US20130294744A1 - Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method - Google Patents
Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20130294744A1 US20130294744A1 US13/936,877 US201313936877A US2013294744A1 US 20130294744 A1 US20130294744 A1 US 20130294744A1 US 201313936877 A US201313936877 A US 201313936877A US 2013294744 A1 US2013294744 A1 US 2013294744A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- content
- title information
- recording
- reproducing
- history
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
- H04N9/79—Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
- H04N9/87—Regeneration of colour television signals
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
- G11B27/02—Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
- G11B27/031—Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
- G11B27/034—Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals on discs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
- G11B27/10—Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
- G11B27/19—Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier
- G11B27/28—Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording
- G11B27/32—Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
- G11B27/322—Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier used signal is digitally coded
Definitions
- One embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus capable of executing at least a reproducing process on content, a recording and reproducing system, and a title information managing method.
- recording and reproducing apparatuses capable of executing processes of recording and reproducing contents includes a library function of managing the titles of the contents recorded in a hard disk or the like through broadcasting waves or the like.
- the library function manages only the titles of the recorded contents and cannot manage the titles of contents reproduced from other sources, for example, the titles of contents of digital versatile discs (DVDs) rented at shops or the like.
- DVDs digital versatile discs
- Jpn. Pat. Appin. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-167818 discloses reception of content and reception and storage of public metadata (user information, program recording information, material organization information, reproduction control information, evaluation/statistics information, link information, and historical information).
- Jpn. Pat. Appin. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-72396 discloses storage of not only EPG data but also data (viewing rate information, recording rate information, and the like) related to the content.
- Jpn. Pat. Appin. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-316367 discloses storage of historical information on actions such as downloading, streaming reproduction, and reproduction skipping of the content.
- the conventional library function manages only the title of the content recorded through the broadcasting wave or the like.
- the title of content obtained from a single source can be managed, the titles of contents from different sources cannot be managed in an integrated fashion. Consequently, it is impossible to display the titles of various reproduced contents on a display unit, for example, contents reproduced from a removable recording medium (package medium or the like) and contents acquired and reproduced via a network. This applies not only to recording and reproducing apparatuses but also reproducing apparatuses (playback-only apparatuses).
- FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system including a recording and reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a history held in a recording and reproducing title history holding unit in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart showing an operation for saving title information on content obtained through broadcasting waves, as a reproduction history
- FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart showing an operation for saving title information on content obtained by streaming or downloading via a network
- FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart showing an operation for saving title information on content obtained from an optical disc that is a removable recording medium, as a reproduction history;
- FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of an authenticating process based on a check of a password
- FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a terminal in response to a request for a search of a reproduction history
- FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal in response to a request for browsing of the reproduction history
- FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display device when recording programming is specified for the same title as that previously reproduced;
- FIG. 10 an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device when downloading is specified for the same title as that previously reproduced;
- FIG. 11 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a list of preview titles displayed on the display device or the screen of the terminal;
- FIG. 12 is an exemplary diagram of an example of a system that manages the titles of contents from different sources using a reproducing apparatus.
- FIG. 13 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a system that manages the titles of contents from different sources using the recording and reproducing apparatus and the reproducing apparatus.
- an apparatus capable of executing at least a reproducing process on content.
- the apparatus includes a title information acquiring unit configured to acquire title information on content subjected at least to the reproducing process for each of content obtained via a network and content obtained from a removable recording medium; and a history holding unit configured to hold the title information acquired by the title information acquiring unit, as a history.
- FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of the configuration of a recording and reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
- the present system has a recording and reproducing apparatus 1 , a display device 2 , a remote controller 3 , a server 4 , and a terminal 5 .
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 , the server 4 , and the terminal 5 can be connected together via a network N.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 can execute processes of recording and reproducing various contents from different sources, such as contents obtained through a broadcasting wave H, contents obtained via the network N, and contents obtained from an optical disc D as a removable recording medium (package medium or the like).
- the display device 2 displays, on a screen, contents reproduced or output from the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 and various pieces of information related to the contents.
- the remote controller 3 is an input device via which the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 or the display device 2 is operated.
- the server 4 is an information processing apparatus that can provide various pieces of information such as content and title information on the content, and a different content accompanying the above-described content and title information on the different content, to the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 or the like via the network N.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 has a control unit 11 , a network interface 12 , an optical disc driving unit 13 , a recording unit 14 , a reproducing process unit 15 , a title information acquiring unit 16 , a recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 , a title information comparing unit 18 , and a display processing unit 19 .
- the recording unit 14 has a tuner unit 14 a, an electronic program guide (EPG) acquiring unit 14 b , recording title information 14 c, a recording process unit 14 d, and a hard disk 14 e.
- EPG electronic program guide
- the control unit 11 corresponds to a processor that is responsible for the operation of the whole recording and reproducing apparatus 1 .
- the control unit 11 implements various functions by executing predetermined programs.
- the network interface 12 is a communication device that executes an interface process between the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 and the network N.
- the optical disc driving unit 13 is a device that, for example, drives the optical disc D (for example, DVD) as a recording media that is removable from the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 , to read data from the optical disc D.
- the optical disc D for example, DVD
- the recording unit 14 records contents obtained through the broadcasting wave H and contents obtained via the network N.
- the recording unit 14 has a function of allowing the recording title information holding unit 14 c to hold title information on content as recording history every time a process of recording the content is executed.
- the tuner unit 14 a extracts content such as a broadcasting program from the broadcasting wave H received by an antenna.
- the EPG acquiring unit 14 b acquires EPG provided through the broadcasting wave H.
- the recording title information holding unit 14 c acquires title information on content to be subjected a recording process by the recording unit 14 , from, for example, EPG.
- the recording process unit 14 d executes a process of recording content and information on the content.
- the hard disk 14 e stores, for example, content subjected to the recording process by the recording process unit 14 d.
- the title information may be recorded in the hard disk 14 e.
- the reproducing process unit 15 executes a process of reproducing contents obtained through the broadcasting wave H (real-time reproduction, reproduction after recording), a process of reproducing content obtained via the network N (streaming reproduction, reproduction after downloading), and a process of reproducing content obtained from the optical disc D.
- the title information acquiring unit 16 acquires title information on content subjected to at least to the reproducing process, for each of the content obtained through the broadcasting wave H, the content obtained via the network N, and the content obtained from the optical disc D.
