JP5060394B2 - Information processing apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that processes information including video and audio.

  As recording media for recording information consisting of video, audio, etc., there are a magnetic tape, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc and the like. In recent years, devices using random access, high-speed data transfer, and large-capacity hard disk drives as recording media have begun to spread.

Also, video, audio, and the like are converted into digital data, and video, audio, etc. can be recorded in large quantities on a recording medium such as a hard disk drive, for example, by the development of data compression techniques using codecs such as MPEG2 and MPEG4. For this reason, for example, a video deck is realized that encodes in real time when a television broadcast is received and records the received video and audio to a hard disk drive. Since such a device can store a large amount of content data in an internal hard disk drive, various techniques for searching and reproducing desired content data from the content data have been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2003-187383 A JP 2005-10664 A

  However, in the conventional technology, since the search is performed with the recording time of each content data and the search result is displayed, a large amount of content data that can be viewed by a user with a time restriction within the time restriction is displayed. It is difficult to select from data.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to display content data to be reproduced from a plurality of content data so that the user can easily select it.

According to the present invention, an information processing apparatus for reproducing content data including video and audio,
Search means for searching for content data to be reproduced from a plurality of content data recorded on a recording medium, based on each non-viewing time of the plurality of content data;
Display means for displaying a list of information about the content data searched by the search means;
Reproduction means for reproducing content data corresponding to information selected by the user in the list;
Setting means for setting a value input by a user operation as a first threshold value, and obtaining a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value by multiplying the first threshold value by a predetermined value; Prepared,
The search means searches for content data of a non-viewing time that is less than or equal to the second threshold value .

  According to the present invention, content data to be reproduced from a plurality of content data can be displayed so that the user can easily select it.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus 100]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing apparatus 100 is an apparatus that reproduces content data including video and audio.

  The stored content database unit 110 stores content data to be subjected to playback processing. In this embodiment, for example, a hard disk drive having a large capacity and random access is used for the stored content database unit 110.

  The communication unit 111 is connected to an external network device via a network, and can receive content data from the outside. Accordingly, the content data to be subjected to playback processing does not necessarily have to be stored inside the device, and content data stored in an external network device can be received by the communication unit 111 and played back. Is possible.

  The stored content database unit 110 and the communication unit 111 may have at least one of them. In that case, the content data is acquired from only one of the stored content database unit 110 and the communication unit 111.

  The content management unit 101 manages the accumulated content database unit 110, the communication unit 111, and the content information database unit 112, and reproduces information acquired from the reproduction processing unit 120, the unviewed time management unit 121, and the content search unit 122. Send to.

  The content data itself can be acquired from the stored content database unit 110 and acquired by reception of the communication unit 111. For this reason, when the content management unit 101 handles them in a unified manner, the reproduction processing unit 120, the unviewed time management unit 121, and the content search unit 122 can perform each process regardless of the content data acquisition path. It becomes.

  The content information database unit 112 is a database of information attached to content data. The accompanying information refers to, for example, the title of the content data, the total playback time, and the last playback position time when playback has been performed halfway in the past.

  The reproduction processing unit 120 performs processing necessary for reproducing content data to be reproduced. The content data is stored according to an arbitrary data format, and can be reproduced by reading the data according to the data format. In particular, moving image content data is stored in a data format using an advanced compression technique such as MPEG2 or MPEG4 in order to keep the data size small. The main processing of the reproduction processing unit 120 is to expand such data into a format that can be easily displayed on the screen, such as a bitmap format. Also, there are cases where audio is compressed and stored in multiple channels, and in such a case, it is directly expanded into a PCM format that can be played back.

  The non-viewing time management unit 121 calculates the non-viewing time of each content data, and transmits the calculation result to another module that performs processing using the calculation result. The non-viewing time is calculated from the total reproduction time of the target content data, which is information via the content management unit 101, and the last reproduction position time when the content data has been reproduced in the past. As a calculation formula, for example, the following formula 1 can be used.

