JP6999257B2 - Content presentation device, content presentation method, and program - Google Patents

Description

Patent Law Article 30, Paragraph 2 Applicable Research Report "8K TIME MACHINE", published on April 11, 2016 (Web) MIT Media Lab Spring 2016 Member Event, April 12, 2016 and April 13, 2016

The present invention relates to a content presenting device, a content presenting method, and a program.

Television programs are produced and broadcast daily, and to date a huge amount of television programs have been archived. Research is being conducted on various search methods for users to watch accumulated past TV programs. In the conventional technology, there is a method of searching a program by using the genre of the program, the performers, keywords related to the program, the year of broadcasting (broadcast date and time), the characteristics of images, the viewing history and preferences of the user, and the like.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for searching a television program based on the characteristics of an image.
Further, for example, Patent Document 2 describes a technique for searching a television program based on a user's preference.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-026202 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-183319

However, there is also a need for a method that enables users to find and watch past TV programs in an intuitive and easy-to-understand manner with an even simpler user interface. Almost 70 years have passed since the start of full-scale television broadcasting, and it is useful to be able to present television broadcasting, which has been closely related to daily life, in a new way.
In addition, now that high-resolution display devices called "4K" and "8K" are becoming widespread, user interfaces that take advantage of the high-resolution characteristics are expected.

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned problem recognition. The present invention is a content presentation device, content presentation method, and program that enables a user to derive a program that interests the user from an archive of television programs over the past decades with a simple user interface that has never existed before. Is intended to provide.

[1] In order to solve the above problems, the content presenting device according to one aspect of the present invention has a birth year selection unit that accepts information on the selected birth year, an age selection unit that accepts information on the selected age, and the birth year. The year calculated from the year of birth accepted by the selection unit and the age received by the age selection unit is specified, and the program information stored in association with the specified year is arranged in a matrix. It is characterized by including a program selection unit that accepts a program selected from the arranged information of the program, and a program presentation unit that presents a video of the program accepted by the program selection unit.

[2] Further, one aspect of the present invention further includes an age selection unit that receives information on the selected age in the content presenting device, and the birth year selection unit is included in the selected age. It is characterized in that it accepts information on the year of birth from among the candidates for the year of birth.

[3] Further, one aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the content presenting device, the information of the program arranged by the program selection unit in a matrix is an image including at least a part of the program. And.

[4] Further, in one aspect of the present invention, in the content presenting device, the program selection unit stores in advance a series of still images in which a plurality of frames constituting a video including at least a part of the program are connected. It is characterized in that the video is displayed in the matrix by sequentially reading and displaying each of the plurality of frames while moving the position in the still image.

[5] Further, in one aspect of the present invention, in the content presenting device, the program selection unit arranges the information of the program as a matrix of 8 vertical and 8 horizontal, and the matrix is 7680 pixels horizontally. It is characterized in that it is displayed by a display means having 4320 vertical pixels.

[6] Further, in one aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned content presenting device, the program presenting unit displays an image of a character when presenting the image of the program, and is associated with the image of the program. It is characterized in that the generated metadata is read out and the state of the character is displayed as variable according to the metadata.
The above characters play a role as a virtual companion.

[7] Further, one aspect of the present invention is a process of presenting a candidate for a birth year and accepting a selection of a birth year from these candidates, and a process of presenting a candidate for an age and accepting a selection of an age from these candidates. The calculated year is specified from the year of birth and the received age, the information of the program stored in association with the specified year is read out, and the information of the program is arranged and arranged in a matrix. It is a content presenting method including a process of accepting a program selected from the information of the said program, and a process of presenting a video of the accepted program.

[8] Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the computer is a birth year selection unit that accepts information on the selected birth year, an age selection unit that accepts information on the selected age, the birth year received by the birth year selection unit, and the above. The year calculated from the age received by the age selection unit is specified, and the program information stored in association with the specified year is arranged in a matrix and selected from the arranged program information. It is a program for functioning as a program selection unit that accepts a program selected and a program presentation unit that presents a video of a program accepted by the program selection unit.

According to the present invention, the content presenting device provides an intuitive and simple user interface. In addition, users can easily search for content of a specific era by associating it with their own age.