- the title information acquiring unit 16 can acquire not only the title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process but also title information on content subjected to the recording process (the title information held in the recording title information holding unit 14 c ).
- the title information acquiring unit 16 acquires the title information from, for example, EPG.
- the title information acquiring unit 16 acquires the title information, for example, from the server 4 providing the content, via the network N.
- the title information acquiring unit 16 acquires the title information from the optical disc if the title information is recorded in the optical disc D.
- the title information acquiring unit 16 acquires the title information, for example, from the server 4 via the network N on the basis of the optical disc D or information inherent in the contents.
- the title information acquiring unit 16 can acquire the title information on the different content (for example, the different content that can be downloaded via the network N) which accompanies the content subjected to the reproducing process and which can be acquired separately from the content subjected to the reproducing process. Furthermore, the title information acquiring unit 16 can acquire the title information, for example, from the server 4 through the network N when the terminal 5 transmits a predetermined command to the apparatus via the network N.
- the title information acquiring unit 16 can acquire the title information, for example, from the server 4 through the network N when the terminal 5 transmits a predetermined command to the apparatus via the network N.
- the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 holds the title information acquired by the title information acquiring unit 16 , as a history.
- the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 can hold the title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process and the title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process (the title information held in the recording title information holding unit 14 c ), as a history.
- the title information comparing unit 18 compares this title information with each piece of the title information contained in the history held in the recording and reproducing history holding unit 17 to determine whether or not the search target title information is present in the history.
- the display processing unit 19 forms an image that displays content reproduced or output from the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 and various pieces of information accompanying the content, and outputs the image to the display device 2 .
- control unit 11 If the control unit 11 fails to acquire the title information on the contents to be subjected to the recording process by the recording unit 14 , from EPG, the control unit 11 can allow the display device 2 to display a message urging the user to input title information or can acquire the title information via the network N.
- control unit 11 can allow the display device 2 to output, through the display processing unit 19 , a list of the title information contained in the history held by the recording and reproducing history holding unit 17 .
- control unit 11 Upon receiving, at the network interface 12 , a predetermined command transmitted from the terminal 5 via the network N, the control unit 11 can transmit, for example, the list of the title information contained in the history held in the recording and reproducing history holding unit 17 .
- the control unit 11 Upon receiving, at the network interface 12 , the title information or a part of the title information transmitted from the terminal 5 via the network N, the control unit 11 can search the history held in the recording and reproducing history holding unit 17 for this title information and return the result of the search (for example, the presence or absence of the search target title information) to the terminal 5 .
- control unit 11 can search the recording and reproducing history holding unit 17 for the title information on the content. If corresponding title information is present in the recording and reproducing history holding unit 17 , the control unit 11 can provide a display gathering the user's attention, on the display device 2 (or the terminal 5 ).
- the control unit 11 can also allow the display device 2 (or terminal 5 ) to display a screen on which the user can specify whether or not to save the title information to the recording and reproducing history holding unit 17 as a history.
- the control unit 11 can also allow the display device 2 (or terminal 5 ) to display a screen on which the user can change (correct, delete, or the like) the history saved in the recording and reproducing history holding unit 17 .
- the control unit 11 executes a predetermined authenticating process (a check of a password or the like) between the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 and the terminal 5 . If the authentication succeeds, the control unit 11 permits the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 to provide the information to the terminal 5 .
- a predetermined authenticating process a check of a password or the like
- control unit 11 can execute an encoding process that allows the encoded information to be decoded at the terminal 5 via the authenticating process.
- the control unit 11 can also allow the display device to display a message relating to the title information on the different content which accompanies the content subjected to the reproducing process and which can be acquired separately from the content subjected to the reproducing process.
- the control unit 11 can allow the message to be communicated to the terminal 5 via the network.
- the control unit 11 can also allow the display device 2 to display a screen on which the user can specify whether or not to acquire the title information via the network N.
- control unit 11 can acquire corresponding title information from the server 4 via the network N and transmit the title information acquired to the terminal 5 .
- FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of the history held in the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 .
- the individual pieces of title information recorded in the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 as a history include the title and the genre, synopsis, cast and director, reproduction count, and source of the title.
- the “reproduction count” and the “source” are held as a history; the “reproduction count” indicates the number of times that the title has been reproduced so far and the “source” indicates from what source the title has been obtained. All or a part of the history can be displayed on the terminal 5 or the display device 2 in response to an instruction from the user.
- FIGS. 3 to 5 are exemplary flowcharts showing that an operation of saving title information as a reproduction history during a process of reproducing content varies depending on the source of the content.
- the control unit 11 determines whether or not to save the title information on the content as a reproduction history (step S 11 ).
- the user may be urged to specify whether or not to save the title information every time the reproduction process is executed or whether or not to save the title information may be determined in accordance with information preset by the user.
- step S 12 the title information on the content is acquired from the recording title holding unit 14 c (step S 12 ).
- the title information acquired is stored in the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 as a reproduction history (step S 13 ).
- the control unit 11 determines whether or not to save the title information on the content as a reproduction history (step S 21 ).
- the user may be urged to specify whether or not to save the title information every time the reproduction process is executed or whether or not to save the title information may be determined in accordance with information preset by the user.
- step S 22 If the title information is not saved, the process is ended. Otherwise, corresponding title information is acquired from the server 4 providing the content, via the network N (step S 22 ).
- step S 23 the title information acquired is stored in the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 as a reproduction history.
- the server 4 providing the content may have the user's viewing history (including the title information).
- the title information is not acquired during reproduction, but when the terminal 5 or the like accesses the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 (in order to request browsing of the reproduction history), all of the viewing history may be acquired from the content server.
- the title information may be recorded in the optical disc D together with the content or the title information is held on the server 4 providing the content instead of being recorded in the optical disc D together with the content.
- the control unit 11 determines whether or not to save the title information on the content as a reproduction history (step S 31 ).
- the user may be urged to specify whether or not to save the title information every time the reproduction process is executed or whether or not to save the title information may be determined in accordance with information preset by the user.
- control unit 11 determines whether or not the title information is present in the optical disc D (step S 32 ).
- the title information is acquired from the optical disc D (step S 33 ).
