JP5836102B2 - Sound equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio device that performs audio information reproduction processing.

  In recent years, acoustic devices such as audio players have been put into practical use having a function of displaying music information such as titles on a liquid crystal display or the like. When displaying song information, song information is generally displayed after the corresponding song is selected.

In this case, as a system,
(1) Read music information of the selected music from the recording medium.
(2) Send necessary information to the display device based on the read song information.
In general, cases are processed in such a flow.

  When the above processing is performed, no particular trouble occurs when the audio player is not performing other processing, such as a reproduction operation. However, when other processing is performed, it may take time to read the music information. In particular, when playing a song other than the song information acquisition target, there are many cases where the physical location of the media to be accessed (for example, a segment in a semiconductor memory) is different, which causes a delay in playback and song information display. There is a case.

  In order to avoid such a situation, there is also an apparatus that holds the contents of music information once accessed in a device (for example, a memory). In such an apparatus, a so-called cache system is implemented that avoids a read delay by directly reading from a memory without accessing the medium every time music information is acquired.

  In relation to the above technique, a cache system that generates a non-cache object from a cached object component has been disclosed and proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-295177 A

  However, even when the cache system as described above is implemented, the following cases cannot be dealt with, so that the same delay may occur depending on the case.

  First, a general cache system employs a method of caching music information that has already been accessed by the user. For this reason, the music information of the music accessed for the first time by the music selection operation or the like is not cached. In this case, the read operation to the medium is required as in the normal operation, and the probability that a delay occurs is increased.

  In general cache systems, a method of discarding cached information from the oldest information in time series is common. However, in this method, there is a possibility that the song information of the song whose management number (for example, the playback order in the playlist) is close to the selected song is deleted from the cache. Further, the management number of the cached music information may not be a sequential number but may be fragmented. As a result, the cache hit rate decreases.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems found by the inventors of the present application, the present invention can avoid the above-mentioned problems by constructing a unique cache system that uses the access characteristics to music information in the audio device. It is to provide a possible acoustic device.

  In order to achieve the above object, an audio device according to the present invention includes a recording unit that records information, a reproduction processing unit that performs reproduction processing of audio information, and an order of the audio information according to the reproduction order in the reproduction processing. An audio device comprising: a control unit for determining the audio information, wherein the control unit is located within a predetermined range from the audio information in the rank when an instruction to select the audio information is detected The voice information is discriminated, and management information used for managing the discriminated voice information is acquired and recorded in the recording unit (first configuration).

  In the acoustic device having the first configuration, when the control unit detects a read instruction for the management information, the control unit determines whether the management information is recorded in the recording unit, and is recorded. In such a case, the management information may be read from the recording unit (second configuration).

  Further, in the acoustic device having the second configuration, when the control unit detects that the selection target indicated by the selection instruction is changed, the audio device is within a predetermined range from the changed audio information. It is preferable to make a configuration (third configuration) characterized in that the voice information that is located is determined, and the management information of the voice information that is not located within the range is deleted from the recording unit.

  Further, in the acoustic device having the third configuration, the control unit counts the number of the management information that has been deleted, and when the count number reaches a predetermined threshold value, It is preferable to adopt a configuration (fourth configuration) in which acquisition is performed and the count number is initialized.

  The acoustic device having the fourth configuration includes an input unit that receives an operation input, and the control unit receives an instruction to select the audio information by the input unit (first configuration) 5 configuration).

  The acoustic device having the fifth configuration includes an output unit that generates and outputs an image signal, and the control unit generates and outputs an image signal for displaying the acquired management information. The output unit may be controlled (sixth configuration).

  The acoustic device having the sixth configuration includes an interface unit that reads information from an external recording medium that can be attached to and detached from the acoustic device, and the control unit receives the audio information and the management information from the external recording medium. A configuration (seventh configuration) that is characterized by reading is good.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the audio equipment provided with the function to display management information, such as a music title, the frequency which acquires management information from the recording part which is a temporary recording medium can be improved. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of access delay due to the management information being read from the recording medium on which the music information is recorded, and to improve the responsiveness of the apparatus.

The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the audio equipment concerning this invention Schematic diagram showing the relationship between the current position and the cash scope Schematic diagram showing the relationship between the current position and the cash scope Schematic diagram showing the relationship between the current position and the cash scope Schematic diagram showing the relationship between the current position and the cash scope Processing flow diagram showing cache processing according to the present invention

<Sound device>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an audio player 100 which is an audio device of the present invention. The audio player 100 of this configuration example includes a system controller 101 (control unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 (recording unit), an audio decoder 104 (reproduction processing unit), An audio DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) 105 (reproduction processing unit), a display controller 106 (output unit), an input device controller 107 (input unit), and an external memory controller 108 (interface unit) are configured. Has been.