It is a schematic diagram which showed the screen which "selects the age of birth" displayed by the content presenting apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which showed the screen of "selecting the year of birth" displayed by the content presenting apparatus by the same embodiment. It is the schematic which showed the "select the age to return visit" screen displayed by the content presenting apparatus by the same embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which showed the screen which is displayed after the age selection in the "select the age to return visit" screen displayed by the content presenting apparatus by the same embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which showed the program selection screen displayed by the content presenting apparatus by the same embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which showed the screen for program viewing which is displayed together with the character (virtual companion) displayed by the content presenting apparatus by the same embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which showed the home screen displayed by the content presenting apparatus by the same embodiment. It is a block diagram which showed the schematic structure of each of the content presentation device by the same embodiment, and the server device which provides the content to the content presentation device. It is a functional block diagram which showed the schematic functional composition of the content presenting apparatus by the same embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the data stored in the audio content storage part by the same embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the data stored in the video content storage part by the same embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the data which holds the image of the picture of the television receiver displayed on the screen for viewing a program by the same embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the image of the picture of the television receiver displayed on the screen for viewing a program by the same embodiment (the image corresponding to the 1950s). It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the image of the picture of the television receiver displayed on the screen for viewing a program by the same embodiment (the image corresponding to the 1960s). It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the image of the picture of the television receiver displayed on the screen for viewing a program by the same embodiment (the image corresponding to the 1970s). It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the image of the picture of the television receiver displayed on the screen for viewing a program by the same embodiment (the image corresponding to the 1980s). It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the image of the picture of the television receiver displayed on the screen for viewing a program by the same embodiment (the image corresponding to the 1990s). It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the image of the picture of the television receiver displayed on the screen for viewing a program by the same embodiment (the image corresponding to the 2000s). It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the image of the picture of the television receiver displayed on the screen for viewing a program by the same embodiment (the image corresponding to the 2010s). It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the structure of the still image data used in the modification 1 of the same embodiment.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1. User interface]
First, the user interface of the content presenting apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to an example of the displayed screen.

This embodiment provides a system that produces a "time machine" style interface for accessing decades of television program and music archives. The system is exemplary to operate using a large, high-resolution (eg, 7680 x 4320 pixels) video display device with a touch screen (touch panel). However, this system can be used with other types of display devices (for example, display devices included in tablet terminals and smart phone (smartphone) terminals) and other types of pointing devices (interface by gesture, mouse, and handheld touch). It may be operated by using a pad or a direction indicating key (arrow key) and a selection key on the remote control device (etc.). The system is also exemplary, implemented using a web browser that uses HTML5 and Javascript®. However, the system may be implemented using other platforms with similar capabilities, as appropriate.

The purpose of this system is to enable viewers of all ages, from young children to the elderly, to select and watch programs in an easy, efficient, and enjoyable way from a vast archive of past programs. Is. All screens of the system have prominent "Home" and "Back" buttons, so you can easily return to or reselect the previous selection screen.
The button of the house design displayed in the lower left of the figure is the "home" button. In addition, the button with the arrow design to the left is the "back" button.

In an exemplary implementation, 70 years of television programming and popular music are stored in streaming format on a file server device (or in local storage). To watch a television program of a particular year, the user first selects the age of birth (in 10-year increments) (see Figure 1).

When an age is selected, the screen changes to a screen where you can select in which year of the selected age the user was born (see Figure 2). As an option, popular music representing that age may be played in the background while the screen for selecting the year of birth is displayed. Also, as an option, you may be able to access songs (songs) of that age by selecting the title of the song. Optionally, the screen may include video or audio of news or events that represent the age.

When the year of birth is selected, the screen changes to the screen corresponding to the selected year of birth (see Figure 3). Optionally, popular music representing the selected year of birth may be played in the background while the screen is displayed. Also, as an option, you may be able to access the song (song) of the year by selecting the title of the song. Optionally, the screen may include video or audio of news or events that represent the year. On this screen, the user selects the age to "revisit".
"Revisiting" age is a metaphorical expression. Specifically, the system presents content for the year corresponding to that age (video, music, etc.), allowing the user to revisit his or her own past age.

When the "revisit" age is selected, the screen changes to the screen corresponding to the year corresponding to the selected age (see Figure 4). Optionally, popular music representing the year corresponding to the selected age may be played in the background while the screen is displayed. Alternatively, by selecting the title of the song, the song (song) of that year (the year corresponding to the selected age) may be accessible. Optionally, the screen may include video or audio of news or events that represent the year (the year corresponding to the selected age).

After this screen is displayed for some time, the user is presented with a matrix for selecting TV programs for the selected year (the year corresponding to the selected age) (see Figure 5). The matrix includes loop playback of each program video (or a typical still image of each program). By using a very high resolution display device (eg "8K"), the video (or still image) contained in the matrix is at full resolution, or at least high enough for readability, to the viewer. Is displayed.
As shown in the figure, a total of 64 programs of video (or still images) are displayed on this screen in 8 rows and 8 columns.