- the control unit 11 determines whether or not to transmit information inherent in the optical disc (or information inherent in the content) to the server 4 in order to acquire the title information (step S 34 ).
- the user may be urged to specify whether or not to acquire the title information via the network every time the reproduction process is executed or whether or not to acquire the title information via the network may be determined in accordance with information preset by the user.
- the process is ended.
- the title information is acquired via the network, the information inherent in the optical disc D (or the information inherent in the content) is transmitted to the server 4 (step S 35 ).
- the title information is then received from the server 4 (step S 36 ).
- step S 37 the title information acquired is stored in the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 as a reproduction history.
- the user can specify whether or not to save the title information as a reproduction history. Furthermore, even after the title information is saved as a reproduction history, the user can perform edition or deletion of the reproduction history, addition of a reproduction history, or the like. If the title information cannot be obtained from the content source, it is possible to store, as a reproduction history, the title information acquired by the user operating the remote controller 3 or the terminal 5 to perform a search on the Internet or the title information directly input by the user via the remote controller 3 or the terminal 5 .
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 can search the history stored in the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 or the title information held in the recording title information holding unit 14 c , for the title information transmitted from external equipment such as the terminal 5 via the network N.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 can then return the presence or absence of the history to the external equipment.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus can transmit all or a part of the history in accordance with a command transmitted via the network N.
- FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of the authenticating process based on a check of a password.
- the terminal 5 When a password “PWD” is input to the terminal 5 , the terminal 5 transmits the password “PWD” to the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 via the network.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 Upon receiving the password “PWD”, the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the password “PWD” is appropriate. Upon determining that the password “PWD” is appropriate, the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 transmits a command transmission permission notification to the terminal 5 via the network.
- the terminal 5 After the terminal 5 receives the command transmission permission notification, when the user inputs a search request for determining whether or not a title “TITLE” is present in the reproduction history, the terminal 5 transmits a command requesting a search for the title “TITLE” to the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 via the network.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 Upon receiving the command requesting the a search for the title “TITLE”, the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 searches the history stored in the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 or the title information held in the recording title information holding unit 14 c, for the title “TITLE”. Upon obtaining a search result indicating the presence or absence of the title “TITLE”, the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 transmits the search result to the terminal 5 via the network.
- the terminal 5 Upon receiving the search result, the terminal 5 displays the search result on the screen. Thus, the user can browse the search result.
- information different from the password may be used to protect the history.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 when downloading the contents or setting recording programming, can search the history saved in the recording and reproducing title history saving unit 17 , for the title information to be downloaded or to be programmed for recording. If corresponding title information is present, the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 can display a screen that gathers the user's attention.
- FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal 5 in response to a request for a search of the reproduction history.
- a “title A” is input and transmitted to the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 through the network N.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 searches for the “title A”.
- it is assumed that the “title A” is present in the reproduction history.
- the terminal 5 displays a screen showing, for example, the found “title A” together with a message “Reproduction history information found” as shown in a display B.
- FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal 5 in response to a request for browsing of the reproduction history.
- a display C when a screen urging the user to specify whether or not to acquire the title information is displayed on the terminal 5 , for example, “YES” is specified and transmitted to the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 through the network N.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 then reads the reproduction history and returns the title and the like contained in the reproduction history to the terminal 5 .
- a screen showing “Title A”, “Title B”, . . . is displayed on the terminal 5 as a “reproduction history list” as shown in a display D.
- FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device 2 when recording programming of the same title as that previously reproduced is specified.
- FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device 2 when downloading of the same title as that previously reproduced is specified.
- content which is downloaded from the server specified in the information contained in a certain content and which is different from the certain content may include previews of movies.
- contents that the user desires to view can be listed by acquiring the titles of the previews. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 11 , a list showing preview titles is displayed on the display device 2 or the terminal 5 .
- the recording and reproducing history holding unit 17 manages the broadcasting date, release date, rental start date, downloading start date, broadcasting time, and the like of content checked in such a list as described above together with the title of the content.
- the user can be urged to view the content by automatically executing recording programming or transmitting an appropriate message to the terminal 5 by mail on the broadcasting day or the day preceding the broadcasting day.
- the recording and reproducing title information holding unit 17 manages the title information on the content recorded in the hard disk 14 e or the like in the recording unit 14 and the title information on the content previously reproduced from the removable recording medium such as DVD.
- the embodiment can be varied such that the recording and reproducing title information holding unit 17 manages only the title information on the content currently recorded in the hard disk 14 e or the like in the recording unit 14
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 manages the titles of the contents from the different sources in an integrated fashion.
- a reproducing apparatus playback-only apparatus
- An example is shown below.
- FIG. 12 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a system that manages the titles of the contents from the different sources using the reproducing apparatus.
- Components of the reproducing apparatus which are the same as the corresponding components in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be specifically described. Differences from the apparatus in FIG. 1 will be mainly described.
- the reproducing apparatus 1 ′ has a title information acquiring unit 16 ′ (similar to the above-described title information acquiring unit 16 ) that acquires title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process by the reproducing process unit 15 for each of the content (streaming contents) obtained via the network N and the content obtained from the optical disc D, which is a removable recording medium, and a reproducing title history holding unit 17 ′ (similar to the above-described recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 ) that holds the title information acquired by the title information acquiring unit 16 ′ as a history.
- the title information acquiring unit 16 ′ acquires the title information, for example, from the server 4 providing the content, via the network N.
- the title information acquiring unit 16 ′ acquires the title information from the optical disc if the title information is recorded in the optical disc D, or for example, from the server 4 via the network N on the basis of the optical disc D or information inherent in the content if the title information is not recorded in the optical disc D.
- the titles of the contents from the different sources are managed using the recording and reproducing apparatus or the reproducing apparatus.
- FIG. 13 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a system that manages the titles of the contents from the different sources using the recording and reproducing apparatus and the reproducing apparatus.
- Components of the recording and reproducing apparatus and reproducing apparatus which are the same as the corresponding components in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be specifically described. Differences from the apparatus in FIG. 1 will be mainly described.
- the present system includes the reproducing apparatus 6 in addition to the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 , the display device 2 , the server 4 , and the terminal 5 .
- the reproducing apparatus 6 has functions similar to those of the reproducing apparatus 1 ′, shown in FIG. 12 .