(Unviewed time) = (Total playback time) − (Last playback position time) (Formula 1)
Further, when the target content data has never been reproduced, there is no final reproduction position time, so the non-viewing time is equal to the total reproduction time, and is expressed by the following Equation 2.

(Non-viewing time) = (Total playback time) (Formula 2)
In addition, in the target content data, when a portion of interest to the user and a portion not of interest to the user are mixed, only the portion of interest to the user may be calculated as the unviewed time. For example, if the content data audio recording method is monaural where the user is interested, and the portion where the user is not interested is stereo, the monaural audio is recorded in the content information database unit 112 in advance when content data is recorded. Record the time of the recording part. By setting the total reproduction time of the target content data at that time, it is possible to acquire the non-viewing time of only the portion in which the user is interested.

  The content search unit 122 searches based on the non-viewing time for each content data to be reproduced from the plurality of content data recorded on the recording medium. Then, for each content data acquired as a search result, information such as a title character string, a user's non-viewing time, and a reproduction time is transmitted to the user interface control unit for list display processing.

  The user interface control unit 102 controls overall processing related to a user interface such as video and audio. For example, video display by reproducing content data, audio output, menu display graphics and font drawing, input reception from the user, and the like.

  The video display unit 130 inputs the content data developed by the reproduction processing unit 120 via the user interface control unit 102 and displays the data so that the user can actually see the data.

  The audio reproduction unit 131 inputs the data obtained by developing the content data by the reproduction processing unit 120 via the user interface control unit 102 and reproduces the data so that the user can actually hear it. The video display unit 130 and the audio reproduction unit 131 reproduce the content data at a reproduction speed at which the reproduction time of the content data is equal to or less than a first threshold described later.

  The content list display unit 132 displays a list of content data searched by the content search unit 122 in a selectable manner based on the time input by the user.

  The content selection unit 133 performs processing associated with content selection by the user on the list of content data displayed by the content list display unit 132. For example, in accordance with the cursor movement input from the user, the cursor display that overlaps the content data list display shown in FIG. 2 is updated, and the content reproduction process is performed by the content determination input from the user.

  The threshold value setting unit 134 sets a value input by a user operation as a first threshold value (for example, 60 minutes) of unviewed time. Further, in the present embodiment, the threshold setting unit 134 calculates a second threshold obtained by multiplying the first threshold by a value determined within a range that can be reproduced at double speed, and causes the content search unit 122 to store the first and second thresholds in the content data. Is output as a search condition.

  Here, by playing back the content data faster than the normal playback speed, even if the unviewed time is longer than the user-specified time, the unviewed portion of the content data can be played within the user-specified time It is. For this reason, the predetermined value is a value determined by how many times the non-viewing time is designated as the reproduction target by the user. For example, by setting this value to “1.5”, when the user's designated time (first threshold) is 60 minutes, the non-viewing time up to 90 minutes (second threshold) is the playback target. Become. Further, if it is about “1.5”, it is reproduced together with the sound, and the user can fully understand the contents of the content data.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list display of content data. A display 200 shows the entire list display of content data. The designated time display 210 indicates a time input for the user to perform a search. The time display 220 indicates the playback time of each content data and the user's non-viewing time. Thereby, the user's non-viewing time with respect to the reproduction time of each content data can be easily grasped.

  The title display 221 shows the title of each content data. The playback speed icon 230 is an icon that allows the user to easily recognize that the non-viewing time is longer than the time of the designated time display 210. The playback speed icon 230 also displays a numerical value indicating how many times the normal playback speed of the content data is played back and the playback is completed within the designated time display 210. That is, the content list display unit 132 uses the playback speed icon 230 to allow the user to select content data whose unviewed time is equal to or less than the first threshold and content data that is greater than the first threshold and equal to or less than the second threshold. The list can be displayed in an identifiable manner.

  The content list display unit 132 displays a time display 220, a title display 221, and a playback speed icon 230, but these may be displayed side by side based on the length of the unviewed time in the time display 220. For example, it can be displayed side by side in ascending order of non-viewing time, or can be displayed in order of long non-viewing time.