Selecting any of the programs in the displayed matrix switches to the screen displaying the video of the selected program (see FIG. 6). Optionally, the video of the selected program may be displayed in a screen frame depicting a chronologically appropriate television receiver. Optionally, this screen may include an animated character that looks at the screen of the drawn television receiver. The software that controls this character (virtual companion) may be programmed so that the character reacts directly to the features of the television program on the screen, or to the metadata or actual viewing time that accompanies the program. This causes, for example, the character to be excited during action scenes, blush during love scenes, and laugh in humorous scenes. Also, in conjunction with the actual viewing time, you may fall asleep or lie down after midnight. When the selected television program is complete (or when the Back button is pressed), the screen returns to the program matrix screen (FIG. 5). Also, when the "Home" button is pressed, the screen returns to the screen for selecting the age of birth (FIG. 1) or some other home screen (eg, the screen shown in FIG. 7). From the home screen, the search process described above can be restarted for the same user or started for a new user.

Here, the screens shown by the respective figures of FIGS. 1 to 6 and the screen transitions will be supplementarily described.
FIG. 1 is a screen for selecting the age of birth (in units of 10 years). Eleven circles from "1910s" to "2010s" are displayed on the screen from left to right, and each of them can be selected. The circle corresponding to the latest age (that is, 10 years including the current date) is displayed on the far right. The question "When were you born?" Is displayed in the balloon. Depending on the user's selection here, the screen (Fig. 2) corresponding to the selected age is displayed.

FIG. 2 is a screen for selecting the year of birth. The illustrated example is a screen when the 1970s (1970s) is selected as the age. When this screen is displayed, a music song representing that age is played. At the bottom of the screen, 10 circles from "1970" to "1979" are displayed from left to right, and each of them can be selected. The question "How many years were you born?" Is displayed in the balloon. Depending on the user's selection here, the screen (Fig. 3) corresponding to the selected year is displayed. Further, above these 10 circles, the titles and years of a large number of music songs (for example, 100 songs for 10 x 10 years of best hits of the year) are displayed. The user can select the title of the song. When a song title is selected, the selected song is played.

FIG. 3 is a screen for selecting the age at which one wants to “revisit”. At the bottom of the screen, 17 circles from "0" to "80+" (meaning 80 years old or older) (in 5 increments) are displayed from left to right. Of these 17 circles, in this example, the eight circles from "0" to "35" correspond to the past age of the user (the user whose birth year was selected on the screen in FIG. 2). It is possible to select. Further, in this example, the nine circles from "40" to "80+" correspond to the future age of the user, are visually grayed out, and cannot be selected. There is. According to the user's selection here, the display transitions to the highlighted display (FIG. 4) of the selected age.

FIG. 4 is a screen after selecting an age on the screen shown in FIG. On this screen, only the circles corresponding to the selected age (in this example, the circle of "30") are displayed in a conspicuous color, and the other circles are displayed in an inconspicuous gray. After the state of FIG. 4 continues for a while (the length of time can be appropriately set, for example, 3 seconds or 5 seconds), the screen transitions to the screen for selecting a program (FIG. 5).

FIG. 5 is a screen for selecting a program. As shown in the figure, the entire screen is divided into a total of 64 small screens of 8 horizontal × 8 vertical, and each of these small screens corresponds to the program to be selected. In this small screen, a moving image or a still image of the program to be selected is displayed. In this screen, the TV program of the year corresponding to the age selected on the screen for selecting the revisit age (however, the error of less than one year may be rounded) is 64 as the program to be selected. Display individual items. When displaying using a display device having a pixel number of 8K (that is, 7680 pixels in the horizontal direction and 4320 pixels in the vertical direction, a total of 33177600 pixels), the size of each small screen is 960 pixels in the horizontal direction × 540 pixels in the vertical direction. Although the case of an 8K display device is illustrated here, a display device having another resolution may be used. Further, here, the case of displaying a total of 64 small screens of 8 horizontal × 8 vertical is illustrated, but the number of horizontal and vertical small screens is not limited to this, and is arbitrary. For example, it may be 2 horizontal × 4 vertical, 4 horizontal × 4 vertical, 6 horizontal × 6 vertical, 5 horizontal × 6 vertical, 8 horizontal × 7 vertical, and the like. Further, the size of each small screen is not limited to 960 pixels in the horizontal direction and 540 pixels in the vertical direction, and is arbitrary. When the user selects one program in this screen, the screen transitions to the screen for viewing the program (FIG. 6).

FIG. 6 is a screen for viewing a program. An image of a TV receiver is drawn in the center of the screen. The image of the TV program selected by the user is displayed on the screen of the TV receiver. In this example, the character (virtual companion) is displayed in the lower right part. Assuming that this character is looking at the screen of the above-mentioned TV receiver, the head is displayed afterwards as the default (normal position). The display position of the character does not have to be the lower right portion, and the character may be displayed at an arbitrary position that does not interfere with the display of the program image in the television receiver. Based on the settings and the like, when a predetermined time elapses from the start of displaying the video of the TV program or when the video ends, the screen transitions to the screen for selecting the program (FIG. 5).