  As external devices connected to the audio player 100, there are a speaker 200, a display device 300, an input device 400, and an external memory device 500.

  The system controller 101 is a device that comprehensively manages and controls the entire system of the audio player 100, and generally corresponds to an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) or the like. Details of various processes executed by the system controller 101 will be described later.

  The ROM 102 is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory accessed from the system controller 101. The ROM 102 stores code, parameters, and the like of a program executed by the system controller 101.

  The ROM 102 holds logic data indicating setting values for setting the operation of each unit of the audio player 100. It is assumed that a program for the system controller 101 to perform cache processing described later is recorded in the ROM 102 of the present embodiment.

  The RAM 103 is a volatile semiconductor memory accessed from the system controller 101. The RAM 103 is used as a temporary recording area during program execution. Note that the RAM 103 of this embodiment is used for recording song information (management information) in a cache process to be described later.

  The audio decoder 104 restores input compressed audio data, such as MP3 data or WMA data, and converts it into audio data (music information) that can be played back.

  The audio DAC 105 generates an audio signal by performing digital / analog conversion on the audio data input from the audio decoder 104.

  The display controller 106 electrically controls a display device 300, such as an LCD, connected to the outside. Depending on the system, the system controller 101 may directly control the display device 300.

  The input device controller 107 electrically controls an input device 400 connected to the outside, such as an operation switch. Depending on the system, the system controller 101 may directly control the input device controller 107.

  The external memory controller 108 includes an interface for reading data from the external memory device 500 and a controller. For example, if the external memory device 500 is connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, it includes a USB connection terminal and a USB controller. Alternatively, as long as an optical disk such as a CD (Compact Disk) is used as the external memory device 500, an optical pickup, a disk tray, a spindle motor, or the like may be included.

  The speaker 200 outputs sound based on the sound signal given from the audio DAC 105. The specific shape of the speaker 200 may be, for example, a stationary type with a built-in amplifier, or a small and portable shape such as a headphone.

  The display device 300 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display and a driver unit. The driver unit applies a driving voltage to the pixel electrodes of the display unit based on a control signal given from the input device controller 107. Thereby, the display unit displays an image according to the applied drive voltage.

  The input device 400 is for the owner (hereinafter referred to as “user”) of the audio player 100 to input various instructions such as a reproduction instruction and a volume adjustment instruction to the audio player 100. The input device 400 is configured to include, for example, a plurality of buttons, a touch panel, and the like. The instruction input by the input device 400 is given to the system controller 101, and various control processes are performed based on the instruction.

  The external memory device 500 corresponds to a semiconductor recording device such as a USB memory or an SD (Secure Digital) memory card. In addition to these, an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a magnetic recording medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) may be used. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that audio data and song information are recorded in the external memory device 500.

<Cache processing>
Here, cache processing performed by the system controller 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  The system controller 101 according to the present embodiment performs reproduction of audio data, display of music information, and the like according to a control signal from the input device 400. Further, the system controller 101 reads out audio data to be reproduced and music information for managing the audio data from the external memory device 500. The song information includes, for example, playback time, title, artist name, and the like.

  The system controller 101 outputs the acquired audio data to the audio decoder 104 as necessary. The acquired music information is output to the display controller 106 as necessary. However, the audio data and the song information are usually read from the same external memory device 500 via the external memory controller 108. For this reason, if a delay occurs in either reading, the other process is also affected.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the system controller 101 of this embodiment manages songs in an ordered format in which a plurality of audio data are virtually arranged in a line based on the playback order. In this order, the position of the currently selected song is treated as the current position.

  Further, the system controller 101 sets a cache scope indicating a range in which music information is cached with reference to the current position. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the current position is the 10th song (No. 10) and the cache scope is set in a range of 5 songs before and after.

  Note that the position of the song in this embodiment has nothing to do with the physical recording position on the recording medium on which audio data or song information is recorded. It is only a virtual position as a concept in managing songs. For example, the number of the playback track on the CD, the playback number indicating how many times the song is played in the playlist, and the like are information for determining this virtual position.

  Therefore, the distance between the songs is also a relative distance in the management concept of the song information, and is not related to the physical distance on the recording medium. For example, in the CD, the distance between the track 1 and the track 4 can be defined as 3, and the distance between the track 2 and the track 7 can be defined as 5, but these are only virtual distances, It is not affected by the actual recording position.