  The title display 221 displays a list of five content titles. Among these, “recorded program 1” to “recorded program 3” are content data whose unviewed time is shorter than the time of the designated time display 210 (that is, equal to or less than the first threshold value). “Recorded program 4” and “recorded program 5” are content data whose unviewed time is longer than the time of the designated time display 210 (that is, greater than the first threshold and less than or equal to the second threshold). . That is, the content list display unit 132 displays content data whose non-viewing time is larger than the first threshold value and which is equal to or less than the second threshold value below the content data whose unviewing time is equal to or less than the first threshold value. Thereby, both content data can be identified easily. The content list display unit 132 includes a first list in each of the list of content data whose non-viewing time is equal to or less than the first threshold and the list of content data that is greater than the first threshold and equal to or less than the second threshold. The content data that approximates the threshold are displayed in order. For example, in “recorded program 1” to “recorded program 3”, “recorded program 4”, and “recorded program 5”, a list of content data is displayed for the time (first time) of the designated time display 210. Display in order from the content data that approximates the threshold.

  When more than five pieces of content data are acquired as a result of search by the content search unit 122, a scroll bar (not shown) is displayed, and the list of content data is scrolled and displayed by the user's cursor movement input. May be.

  When the content search unit 122 searches for content data that is too much for the user to select from the list display, the content search unit 122 determines in advance from the smallest difference between the unviewed time and the specified time display 210 time. Only the number may be displayed in a list.

[Operation Procedure of Information Processing Apparatus 100]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure of the information processing apparatus 100. First, the threshold setting unit 134 sets the first and second thresholds for the non-viewing time based on the values input by the user (step S11). Here, the first threshold is a required time for reproducing content data acceptable by the user, and the second threshold is a required time for reproducing content data at high speed. Further, the second threshold value is calculated by multiplying the first threshold value by a predetermined value by the threshold value setting unit 134.

  The first and second threshold values set in step S11 serve as search conditions for the content search unit 122 via the user interface control unit 102, and search is performed based on information from the content management unit 101 (step S12).

  The content search unit 122 provides the user interface control unit 102 with a list of information including the reproduction time of the entire content data acquired from the content management unit 101, the title, and the non-viewing time calculated by the non-viewing time management unit 121. provide. The content list display unit 132 displays the content data list shown in FIG. 2 via the user interface control unit 102 (step S13).

  The user can change the first threshold value when the time has elapsed during the content data list display, or when the user's own situation or feelings have changed. When the first threshold is changed by the user, the process returns to the time designation process in step S11 (step S14).

  Furthermore, the user selects and inputs content data using the content selection unit 133 while the content data list is displayed. Here, the user can select content data that the user wants to view in the content data list with reference to the non-viewing time. When one content data is selected from the list of content data, the process proceeds to a reproduction process for the content data. While the content data is not selected, the content data list is continuously displayed (step S15).

  The content data to be played back is acquired from the stored content database unit 110 or the communication unit 111 and input to the playback processing unit 120 via the content management unit 101. The output from the reproduction processing unit 120 is reproduced in a state in which the user can view the video display unit 130 and the audio reproduction unit 131 via the user interface control unit 102 (step S16). The reproduction start position of the content data is the final reproduction position time of the target content data, and the reproduction speed is the speed indicated by the reproduction speed icon 230.

  The reproduction process is continued until the reproduction process of the content data reaches the final position of the content data or the reproduction end is instructed by the user (step S17).

  When the reproduction is finished, the reproduction processing unit 120 updates the data in the content information database unit 112 via the content management unit 101 with the information of the new last reproduction position time (step S18). By the update process, it is possible to keep the non-viewing time for the user content data in the latest state.