- the reproducing apparatus 6 has a title information acquiring unit 26 that acquires title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process by a reproducing process unit 25 for each of the content (streaming content) obtained via the network N and the content obtained from the optical disc D, which is a removable recording medium, and a reproducing title history holding unit 27 that holds the title information acquired by the title information acquiring unit 26 as a history.
- the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 includes the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 .
- the control unit 11 of the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 can transmit, to the display device 2 , the title information contained in the history held in the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 and the title information contained in the history held in the reproducing title history holding unit 27 .
- control unit 11 of the recoding and reproducing apparatus 1 acquires the title information contained in the history held in the recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17 in the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 .
- the control unit 11 also acquires the title information contained in the history held in the reproducing title history holding unit 27 of the reproducing apparatus 6 via the network.
- the information from the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 and the information from the reproducing apparatus 6 may be displayed in separate lists or may both be displayed in one list.
- the embodiments make it possible to check all the contents from the different sources to be checked via external equipment such as a cellular phone, the contents having previously been recorded in or reproduced from the recording and reproducing apparatus or the reproducing apparatus. This makes it possible to prevent the user from mistakenly renting or purchasing contents already viewed by the user. Furthermore, by transmitting the title information contained in the reproduction history or the recording history from the recording and reproducing apparatus or the terminal to the predetermined server, it is possible to load contents and related information agreeable to the user's taste, from the server into the recording and reproducing apparatus.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Television Signal Processing For Recording (AREA)
- Management Or Editing Of Information On Record Carriers (AREA)
- Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
- Indexing, Searching, Synchronizing, And The Amount Of Synchronization Travel Of Record Carriers (AREA)
Abstract
According to one embodiment, there is provided an apparatus capable of executing at least a reproducing process on content. The apparatus includes a title information acquiring unit configured to acquire title information on content subjected at least to the reproducing process for each of content obtained via a network and content obtained from a removable recording medium, and a history holding unit configured to hold the title information acquired by the title information acquiring unit, as a history.
Description
- Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. In particular, this application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/140,231, filed Jun. 16, 2008, and entitled “APPARATUS CAPABLE OF EXECUTING AT LEAST REPRODUCING PROCESS ON CONTENT, RECORDING AND REPRODUCING SYSTEM, AND TITLE INFORMATION MANAGING METHOD,” which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-166632, filed Jun. 25, 2007, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
- 1. Field
- One embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus capable of executing at least a reproducing process on content, a recording and reproducing system, and a title information managing method.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Generally, recording and reproducing apparatuses capable of executing processes of recording and reproducing contents includes a library function of managing the titles of the contents recorded in a hard disk or the like through broadcasting waves or the like. However, the library function manages only the titles of the recorded contents and cannot manage the titles of contents reproduced from other sources, for example, the titles of contents of digital versatile discs (DVDs) rented at shops or the like.
- Various techniques of managing information on contents have been proposed which techniques are different from the management of the titles.
- For example, Jpn. Pat. Appin. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-167818 discloses reception of content and reception and storage of public metadata (user information, program recording information, material organization information, reproduction control information, evaluation/statistics information, link information, and historical information). Jpn. Pat. Appin. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-72396 discloses storage of not only EPG data but also data (viewing rate information, recording rate information, and the like) related to the content. Jpn. Pat. Appin. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-316367 discloses storage of historical information on actions such as downloading, streaming reproduction, and reproduction skipping of the content.
- As described above, the conventional library function manages only the title of the content recorded through the broadcasting wave or the like. Thus, although the title of content obtained from a single source can be managed, the titles of contents from different sources cannot be managed in an integrated fashion. Consequently, it is impossible to display the titles of various reproduced contents on a display unit, for example, contents reproduced from a removable recording medium (package medium or the like) and contents acquired and reproduced via a network. This applies not only to recording and reproducing apparatuses but also reproducing apparatuses (playback-only apparatuses).
- Furthermore, the above-described integrated management cannot be achieved using the techniques described in the above-described three documents.
- A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.
-
FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system including a recording and reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a history held in a recording and reproducing title history holding unit inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart showing an operation for saving title information on content obtained through broadcasting waves, as a reproduction history; -
FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart showing an operation for saving title information on content obtained by streaming or downloading via a network; -
FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart showing an operation for saving title information on content obtained from an optical disc that is a removable recording medium, as a reproduction history; -
FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of an authenticating process based on a check of a password; -
FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a terminal in response to a request for a search of a reproduction history; -
FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal in response to a request for browsing of the reproduction history; -
FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display device when recording programming is specified for the same title as that previously reproduced; -
FIG. 10 an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device when downloading is specified for the same title as that previously reproduced; -
FIG. 11 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a list of preview titles displayed on the display device or the screen of the terminal; -
FIG. 12 is an exemplary diagram of an example of a system that manages the titles of contents from different sources using a reproducing apparatus; and -
FIG. 13 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a system that manages the titles of contents from different sources using the recording and reproducing apparatus and the reproducing apparatus. - Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus capable of executing at least a reproducing process on content. The apparatus includes a title information acquiring unit configured to acquire title information on content subjected at least to the reproducing process for each of content obtained via a network and content obtained from a removable recording medium; and a history holding unit configured to hold the title information acquired by the title information acquiring unit, as a history.