FIG. 7 is a home screen. A clock is drawn on the home screen.

Next, the means for realizing the content presentation device and the like will be described.
[2. Device configuration]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of each of a content presenting device and a server device that provides content to the content presenting device. As shown in the figure, the content presentation device 1 is connected to the server device 2 via a communication line (for example, the Internet or the like). The content presentation device 1 and the server device 2 communicate with each other using HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol). The content presentation device 1 sends an HTTP request to the server device 2, and receives an HTML (hypertext markup language) file, an audio file, and a video file. The audio content and the video content may be transmitted from the server device 2 side to the content presenting device 1 side in a streaming format. Inside the HTML file, a program described in Javascript® can be included.
Although the content presenting device 1 and the server device 2 are shown one by one in the figure, a plurality of content presenting devices 1 send a request to the server device 2 and send a required file to the server device. It may be received from 2.

The content presentation device 1 includes a web browser 11, a display unit 12, a touch panel 17, and an operation control unit 18. Further, the server device 2 includes an HTTP server 21 and a storage unit 22.
In the present embodiment, the server device 2 is provided outside the content presenting device 1 and both are connected by a communication line or the like. However, the functions of the HTTP server 21 and the storage unit 22 possessed by the server device 2 are combined with the content presenting device 1. It may be provided inside and operated.

The web browser 11 interprets the HTML file and displays it on the screen of the display unit 12. In addition, the web browser 11 has a function of a virtual machine for executing a Javascript (registered trademark) program. This makes it possible to execute the program described in Javascript (registered trademark) contained in the HTML file. Further, the web browser 11 has a function of reproducing and outputting audio content (music or the like) or reproducing video content (archived television program or the like) and displaying it on the display unit 12. The web browser 11 communicates with the HTTP server on the server device 2 side as an HTTP client, and acquires various content files from the server device 2 side. Here, the various content files are HTML files, audio content files, video content files, and the like. The web browser 11 is realized as a program, and the web browser 11 operates by executing the program on a CPU (central processing unit).

The display unit 12 is a means for displaying an image (or video) output from the web browser 11. The display unit 12 includes a display device (such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display) built in the content presenting device 1 and a function for controlling the display device. The display device may be externally attached. The display device has a resolution of 8K (width 7680 pixels × height 4320 pixels). However, the resolution of the display device may be other than that.

The touch panel 17 detects a touch event and its position (coordinates represented in two dimensions vertically and horizontally) when the user touches the screen of the display device with a finger. By associating the touch position with what is displayed on the screen of the display device at that time, it is possible to receive an instruction to the content presenting device 1 by the user. In the present embodiment, the touch panel 17 can detect the selection operation on each screen (FIGS. 1 to 7) and the operation of pressing the Home button and the Back button described above. The touch panel is also called a "touch screen".
The operation control unit 18 acquires a signal of a user's operation by various peripheral devices including a touch panel 17 (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a TV remote controller, etc.), and transmits information indicating the content of the operation to a web browser.

The HTTP server 21 handles the HTTP protocol and responds to a request from the web browser 11 (HTTP client) on the content presenting device 1 side. Specifically, the HTTP server 21 reads the requested file from the storage unit 22 in response to the request from the web browser 11 and transmits it to the requesting web browser 11. The HTTP server 21 is realized by a program, and the HTTP server 21 operates by executing the program on the CPU.

The storage unit 22 stores data. Specifically, the storage unit 22 stores various content files to be provided to the content presentation device 1. The storage unit 22 is realized by using a storage means such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor memory.
The storage unit 22 includes an HTML content storage unit 221, an audio content storage unit 222, and a video content storage unit 223.
The HTML content storage unit 221 stores a file of content described in HTML (including, if necessary, a code of Javascript (registered trademark) inside). The HTML content storage unit 221 may also store information for managing HTML content files.
The audio content storage unit 222 stores audio content (for example, music, etc.) files. The audio content file has digital data encoded by a standard method (for example, MP3 or MP4) as appropriate. The audio content storage unit 222 may also store information for managing the audio content file.
The video content storage unit 223 stores a file of video content (for example, watching a TV number). The video content file has digital data encoded by a standard method (for example, MP4) as appropriate. The video content storage unit 223 may also store information for managing the video content file.

[3. Function configuration]
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the functional configuration of the content presenting device 1. As shown in the figure, the content presenting device 1 includes an age selection unit 41, a birth year selection unit 42, a revisit age selection unit 43, a program selection unit 44, a program presentation unit 45, a music reproduction unit 51, and video reproduction. It is configured to include the functions of each unit of the unit 53 and the character control unit 55.
The functions of the age selection unit 41, the birth year selection unit 42, the revisit age selection unit 43, the program selection unit 44, the program presentation unit 45, and the character control unit 55 are particularly specific to the present embodiment. As a function of, for example, HTML and Javascript® are described. Further, the functions of the music reproduction unit 51 and the video reproduction unit 53 can be procured relatively easily as highly versatile functions.
The functions of each of these parts are as follows.