  By such processing, the user can view the content data within the time specified in step S11.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, content data to be reproduced from an enormous number of content data can be displayed so that the user can easily select it.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, content data that cannot be viewed due to time restrictions of the user at that time is input by inputting a time that the user thinks that the content data can be played in advance. Exclude from the list of data. Thereby, when displaying the list of content data, the number of displays can be narrowed down and the selection of the user can be facilitated.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when searching for content data based on the time input by the user, comparison is made with the user's non-viewing time rather than the overall playback time of each content data. This makes it possible to accurately display the time required for the user to view the content data that has been viewed halfway.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, in the list display of content data, the unviewed time of each content data is searched and displayed in order from the one closest to the time input by the user. That is, content data that is more likely to be selected by the user is displayed at a position that is more easily visible to the user. As a result, the user can easily select desired content data.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even when the non-viewing time of each content data is longer than the time input by the user, if the content data exceeds a certain amount, the video and audio can be understood by the user. The content data is played back at a speed higher than the normal playback speed. Thereby, the user can finish all viewing within the designated time. By including such content data in the list display of content data, it becomes possible to improve the user's time use efficiency.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, in the list display of content data, the content data list is displayed when the non-viewing time of each content data is longer than the time that the user may spend playing the content data. Display icons together when displayed. Thereby, the user can easily recognize this.

<Other embodiments>
Note that the present embodiment can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), and a device (for example, a copier, a multifunction peripheral, The present invention may be applied to a facsimile machine or the like.

  Further, the present invention may supply a computer-readable storage medium (or recording medium) that stores a computer program code of software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus. Further, the present invention may be applied to the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present embodiment. In addition, an operating system (OS) or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the processing. Needless to say, it is included.

  Further, the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. It goes without saying that it is included in the invention.

  When the present embodiment is applied to the above-described computer-readable storage medium, the recording medium stores the computer program code corresponding to the flowcharts and functional configurations described above.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus 100 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the list display of content data. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure of the information processing apparatus 100. FIG.

Claims (9)

An information processing apparatus for reproducing content data including video and audio,
Search means for searching for content data to be reproduced from a plurality of content data recorded on a recording medium, based on each non-viewing time of the plurality of content data;
Display means for displaying a list of information about the content data searched by the search means;
Reproduction means for reproducing content data corresponding to information selected by the user in the list;
Setting means for setting a value input by a user operation as a first threshold value, and obtaining a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value by multiplying the first threshold value by a predetermined value; Prepared,
The information processing apparatus , wherein the search means searches for content data of an unviewed time that is equal to or less than the second threshold value .   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising communication means for receiving the content data from outside. The display means includes information related to content data whose unviewed time is equal to or less than the first threshold, and information related to content data whose unviewed time is larger than the first threshold and equal to or less than the second threshold. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information is displayed so that the user can identify the information processing apparatus. The display means, information about the searched content data by said retrieval means, any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the display in order from the information on the content data unviewed time closer to the first threshold value 1 The information processing apparatus according to item. The display means displays information relating to content data whose non-viewing time is greater than the first threshold and is equal to or less than the second threshold, below information relating to content data whose non-viewing time is equal to or less than the first threshold. Displayed on the
Information related to content data whose unviewed time is equal to or less than the first threshold is displayed in order from information related to content data of unviewed time close to the first threshold, and the unviewed time is larger than the first threshold, and the information about the content data is less than the second threshold value, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that to display the information about the content data unviewed time closer to the first threshold value in order Information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reproduction unit reproduces the content data at a reproduction speed such that a reproduction time of the content data is equal to or less than the first threshold value. . An information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus that reproduces content data including video and audio,
A search step in which search means of the information processing device searches content data to be reproduced from a plurality of content data recorded on a recording medium, based on each non-viewing time of the plurality of content data;
A display step in which the display means of the information processing apparatus displays a list of information on the content data searched in the search step;
A reproduction step in which reproduction means of the information processing apparatus reproduces content data corresponding to information selected by the user in the list;
The setting unit of the information processing apparatus sets a value input by a user operation as a first threshold value, and sets a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value to the first threshold value. A setting process to be obtained by multiplying,
The information processing method characterized in that, in the search step, content data of an unviewed time that is equal to or less than the second threshold value is searched . A computer program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 8 .

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