-
FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of the configuration of a recording and reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. - The present system has a recording and reproducing
apparatus 1, adisplay device 2, aremote controller 3, aserver 4, and aterminal 5. The recording and reproducingapparatus 1, theserver 4, and theterminal 5 can be connected together via a network N. - The recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 can execute processes of recording and reproducing various contents from different sources, such as contents obtained through a broadcasting wave H, contents obtained via the network N, and contents obtained from an optical disc D as a removable recording medium (package medium or the like). - The
display device 2 displays, on a screen, contents reproduced or output from the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 and various pieces of information related to the contents. - The
remote controller 3 is an input device via which the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 or thedisplay device 2 is operated. - The
server 4 is an information processing apparatus that can provide various pieces of information such as content and title information on the content, and a different content accompanying the above-described content and title information on the different content, to the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 or the like via the network N. - The recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 has acontrol unit 11, anetwork interface 12, an opticaldisc driving unit 13, arecording unit 14, areproducing process unit 15, a titleinformation acquiring unit 16, a recording and reproducing titlehistory holding unit 17, a titleinformation comparing unit 18, and adisplay processing unit 19. Therecording unit 14 has atuner unit 14 a, an electronic program guide (EPG) acquiringunit 14 b, recordingtitle information 14 c, arecording process unit 14 d, and ahard disk 14 e. - The
control unit 11 corresponds to a processor that is responsible for the operation of the whole recording and reproducingapparatus 1. Thecontrol unit 11 implements various functions by executing predetermined programs. - The
network interface 12 is a communication device that executes an interface process between the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 and the network N. - The optical
disc driving unit 13 is a device that, for example, drives the optical disc D (for example, DVD) as a recording media that is removable from the recording and reproducingapparatus 1, to read data from the optical disc D. - The
recording unit 14 records contents obtained through the broadcasting wave H and contents obtained via the network N. Therecording unit 14 has a function of allowing the recording titleinformation holding unit 14 c to hold title information on content as recording history every time a process of recording the content is executed. Thetuner unit 14 a extracts content such as a broadcasting program from the broadcasting wave H received by an antenna. TheEPG acquiring unit 14 b acquires EPG provided through the broadcasting wave H. The recording titleinformation holding unit 14 c acquires title information on content to be subjected a recording process by therecording unit 14, from, for example, EPG. Therecording process unit 14 d executes a process of recording content and information on the content. Thehard disk 14 e stores, for example, content subjected to the recording process by therecording process unit 14 d. The title information may be recorded in thehard disk 14 e. - The reproducing
process unit 15 executes a process of reproducing contents obtained through the broadcasting wave H (real-time reproduction, reproduction after recording), a process of reproducing content obtained via the network N (streaming reproduction, reproduction after downloading), and a process of reproducing content obtained from the optical disc D. - The title
information acquiring unit 16 acquires title information on content subjected to at least to the reproducing process, for each of the content obtained through the broadcasting wave H, the content obtained via the network N, and the content obtained from the optical disc D. The titleinformation acquiring unit 16 can acquire not only the title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process but also title information on content subjected to the recording process (the title information held in the recording titleinformation holding unit 14 c). - For the content obtained through the broadcasting wave H, the title
information acquiring unit 16 acquires the title information from, for example, EPG. For the content obtained via the network N, the titleinformation acquiring unit 16 acquires the title information, for example, from theserver 4 providing the content, via the network N. For the content obtained from the optical disc D, the titleinformation acquiring unit 16 acquires the title information from the optical disc if the title information is recorded in the optical disc D. On the other hand, if the title information is not recorded in the optical disc D, the titleinformation acquiring unit 16 acquires the title information, for example, from theserver 4 via the network N on the basis of the optical disc D or information inherent in the contents. - The title
information acquiring unit 16 can acquire the title information on the different content (for example, the different content that can be downloaded via the network N) which accompanies the content subjected to the reproducing process and which can be acquired separately from the content subjected to the reproducing process. Furthermore, the titleinformation acquiring unit 16 can acquire the title information, for example, from theserver 4 through the network N when theterminal 5 transmits a predetermined command to the apparatus via the network N. - The recording and reproducing title
history holding unit 17 holds the title information acquired by the titleinformation acquiring unit 16, as a history. The recording and reproducing titlehistory holding unit 17 can hold the title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process and the title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process (the title information held in the recording titleinformation holding unit 14 c), as a history. - When a certain piece of title information is specified by the
terminal 5, theremote controller 3, or the like, the titleinformation comparing unit 18 compares this title information with each piece of the title information contained in the history held in the recording and reproducinghistory holding unit 17 to determine whether or not the search target title information is present in the history. - The
display processing unit 19 forms an image that displays content reproduced or output from the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 and various pieces of information accompanying the content, and outputs the image to thedisplay device 2. - If the
control unit 11 fails to acquire the title information on the contents to be subjected to the recording process by therecording unit 14, from EPG, thecontrol unit 11 can allow thedisplay device 2 to display a message urging the user to input title information or can acquire the title information via the network N. - Furthermore, in response to a predetermined operation of the
remote controller 3 on the recording and reproducingapparatus 1, thecontrol unit 11 can allow thedisplay device 2 to output, through thedisplay processing unit 19, a list of the title information contained in the history held by the recording and reproducinghistory holding unit 17. - Upon receiving, at the
network interface 12, a predetermined command transmitted from theterminal 5 via the network N, thecontrol unit 11 can transmit, for example, the list of the title information contained in the history held in the recording and reproducinghistory holding unit 17. - Upon receiving, at the
network interface 12, the title information or a part of the title information transmitted from theterminal 5 via the network N, thecontrol unit 11 can search the history held in the recording and reproducinghistory holding unit 17 for this title information and return the result of the search (for example, the presence or absence of the search target title information) to theterminal 5. - Furthermore, when content is downloaded or recording programming is set, the
control unit 11 can search the recording and reproducinghistory holding unit 17 for the title information on the content. If corresponding title information is present in the recording and reproducinghistory holding unit 17, thecontrol unit 11 can provide a display gathering the user's attention, on the display device 2 (or the terminal 5). - The
control unit 11 can also allow the display device 2 (or terminal 5) to display a screen on which the user can specify whether or not to save the title information to the recording and reproducinghistory holding unit 17 as a history. - The
control unit 11 can also allow the display device 2 (or terminal 5) to display a screen on which the user can change (correct, delete, or the like) the history saved in the recording and reproducinghistory holding unit 17. - Furthermore, when the
terminal 5 accesses the recording and reproducingapparatus 1, thecontrol unit 11 executes a predetermined authenticating process (a check of a password or the like) between the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 and theterminal 5. If the authentication succeeds, thecontrol unit 11 permits the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 to provide the information to theterminal 5. - In providing information to the
terminal 5, thecontrol unit 11 can execute an encoding process that allows the encoded information to be decoded at theterminal 5 via the authenticating process. - The