  Further, for example, it is assumed that songs are managed in units of folders, and there are 20 songs in a folder to be played. In this case, as in the example of FIG. 2, it is assumed that 20 management numbers are assigned to 20 songs and the songs are arranged in the order of numbers, and the songs are managed.

  In FIG. 2, the management number of the song selected by the user is No. 10, and No. 10 is the current position. The system controller 101 determines a cache scope based on the current position and a predetermined cache value.

  The cache value is a numerical value for determining the size of the cache scope. For example, FIG. 2 shows the cache scope when the cache value is 5. Since the cache value is 5, five songs in the forward direction (left direction in the figure) of No. 10 and five songs in the backward direction (left direction in the figure) are to be cached. As a result, the range from No. 5 to No. 15 becomes the cache scope. Note that the forward cache value and the backward cache value are not necessarily the same, and an individual value may be set for each.

  The system controller 101 pre-reads song information based on this cache scope. Specifically, when a free state such as an idle state occurs in the external memory controller 108, the music information of the music included in the cache scope is read in advance and recorded (cached) in the RAM 103.

  The cache processing described above utilizes the fact that when a user selects song information, there is a strong tendency to access sequentially based on the current position. In other words, the music information to be cached is determined not by time series (past access history) but by the relative distance from the current position.

  When the current position is located in the vicinity of the first song or the last song in the sequence, the cache scope is set assuming that the first song and the last song are adjacent to each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the current position is No. 20 of the last tune, No. 1-5 and No. 15-19 are included in the cache scope.

<Cash processing flow>
Next, the processing flow of the cache processing executed by the system controller 101 will be described with reference to the schematic diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5 and the flowchart of FIG. Note that the cache processing illustrated in this flowchart is started when a song selection instruction is detected, such as when a song is selected by a user operation or the like. However, the selected song does not necessarily need to be reproduced, and for example, a song selection for displaying song information is included in this selection instruction.

  After the start of this process, the system controller 101 first sets the current position (step S11). If the current position is not designated, such as immediately after the audio player 100 is activated, the initial position (first music piece) is set as the current position, for example. Alternatively, the current position may be recorded when the power is stopped, and after the restart, the current position may be moved to the recorded current position.

  Once the current position is set, the system controller 101 next checks the cache scope (step S12). Based on this check, it is determined whether or not the cache data needs to be deleted and whether or not the cache data needs to be added.

  More specifically, if song information of a song that is not included in the cache scope exists as cache data in the RAM 103, it is deleted. Further, when the cumulative number of cache data deleted reaches a predetermined cache delete threshold, the song information of the song newly included in the cache scope is recorded in the RAM 103 as cache data.

  For example, FIG. 4 shows a case where the current position moves from No. 10 to No. 12 and the cash delete threshold is 3. In the example of FIG. 4, it is determined that it is necessary to delete the cache data for the two songs No. 5 and No. 6 existing in the forward direction of No. 10 because the current position has moved backward by 2 Is done.

  As a result, the system controller 101 deletes the corresponding cache data by one entry (one song) (step S13). When the deletion is completed, the process proceeds to step S12 again. In the example of FIG. 4, this process is repeated twice. However, since the cumulative number of deletions has not reached the cache delete threshold at this point, no new cache data is added.

  As a result of the check in step S12, when it is determined that the cache data need not be changed, the system controller 101 proceeds to the main process (step S15). In the main processing, reproduction of audio data, display of music information, and the like are performed based on user operations and the like.

  When it is necessary to acquire song information in the main process, it is determined whether or not the corresponding cache data exists in the RAM 103, and if it exists, the cache data is read preferentially. If not, read directly from the external memory device 500 or the like.

  During the execution of the main process, the system controller 101 monitors whether or not the current position has been moved by a user operation or completion of playback of a certain song (step S16). When the movement of the current position is not detected, the process proceeds to step S15 again. When the movement of the current position is detected, the process proceeds to step S12 again to reset the cache scope.

  Assume that the current position is moved, for example, that the state shown in FIG. 4 is shifted to the state shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the current position has moved from No. 12 to No. 13 by one. Thereby, it is determined that the cache data needs to be deleted for No. 7 existing in the forward direction of No. 12 (step S13).