The age selection unit 41 displays a screen (FIG. 1) for selecting the age of birth on the screen, and accepts the selection of the age by the user's operation. The age is a group of multiple years. Specifically, the 1970s, 1980s, etc. are the ages. The age selection unit 41 receives information on the selected age and passes the information to the birth year selection unit 42.

The birth year selection unit 42 displays a screen (FIG. 2) for selecting a birth year on the screen according to the age selected by the age selection unit 41, and accepts the selection of the birth year. That is, the birth year selection unit 42 receives information on the birth year selected from the candidates for the birth year included in the age group selected by the age selection unit 41. For example, when the 1970s is selected in the age selection unit 41, the birth year selection unit 42 selects one of the years 1970, 1972, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. Display the screen for. The birth year selection unit 42 passes the information on the selected birth year to the return age selection unit 43.
The birth year selection unit 42 may instruct the music reproduction unit 51 to play music representing the selected age when displaying the screen for selecting the birth year. The music that represents each generation is stored in advance as setting information. Further, the birth year selection unit 42 instructs the music reproduction unit 51 to acquire the audio data to be reproduced by the music reproduction unit 51 from the server device 2 side.
Further, the birth year selection unit 42 reads out the music titles and years included in the age group selected by the age selection unit 41 from the audio content storage unit 222, and displays those titles and years on the screen for selecting the birth year. It may be displayed at the same time. When a specific title is selected by the user from the displayed titles, the birth year selection unit 42 instructs the music reproduction unit 51 to play the music of that title. The birth year selection unit 42 instructs the music reproduction unit 51 to acquire the audio data of the music of the selected title from the server device 2 side.

The revisit age selection unit 43 receives information on the birth year selected by the birth year selection unit 42, and displays a screen (FIG. 3) for the user to select the age he / she wants to revisit. Then, the revisit age selection unit 43 accepts the selection of age. That is, the revisit age selection unit 43 receives information on the selected age.
The revisit age selection unit 43 controls so that only past ages can be selected when displaying the screen for selecting an age. That is, the revisit age selection unit 43 allows the calculation of the year and age to include an error of less than one year, and uses the formula (year of birth) + (age) = (year when the age arrives). , Calculates the year corresponding to each age to be displayed (the year when that age arrives) based on the selected year of birth. Then, if the calculated year is before the year to which the current date belongs, the revisit age selection unit 43 displays the age as a selectable age. Conversely, if the calculated year is later than the year to which the current date belongs, the revisit age selection unit 43 displays that age as a non-selectable age.
Specifically, the revisit age selection unit 43 displays the selectable age as a circle mark that can be clicked by a pointing device such as a touch panel or a mouse. In addition, the revisit age selection unit 43 displays the non-selectable age as a non-clickable circle. In addition, the revisit age selection unit 43 displays the non-selectable ages using circles that are grayed out.
When the age is selected by the user, the birth year selection unit 42 passes the information of the year corresponding to the selected age to the program selection unit 44. The formula for calculating the corresponding year from the year of birth and age is as described above.
The revisit age selection unit 43 has a function of playing music and displaying the title of the music on the screen, similar to the above-mentioned birth year selection unit 42.

The program selection unit 44 receives the information of the year calculated by the return age selection unit 43, and displays a screen (FIG. 5) for selecting a program. Then, the program selection unit 44 accepts the selection of the program. When the program selection unit 44 receives the year information, the program selection unit 44 receives a predetermined number (64 in the case of displaying in an 8 × 8 array) of TV program images stored in advance in association with the year. The (or still image) file is acquired from the server device 2 and used for display. The image displayed at this time is an image including at least a part of the television program. When displaying a still image, the displayed still image is an image of a frame included in the television program.
When displaying the screen for selecting a program, the program selection unit 44 uses the function of the video reproduction unit 53 to display the video of each program.
When a program is selected by the user, the program selection unit 44 passes information for identifying the selected program and information on the year of the program to the program presentation unit 45.
That is, the program selection unit 44 specifies a year calculated from the year of birth received by the year of birth selection unit 42 and the age received by the return age selection unit 43. Then, the program selection unit 44 arranges the information of the programs stored in association with the specified year in a matrix, and accepts the program selected from the information of the arranged programs. As a result, the program selection unit 44 can present a program of the year associated with the age that the user wants to revisit as a selection candidate. Further, by arranging the program information in a matrix by the program selection unit 44, a large number of programs can be presented as selection candidates.