control unit 11 can also allow the display device to display a message relating to the title information on the different content which accompanies the content subjected to the reproducing process and which can be acquired separately from the content subjected to the reproducing process. Alternatively, thecontrol unit 11 can allow the message to be communicated to theterminal 5 via the network. - The
control unit 11 can also allow thedisplay device 2 to display a screen on which the user can specify whether or not to acquire the title information via the network N. - Furthermore, when the
terminal 5 transmits a predetermined command to the recording and reproducing apparatus via the network N, thecontrol unit 11 can acquire corresponding title information from theserver 4 via the network N and transmit the title information acquired to theterminal 5. -
FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of the history held in the recording and reproducing titlehistory holding unit 17. - The individual pieces of title information recorded in the recording and reproducing title
history holding unit 17 as a history include the title and the genre, synopsis, cast and director, reproduction count, and source of the title. Thus, besides the basic pieces of information (title, genre, synopsis, cast, and director) on the title, the “reproduction count” and the “source” are held as a history; the “reproduction count” indicates the number of times that the title has been reproduced so far and the “source” indicates from what source the title has been obtained. All or a part of the history can be displayed on theterminal 5 or thedisplay device 2 in response to an instruction from the user. -
FIGS. 3 to 5 are exemplary flowcharts showing that an operation of saving title information as a reproduction history during a process of reproducing content varies depending on the source of the content. - First, with reference to
FIG. 3 , description will be given of an operation of saving the title information on the content obtained through the broadcasting wave H, as a reproduction history. - Here, it is assumed that the title information on the content obtained through the broadcasting wave H is already saved in the recording title
information holding unit 14 c. - To reproduce the content, the
control unit 11 determines whether or not to save the title information on the content as a reproduction history (step S11). Here, the user may be urged to specify whether or not to save the title information every time the reproduction process is executed or whether or not to save the title information may be determined in accordance with information preset by the user. - If the title information is not saved, the process is ended. Otherwise, the title information on the content is acquired from the recording
title holding unit 14 c (step S12). - Finally, the title information acquired is stored in the recording and reproducing title
history holding unit 17 as a reproduction history (step S13). - Now, with reference to
FIG. 4 , description will be given of an operation for saving the title information on the content obtained by streaming or downloading via the network N, as a reproduction history. - Here, it is assumed that the title information on the content is already saved on the
server 4. - To reproduce the content, the
control unit 11 determines whether or not to save the title information on the content as a reproduction history (step S21). Here, the user may be urged to specify whether or not to save the title information every time the reproduction process is executed or whether or not to save the title information may be determined in accordance with information preset by the user. - If the title information is not saved, the process is ended. Otherwise, corresponding title information is acquired from the
server 4 providing the content, via the network N (step S22). - Finally, the title information acquired is stored in the recording and reproducing title
history holding unit 17 as a reproduction history (step S23). - In the case of the content obtained by streaming or downloading via the network N, the
server 4 providing the content may have the user's viewing history (including the title information). In this case, the title information is not acquired during reproduction, but when theterminal 5 or the like accesses the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 (in order to request browsing of the reproduction history), all of the viewing history may be acquired from the content server. - Now, with reference to
FIG. 5 , description will be given of an operation for saving the title information on the content obtained from the optical disc D, as a reproduction history. - Here, it is assumed that the title information may be recorded in the optical disc D together with the content or the title information is held on the
server 4 providing the content instead of being recorded in the optical disc D together with the content. - To reproduce the content, the
control unit 11 determines whether or not to save the title information on the content as a reproduction history (step S31). Here, the user may be urged to specify whether or not to save the title information every time the reproduction process is executed or whether or not to save the title information may be determined in accordance with information preset by the user. - If the title information is not saved, the process is ended. Otherwise, the
control unit 11 determines whether or not the title information is present in the optical disc D (step S32). - If the title information is present in the optical disc D, the title information is acquired from the optical disc D (step S33). On the other hand, if the title information is not present in the optical disc D, the
control unit 11 determines whether or not to transmit information inherent in the optical disc (or information inherent in the content) to theserver 4 in order to acquire the title information (step S34). Here, the user may be urged to specify whether or not to acquire the title information via the network every time the reproduction process is executed or whether or not to acquire the title information via the network may be determined in accordance with information preset by the user. - If the title information is not acquired via the network, the process is ended. On the other hand, if the title information is acquired via the network, the information inherent in the optical disc D (or the information inherent in the content) is transmitted to the server 4 (step S35). The title information is then received from the server 4 (step S36).
- Finally, the title information acquired is stored in the recording and reproducing title
history holding unit 17 as a reproduction history (step S37). - As described above, the user can specify whether or not to save the title information as a reproduction history. Furthermore, even after the title information is saved as a reproduction history, the user can perform edition or deletion of the reproduction history, addition of a reproduction history, or the like. If the title information cannot be obtained from the content source, it is possible to store, as a reproduction history, the title information acquired by the user operating the
remote controller 3 or theterminal 5 to perform a search on the Internet or the title information directly input by the user via theremote controller 3 or theterminal 5. - The recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can search the history stored in the recording and reproducing titlehistory holding unit 17 or the title information held in the recording titleinformation holding unit 14 c, for the title information transmitted from external equipment such as theterminal 5 via the network N. The recording and reproducingapparatus 1 can then return the presence or absence of the history to the external equipment. Alternatively, the recording and reproducing apparatus can transmit all or a part of the history in accordance with a command transmitted via the network N. In this case, to prevent the information in the history from being unfairly acquired by the external equipment, it is possible to execute an authenticating process between the external equipment and the recording and reproducingapparatus 1. An example of the authenticating process will be described below. -
FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of the authenticating process based on a check of a password. - When a password “PWD” is input to the
terminal 5, theterminal 5 transmits the password “PWD” to the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 via the network. - Upon receiving the password “PWD”, the recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 determines whether or not the password “PWD” is appropriate. Upon determining that the password “PWD” is appropriate, the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 transmits a command transmission permission notification to theterminal 5 via the network. - After the
terminal 5 receives the command transmission permission notification, when the user inputs a search request for determining whether or not a title “TITLE” is present in the reproduction history, theterminal 5 transmits a command requesting a search for the title “TITLE” to the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 via the network. - Upon receiving the command requesting the a search for the title “TITLE”, the recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 searches the history stored in the recording and reproducing titlehistory holding unit 17 or the title information held in the recording titleinformation holding unit 14 c, for the title “TITLE”. Upon obtaining a search result indicating the presence or absence of the title “TITLE”, the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 transmits the search result to theterminal 5 via the network. - Upon receiving the search result, the
terminal 5 displays the search result on the screen. Thus, the user can browse the search result. - In the above-described authenticating process, information different from the password may be used to protect the history.
