symbols

Fm Main frame Fs Subframe I1 Information related to the music content to be played I2 Image related to the music content to be played I3 Information indicating the progress of the music content and the title of the music content being played I4 Indicates the structure of the playlist currently used, etc. Playlist information PB Playback bar Ua to Ud Comment mark CMT Comment information

Claims (5)

A content playback apparatus that is connected to a server holding content via a network and plays back the content transmitted from the server,
When comment information is added to a predetermined playback section of the content, a playback time axis indicating a playback position on the time axis of the content and comment information added to the content are displayed on the screen. Display control means for displaying,
The display control means displays a comment mark indicating that comment information is added to the predetermined playback section in association with the playback time axis, and the current playback position is added with the comment information. The comment mark display mode corresponding to the comment information is displayed in a mode different from the comment mark display mode corresponding to the other comment information, and the current playback position is displayed . The comment information to be displayed is switched according to the selection operation of the comment mark without being moved, and the display mode of the comment mark selected by the selection operation is displayed in a mode different from the display mode of the unselected comment mark. A content playback apparatus.   The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit switches comment information to be displayed according to a reproduction position of the content. It said display control means, in a manner that can recognize the correspondence between the comment information and comments mark content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to display the comment information and comments mark. A content playback system comprising a server that holds content and a client terminal that plays back content transmitted from the server via a network,
The server
Sending content in response to a request from the client terminal;
The client terminal is
When comment information is added to a predetermined playback section of the content, a playback time axis indicating a playback position on the time axis of the content and comment information added to the content are displayed on the screen. Display control means for displaying,
The display control means displays a comment mark indicating that comment information is added to the predetermined playback section in association with the playback time axis, and the current playback position is added with the comment information. The comment mark display mode corresponding to the comment information is displayed in a mode different from the comment mark display mode corresponding to the other comment information, and the current playback position is displayed . The comment information to be displayed is switched according to the selection operation of the comment mark without being moved, and the display mode of the comment mark selected by the selection operation is displayed in a mode different from the display mode of the unselected comment mark. A content reproduction system characterized by: A program for displaying, on a computer screen, a user interface of a content reproduction apparatus that is connected to a server that holds content via a network and reproduces content transmitted from the server,
When comment information is added to the content for a predetermined playback section of the content,
A function for displaying a reproduction time axis indicating a reproduction position on the time axis of the content;
A function for displaying comment information added to the content;
A comment mark indicating that comment information is added to the predetermined playback section is displayed in association with the playback time axis, and the current playback position is the predetermined playback section to which the comment information is added. The display mode of the comment mark corresponding to the comment information is displayed in a mode different from the display mode of the comment mark corresponding to the other comment information, and is not accompanied by the movement of the current playback position. The function of switching the comment information to be displayed according to the selection operation of the comment mark, and displaying the display mode of the comment mark selected by the selection operation in a mode different from the display mode of the unselected comment mark, A program to be realized on a computer.

Images