The program presentation unit 45 presents the video of the program selected by the program selection unit 44 (FIG. 6). The program presentation unit 45 displays a picture of the television receiver in the screen for presenting the program, and displays the image of the program selected by the program selection unit 44 in the portion corresponding to the screen frame of the television receiver. At this time, the program presentation unit 45 passes the information for identifying the program to the video reproduction unit 53 so that the video of the program is displayed on the screen of the television receiver.
When displaying the picture of the television receiver, the program presenting unit 45 selects and displays the image of the picture of the television receiver according to the year of the program to be displayed. Specifically, the program presentation unit 45 stores the image of the picture of the television receiver in association with each other every year. At this time, a plurality of years may correspond to a picture of one and the same television receiver. Then, the program presentation unit 45 reads the image of the picture of the television receiver corresponding to the information of the year received from the program selection unit 44 and displays it on the screen.
Further, the program presentation unit 45 changes and displays the state of the character in the screen for presenting the image according to the control signal from the character control unit 55. This point will be described in detail in the description of the character control unit 55.

The music reproduction unit 51 reproduces music (audio file) designated by the birth year selection unit 42 or the revisit age selection unit 43, and outputs an audio signal.
The video reproduction unit 53 reproduces the video (video file) of the program designated by the program selection unit 44 or the program presentation unit 45 and displays it on the display device. Further, the video reproduction unit 53 outputs an audio signal included in the video file.

The character control unit 55 controls the state of the character displayed on the program presentation screen (FIG. 6). Specifically, the character control unit 55 changes the facial expression of the displayed character (for example, laughing, none, angry, sad, etc.) or changes the color of a specific part of the character's body (for example,). , Blushing, blushing, etc.), making the character perform actions such as hands, legs, and head. The character control unit 55 reads the metadata accompanying the video data of the program, and controls to change the state of the character in various ways as described above according to the metadata. This metadata describes how the character is changed in relation to the relative time from the start of the program. Alternatively, the metadata may hold information representing the emotional state in association with the relative time from the start of the program.

That is, the program presentation unit 45 displays the image of the character when presenting the video of the program. Then, under the control of the character control unit 55, the program presentation unit 45 reads out the metadata associated with the video of the program and displays the state of the character as variable according to the metadata.
In addition, instead of using the metadata, the character control unit 55 may use, for example, a rule to estimate the situation that the character should take based on the lines and scenes included in the video of the program.
Further, the function of the character control unit 55 may be omitted, and the program presentation unit 45 may display the character in a form that does not change the state of the character. Further, the character display function itself may be omitted.

[4. Data structure]
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of data stored in the audio content storage unit. As shown in the figure, the audio content storage unit 222 stores tabular data, and the table has each item of music ID, year, title, and audio data. Each row in this table corresponds to one piece of music. The music ID is identification information given to uniquely identify a song. The year is the year in which the song was released. The title is the title of the song. The audio data is audio data encoded by an appropriate method, and the song can be reproduced by decoding. The audio data is, for example, MP3 format data. When each part of the content presenting device 1 and the server device 2 designates a specific song and reads or plays it from the storage means, the song is identified by using the music ID. Further, when the birth year selection unit 42 and the revisit age selection unit 43 display the title and year of the song on the screen, the title and year data are read out from this table and used. Further, when the birth year selection unit 42 or the revisit age selection unit 43 extracts only songs of a specific age or a specific year, by designating a condition using the year item as a key, this table can be used. Search for data.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of data stored in the video content storage unit. As shown in the figure, the video content storage unit 223 stores data in a table format, and the table has each item of program ID, year, title, video data, and metadata. The program ID is identification information given to uniquely identify a program (in the case of a program broadcast multiple times, each program). The year is the year in which the program was first broadcast. The title is the title of the program. If the program is broadcast multiple times in a row, the title may include a specific wording for each time. The video data is video data of a program encoded by an appropriate method, and the program video can be reproduced by decoding. The metadata is data including the above-mentioned control information used when the character control unit 55 controls the state of the character. When each part of the content presenting device 1 and the server device 2 designates a specific program and reads or plays it from the storage means, the program ID is used to identify the program. Further, when the program selection unit 44 or the program presentation unit 45 displays the video of the program on the screen, the video data is read out from this table and used. Further, when the program selection unit 44 extracts only the programs of a specific year, the data in this table is searched by designating the condition using the item of the year as a key.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of data for holding an image of a picture of a television receiver displayed on a screen (FIG. 6) for viewing a program. This data is stored in a storage means accessible to the program presentation unit 45. As shown, this data is tabular data, the table having data items for start year, end year, television receiver image, program display position (upper left and lower right). That is, this data is stored in association with the period and the image of the television receiver.
The start year represents the year (AD) at which the period begins.
The end year represents the year (AD) at which the period ends.
The television receiver image is a column for storing images corresponding to the period represented by the start year and the end year. In addition, instead of storing the image itself, the location information (for example, URL) of the image may be stored in this column. The image stored here is an image of a picture of a television receiver.
The program display position is information that represents the position in which the television program presented to the user is displayed in the image in relative coordinates in the image. The television program is displayed within the rectangle in the image. The data of this item holds the coordinates of the upper left position and the coordinates of the lower right position of the rectangle.
In the illustrated data example, for example, when presenting a television program of 1979, the program presenting unit 45 has a line corresponding to the period including 1979 (start year is "1970", end year is "1979"). ) Is used.