- In the present embodiment, when downloading the contents or setting recording programming, the recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 can search the history saved in the recording and reproducing titlehistory saving unit 17, for the title information to be downloaded or to be programmed for recording. If corresponding title information is present, the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 can display a screen that gathers the user's attention. - Now, with reference to
FIGS. 7 and 8 , description will be given of an example of information displayed on the screen of theterminal 5 connected to the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 via the network N. -
FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on theterminal 5 in response to a request for a search of the reproduction history. - As shown in a display A, when a screen urging the user to input title information is displayed on the
terminal 5, for example, a “title A” is input and transmitted to the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 through the network N. The recording and reproducingapparatus 1 searches for the “title A”. Here, it is assumed that the “title A” is present in the reproduction history. - When a search result is returned to the
terminal 5, theterminal 5 displays a screen showing, for example, the found “title A” together with a message “Reproduction history information found” as shown in a display B. -
FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on theterminal 5 in response to a request for browsing of the reproduction history. - As shown in a display C, when a screen urging the user to specify whether or not to acquire the title information is displayed on the
terminal 5, for example, “YES” is specified and transmitted to the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 through the network N. The recording and reproducingapparatus 1 then reads the reproduction history and returns the title and the like contained in the reproduction history to theterminal 5. - When a search result is returned to the
terminal 5, for example, a screen showing “Title A”, “Title B”, . . . is displayed on theterminal 5 as a “reproduction history list” as shown in a display D. - Now, with reference to
FIGS. 9 and 10 , description will be given of information displayed on the screen of thedisplay device 2 connected to the recording and reproducingapparatus 1. -
FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on thedisplay device 2 when recording programming of the same title as that previously reproduced is specified. - For example, when recording of a television program or the like is programmed, if corresponding title is found as a result of a search of the reproduction history held in the recording and reproducing title
history holding unit 17 for EPG title information on the recording target program, then for example, a screen showing a selection item “YES/NO” is displayed on thedisplay device 2 together with messages “Title previously reproduced” and “Recording programming to be executed?” as shown inFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on thedisplay device 2 when downloading of the same title as that previously reproduced is specified. - For example, also when downloading is executed to view a download content, if corresponding title is found as a result of a search of the recording and reproducing title history for title information on the downloading target, then for example, a screen showing a selection item “YES/NO” is displayed on the
display device 2 together with messages “Title previously reproduced” and “Downloading to be executed?” as shown inFIG. 10 . - Furthermore, content which is downloaded from the server specified in the information contained in a certain content and which is different from the certain content may include previews of movies. For the content including the previews, contents that the user desires to view can be listed by acquiring the titles of the previews. In this case, for example, as shown in
FIG. 11 , a list showing preview titles is displayed on thedisplay device 2 or theterminal 5. - The recording and reproducing
history holding unit 17 manages the broadcasting date, release date, rental start date, downloading start date, broadcasting time, and the like of content checked in such a list as described above together with the title of the content. Thus, in the case of the broadcasting wave, the user can be urged to view the content by automatically executing recording programming or transmitting an appropriate message to theterminal 5 by mail on the broadcasting day or the day preceding the broadcasting day. - In the description of the present embodiment, the recording and reproducing title
information holding unit 17 manages the title information on the content recorded in thehard disk 14 e or the like in therecording unit 14 and the title information on the content previously reproduced from the removable recording medium such as DVD. However, the embodiment can be varied such that the recording and reproducing titleinformation holding unit 17 manages only the title information on the content currently recorded in thehard disk 14 e or the like in therecording unit 14 - (Title Management by the Reproducing Apparatus)
- In the above-described example, the recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 manages the titles of the contents from the different sources in an integrated fashion. However, instead, a reproducing apparatus (playback-only apparatus) that executes the reproducing process on contents can manage the titles of the contents from the different sources in an integrated fashion. An example is shown below. -
FIG. 12 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a system that manages the titles of the contents from the different sources using the reproducing apparatus. Components of the reproducing apparatus which are the same as the corresponding components inFIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be specifically described. Differences from the apparatus inFIG. 1 will be mainly described. - The reproducing
apparatus 1′ has a titleinformation acquiring unit 16′ (similar to the above-described title information acquiring unit 16) that acquires title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process by the reproducingprocess unit 15 for each of the content (streaming contents) obtained via the network N and the content obtained from the optical disc D, which is a removable recording medium, and a reproducing titlehistory holding unit 17′ (similar to the above-described recording and reproducing title history holding unit 17) that holds the title information acquired by the titleinformation acquiring unit 16′ as a history. - For the content (streaming content) obtained via the network N, the title
information acquiring unit 16′ acquires the title information, for example, from theserver 4 providing the content, via the network N. For the content obtained from the optical disc D, the titleinformation acquiring unit 16′ acquires the title information from the optical disc if the title information is recorded in the optical disc D, or for example, from theserver 4 via the network N on the basis of the optical disc D or information inherent in the content if the title information is not recorded in the optical disc D. - (Title Management by the Recording and Reproducing Apparatus and the Reproducing Apparatus)
- In the above-described example, the titles of the contents from the different sources are managed using the recording and reproducing apparatus or the reproducing apparatus.