  Since the accumulated number of deletions (count number) has become three times in total, including the previous two times, it is considered that the cache delete threshold has been reached. As a result, it is determined that cache data needs to be added, and the corresponding cache data is read by one entry (step S14). In the example of FIG. 5, this process is repeated three times. Thereby, the music information of No. 16 to No. 18 included in the cache scope is read out by the pre-reading process. When the prefetching process is completed, the accumulated number of deletions is initialized, and the process proceeds to the main process again (step S15).

  By continuing the above processing, the music information before and after the current position is always cached in the RAM 103, and the music information can be read directly from the RAM 103 even if the current position moves back and forth. That is, it is not necessary to read music information from the external memory device 500 every time music information is selected. Note that the cache value and the cache delete threshold for setting the cache scope can be appropriately changed according to the system specifications and resources.

  According to the present embodiment described above, when the number of deletions reaches the cache delete threshold, the song information of the song included in the cache scope is recorded in the RAM 103, and the already cached song information is replayed as it is. Use. For this reason, the frequency which acquires music information using a cache can be improved. As a result, it is possible to reduce the probability that an access delay occurs and improve the response of the user operation. For example, it is possible to display music information at a high speed during a reproduction operation or the like and to reduce reproduction interruption due to an access delay.

<Other variations>
The configuration of the present invention can be variously modified in addition to the above-described embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention. That is, the above-described embodiment is an example in all respects and should not be considered as limiting, and the technical scope of the present invention is not the description of the above-described embodiment, but the claims. It should be understood that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are included.

  In the above embodiment, the audio player 100 is exemplified as the acoustic device of the present invention, but the present invention may be implemented in a device other than this having a sound output function. For example, it may be implemented in a device such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  In the above embodiment, the external memory device 500 (semiconductor recording apparatus, optical disc, magnetic recording medium) is exemplified as a recording medium on which music information and song information are recorded. However, the recording medium is not limited to this. is not. For example, a form using a recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk or a magnetic tape may be used. Further, these recording media may be built in the audio player 100 instead of being externally connected.

  In the above embodiment, there are 20 songs in one folder, and the description is given on the assumption that the 20 songs are played repeatedly. However, the playback mode is not limited to this. Absent. For example, it is assumed that 15 songs are recorded in the folder A and 10 songs are recorded in the folder B, and the folder B is played after the playback of the folder A is completed. In this case, for example, in the state where the 20th song of the folder A is the current position and the cache value is 5, the cache scope includes the 15th to 19th songs of the folder A and the 1st to 5th songs of the folder B. Will be included.

  In the above embodiment, the change of the playback mode is not particularly mentioned, but the playback mode may be changed by a user setting or the like. In this case, every time the playback mode is changed by a user setting or the like, the system controller 101 appropriately changes the cache scope setting method according to the playback mode, and rebuilds the cache.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is a technique useful for avoiding a delay in reading music information in an apparatus having an audio output function such as an audio player, a mobile phone, a personal computer, or a mobile device.

100 audio player (acoustic device)
101 System controller (control unit)
102 ROM
103 RAM (recording unit)
104 Audio decoder (playback processor)
105 Audio DAC (Reproduction processing unit)
106 Display controller (output unit)
107 Input device controller (input unit)
108 External memory controller (interface unit)
200 Speaker 300 Display device 400 Input device 500 External memory device

Claims (5)

A recording unit for recording information;
A playback processing unit for performing playback processing of audio information;
A control unit that determines an order of the audio information according to a reproduction order in the reproduction process,
The control unit discriminates the audio information located within a predetermined range from the audio information in the order when the selection instruction of the audio information is detected, and uses the determined audio information for management. Management information obtained and recorded in the recording unit ,
Further, when the control unit detects that the selection target indicated by the selection instruction has been changed, the control unit determines the voice information located within a predetermined range from the changed voice information, When the management information of the audio information not located in is deleted from the recording unit, the number of the management information that has been deleted is counted, and when the count number reaches a predetermined threshold, the determination and the An acoustic device characterized by performing acquisition and initializing the count number . When the control unit detects an instruction to read the management information, the control unit determines whether or not the management information is recorded in the recording unit. If the management information is recorded, the control unit receives the management information from the recording unit. The acoustic device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic device is read out. The acoustic device includes an input unit that receives an operation input,
The control unit receives an instruction to select the audio information from the input unit.
The acoustic device according to claim 1, wherein: The acoustic device includes an output unit that generates and outputs an image signal,
The control unit controls the output unit to generate and output an image signal for displaying the acquired management information.
The acoustic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The acoustic device includes an interface unit that reads information from an external recording medium that can be attached to and detached from the acoustic device.
The control unit reads the audio information and the management information from the external recording medium.
The acoustic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

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