An example of the image of the television receiver stored in the data shown in FIG. 12 will be described below.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing an example of an image of a picture of a television receiver. The design shown in the figure shows the front appearance of a television receiver representing the 1950s (1950 to 1959). Based on the data of FIG. 12, the program presenting unit 45 uses the image of this figure when displaying the program from 1950 to 1959.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing an example of an image of a picture of a television receiver. The design shown in the figure shows the front appearance of a television receiver representing the 1960s (1960 to 1969). Based on the data of FIG. 12, the program presenting unit 45 uses the image of this figure when displaying the program from 1960 to 1969.
FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing an example of an image of a picture of a television receiver. The design shown in the figure shows the front appearance of a television receiver representing the 1970s (1970 to 1979). Based on the data of FIG. 12, the program presenting unit 45 uses the image of this figure when displaying the program from 1970 to 1979.
FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing an example of an image of a picture of a television receiver. The design shown in the figure shows the front appearance of a television receiver representing the 1980s (1980 to 1989). Based on the data of FIG. 12, the program presenting unit 45 uses the image of this figure when displaying the program from 1980 to 1989.
FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing an example of an image of a picture of a television receiver. The design shown in the figure shows the front appearance of a television receiver representing the 1990s (1990 to 1999). Based on the data of FIG. 12, the program presenting unit 45 uses the image of this figure when displaying the program from 1990 to 1999.
FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing an example of an image of a picture of a television receiver. The design shown in the figure shows the front appearance of a television receiver representing the 2000s (2000 to 2009). Based on the data of FIG. 12, the program presenting unit 45 uses the image of this figure when displaying the program from 2000 to 2009.
FIG. 19 is a schematic view showing an example of an image of a picture of a television receiver. The design shown in the figure shows the front appearance of a television receiver representing the 2010s (2010 to 2019). Based on the data of FIG. 12, the program presenting unit 45 uses the image of this figure when displaying the program from 2010 to 2019.

[5. Implementation method]
When the function of the content presenting device in the above-described embodiment is realized by a computer, a program for realizing the function is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is recorded in the computer system. It is realized by loading it into the computer and executing it. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, a "computer-readable recording medium" is a communication line for transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and dynamically holds the program for a short period of time. It may also include a program that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that is a server or a client in that case. Further, the above-mentioned program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions, and may be further realized for realizing the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.
The function of the content presentation device may be realized by dedicated hardware instead of being realized by a program.

[6. Modification example]
Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention can be further implemented in the following modifications.

[Modification 1]
In this modification, an image (still image) file is created in advance based on the video data file, and when the program selection screen (FIG. 5) is displayed, a pseudo image (still image) file is displayed based on the still image file. Display the video in. Specifically, among the video content files stored in the video content storage unit 223, the video to be displayed on the program selection screen (may be only a few tens of seconds or a few minutes of the entire program) is displayed in advance. Decode and create a still image of the frame that composes the moving image in advance. Then, the video reproduction unit 53 displays the video by sequentially displaying the still images at a predetermined frame rate based on the instruction from the program selection unit 44. This makes it possible to reduce the process of decoding a moving image file when displaying a moving image. Further, a plurality of continuous still images constituting one moving image may be physically saved as one still image file. As a result, it is possible to reduce the overhead processing for accessing the file of each still image and opening / closing the file of each still image.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view showing an example of the configuration of still image data used when carrying out this modification. The illustrated image is one still image formed by vertically connecting all the still images corresponding to N frames. That is, this still image includes N still images from frame 1 to frame N. Further, in this still image, the arrangement of the pixels in the bottom row of the i-th frame (i = 1, 2, ...) And the arrangement of the pixels in the top row of the (i + 1) th frame. And are connected so that they are in close contact with each other. That is, in this modification, the video reproduction unit 53 opens one still image shown in FIG. 20, and sequentially from the still image of frame 1 to the still image of frame N at the timing based on the frame rate of the video. Display while switching.

That is, in this modification, the program selection unit 44 stores in advance a series of still images in which a plurality of frames constituting an image including at least a part of the program are connected, and moves the position in the still image. However, by sequentially reading out and displaying each of the plurality of frames, the video of the program is displayed on the video reproduction unit 53.

As shown in FIG. 5, it requires a lot of computational resources to play a large number (for example, 64) of moving images of a program at the same time. However, when this modification is used, the amount of required computational resources can be reduced, and a large number of moving images can be displayed smoothly.

[Modification 2]
In this modification, when the program selection unit 44 displays the screen for program selection (FIG. 5), a still image of each program is displayed instead of the video (moving image) of each program. That is, for example, the program selection unit 44 displays a total of 64 still images of 8 horizontal × 8 vertical. When displaying using a display device of 8K (horizontal 7680 pixels × vertical 4320 pixels), the size of each still image is 960 pixels in width × 540 pixels in height. These still images are still images representing typical scenes of each program. Also in this modification, the operation after program selection is the same as that in the embodiment already described.

[Modification 3]
In the above embodiment, when the birth year selection unit 42 displays the screen for selecting the birth year (FIG. 2), and when the revisit age selection unit 43 displays the screen for selecting the age (FIG. 3). , Made it possible to select and play music. In this modification, instead of playing the music, the video of the event, the photograph, etc. are displayed.

[Modification 4]
In the above embodiment, the return age selection unit 43 calculates the year (year according to the Christian era) corresponding to the selected age based on the selected age. In this modification, the program selection unit 44 calculates the year instead of the return age selection unit 43. In addition, in order to enable the program selection unit 44 to calculate the year, the revisit age selection unit 43 passes information on the user's birth year and the selected age to the program selection unit 44.

[Modification 5]
In the above embodiment, Javascript (registered trademark) is used to describe the function (application) of the content presentation device. In this modification, instead of Javascript®, any other programming language is used to describe and execute the function of the content presentation device.

Although the embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and the design and the like within a range not deviating from the gist of the present invention are also included. included.

1 Content presentation device 2 Server device 11 Web browser 12 Display unit (display means)
17 Touch panel 18 Operation control unit 21 HTTP server 22 Storage unit 41 Age selection unit 42 Birth year selection unit 43 Revisit age selection unit (age selection unit)
44 Program selection unit 45 Program presentation unit 51 Music playback unit 53 Video playback unit 55 Character control unit 221 HTML content storage unit 222 Audio content storage unit 223 Video content storage unit

Claims (7)

A birth year selection unit that accepts information on the selected birth year,
An age selection unit that accepts information on the selected age,
The year calculated from the birth year received by the birth year selection unit and the age received by the age selection unit is specified, and the program information stored in association with the specified year is arranged in a matrix. Then, a program selection unit that accepts a program selected from the information of the arranged program, and
A program presentation unit that presents a video of a program accepted by the program selection unit, and a program presentation unit.
Equipped with
The program selection unit stores in advance one still image formed by connecting all of a plurality of frames constituting an image including at least a part of each of the programs to be selected arranged in a matrix. By opening the one still image and sequentially switching and displaying each of the plurality of frames while moving the position in the one still image at the timing based on the frame rate of the video, the program can be displayed. Displaying the above-mentioned image, which is information, in a matrix,
A content presentation device characterized by that. Age selection section that accepts information on the selected age,
Further equipped,
The birth year selection unit receives information on the birth year from among the candidates for the birth year included in the selected age group.
The content presenting device according to claim 1. The information of the program arranged by the program selection unit in a matrix is an image including at least a part of the program.
The content presenting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The program selection unit arranges the information of the program as a matrix of 8 vertical and 8 horizontal, and displays the matrix on a display means having 7680 pixels in the horizontal direction and 4320 pixels in the vertical direction.
The content presenting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the content presenting device is characterized by the above. The program presenting unit displays an image of a character when presenting a video of the program, reads out metadata associated with the video of the program, and changes the state of the character according to the metadata. Display as,
The content presenting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the content presenting device is characterized by the above. A process of preliminarily storing a single still image formed by concatenating a plurality of frames constituting an image including at least a part of each program to be selected arranged in a matrix .
The process of presenting candidates for the year of birth and accepting selection of the year of birth from these candidates,
The process of presenting age candidates and accepting age choices from these candidates,
The year to be calculated is specified from the received birth year and the received age, the information of the program stored in association with the specified year is read out, and the information of the program is arranged in a matrix. , Program selection process that accepts the program selected from the arranged program information,
The process of presenting the video of the accepted program,
Including
In the program selection process, the one still image is opened, and each of the plurality of frames is sequentially switched and displayed while moving the position in the one still image at a timing based on the frame rate of the video. Displays the video, which is the information of the program, in the matrix.
Content presentation method. Computer,
The content presenting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A program to function as.

Images