-
FIG. 13 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a system that manages the titles of the contents from the different sources using the recording and reproducing apparatus and the reproducing apparatus. Components of the recording and reproducing apparatus and reproducing apparatus which are the same as the corresponding components inFIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be specifically described. Differences from the apparatus inFIG. 1 will be mainly described. - The present system includes the reproducing
apparatus 6 in addition to the recording and reproducingapparatus 1, thedisplay device 2, theserver 4, and theterminal 5. - The reproducing
apparatus 6 has functions similar to those of the reproducingapparatus 1′, shown inFIG. 12 . The reproducingapparatus 6 has a titleinformation acquiring unit 26 that acquires title information on the content subjected to the reproducing process by a reproducingprocess unit 25 for each of the content (streaming content) obtained via the network N and the content obtained from the optical disc D, which is a removable recording medium, and a reproducing titlehistory holding unit 27 that holds the title information acquired by the titleinformation acquiring unit 26 as a history. - The recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 includes the same components as those shown inFIG. 1 . - For example, if the
terminal 5 as external equipment transmits a predetermined command to the recording and reproducingapparatus 11 via the network N or a predetermined operation is performed on the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 through theremote controller 3, thecontrol unit 11 of the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 can transmit, to thedisplay device 2, the title information contained in the history held in the recording and reproducing titlehistory holding unit 17 and the title information contained in the history held in the reproducing titlehistory holding unit 27. - Specifically, the
control unit 11 of the recoding and reproducingapparatus 1 acquires the title information contained in the history held in the recording and reproducing titlehistory holding unit 17 in the recording and reproducingapparatus 1. Thecontrol unit 11 also acquires the title information contained in the history held in the reproducing titlehistory holding unit 27 of the reproducingapparatus 6 via the network. When a list of the individual pieces of title information acquired is formed, the information from the recording and reproducingapparatus 1 and the information from the reproducingapparatus 6 may be displayed in separate lists or may both be displayed in one list. - Thus, the embodiments make it possible to check all the contents from the different sources to be checked via external equipment such as a cellular phone, the contents having previously been recorded in or reproduced from the recording and reproducing apparatus or the reproducing apparatus. This makes it possible to prevent the user from mistakenly renting or purchasing contents already viewed by the user. Furthermore, by transmitting the title information contained in the reproduction history or the recording history from the recording and reproducing apparatus or the terminal to the predetermined server, it is possible to load contents and related information agreeable to the user's taste, from the server into the recording and reproducing apparatus.
- While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Claims (26)
1. An apparatus configured to execute at least a reproducing process of a content, the apparatus comprising:
a title information acquiring module configured to acquire title information of the content that is to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from at least two sources selected from the group consisting of a broadcasting wave, a network, and a removable recording medium; and
a history holding module configured to hold, in a lump, the title information acquired by the title information acquiring module as a history.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein for the content received from the network, the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire title information via a server providing the content.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein for the content retrieved from the removable recording medium, the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire title information from the recording medium if the title information is recorded in the recording medium.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein for the content retrieved from the removable recording medium, the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire title information from a predetermined server via a network on the basis of information inherent in the content if the title information is not recorded in the recording medium.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is capable of executing a recording process on the content received from broadcast signals.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein for the content received through the broadcasting wave, the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire title information from an electronic program guide.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to transmit a list of the title information contained in the history held in the history holding module to an external device in response to a predetermined command transmitted from the external device via the network.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to search the history using title information or a part of the title information transmitted from an external device via the network, and to a search a search result to the external device.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a control module configured to search, when the content is either downloaded or programmed is be recorded, the history for title information on the content and to provide an indication to a user if the title information is present in the history.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to cause a display of a screen which allows a user to specify whether or not to save title information as part of a history.
11. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the history holding module is configured to hold title information of the content has been subjected to the recording process in addition to title information of the content that has been subjected to the reproducing process.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to cause a display of a screen which allows a user to modify the history.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a control module configured to execute a predetermined authenticating process between the apparatus and the external device, and to permit the apparatus to provide information to the external device if the authentication succeeds.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the title information acquiring module is configured to acquire a second title information of a second content related to a first content, the second content retrieved separately from the first content, and
the history holding module is further is configured to hold the title information of the second content.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a control module configured to cause a display of a message related to the title information of the second content or to notify a user of the title information via a network.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to cause a display of a screen which allows a user to specify whether or not to acquire title information via a network.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to acquire title information from a predetermined server via a network and transmit the acquired title information to the external device when external device transmits a predetermined command to the apparatus via a network.
18. A recording and reproducing system comprising:
a reproducing apparatus configured to execute a reproducing process on a content; and
a recording and reproducing apparatus connected to the reproducing apparatus via a network and configured to execute a recording process and the reproducing process on a content,
each of the reproducing apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a title information acquiring module configured to acquire title information of a content to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from at least two sources selected from the group consisting of a broadcasting wave, a network, and a removable recording medium, and a history holding module configured to hold, in a lump, the title information acquired by the title information acquiring module as a history.
19. The recording and reproducing system of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the reproducing apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus further comprises a control module configured to transmit title information contained in the history held in the history holding module of each of the reproducing apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus, to an external device in response to a predetermined command transmitted from the external device via the network or a predetermined operation performed in one of the reproducing apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus.
20. A title information managing method applied to an apparatus configured to execute at least a reproducing process of a content using a processor, the method comprising:
acquiring title information of the content to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from at least two sources selected from the group consisting of a broadcasting wave, a network, and a removable recording medium; and
holding, in a lump, the acquired title information as a history.
21. An apparatus configured to output video content, comprising:
a title information acquiring module configured to acquire title information of the content that is to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from different types of sources; and
a control module configured to detect whether or not the content has already been reproduced, using the acquired title information of the content, and to output information indicating that the content has already been reproduced if the content has already been reproduced.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the control module is configured to cause a display of a message inquiring whether or not an acquisition of the content is to be executed as well as the message indicating that the content has already been reproduced if the content has already been reproduced.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the control module is configured to cause a display of a message inquiring whether or not a recording programming of the content is be set as well as the message indicating that the content has already been reproduced if the content has already been reproduced.
24. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the title information comprises information indicating a reproduction count of the content.
25. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the title information comprises information indicating at least one of a title, genre, synopsis, cast, director, reproduction count, and source.
26. A title information managing method applied to an apparatus configured to execute at least a reproducing process of a content using a processor, the method comprising:
acquiring title information of the content to be subjected to the reproducing process from a source of the content, before the content is reproduced, wherein the content is received from different types of sources; and
detecting whether or not the content has already been reproduced, using the acquired title information of the content, and outputting information indicating that the content has already been reproduced if the content has already been reproduced.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/936,877 US20130294744A1 (en) | 2007-06-25 | 2013-07-08 | Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2007-166632 | 2007-06-25 | ||
JP2007166632A JP5127318B2 (en) | 2007-06-25 | 2007-06-25 | Reproducing apparatus, recording / reproducing apparatus, recording / reproducing system, and title information management method |
US12/140,231 US8818161B2 (en) | 2007-06-25 | 2008-06-16 | Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method |
US13/936,877 US20130294744A1 (en) | 2007-06-25 | 2013-07-08 | Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/140,231 Division US8818161B2 (en) | 2007-06-25 | 2008-06-16 | Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20130294744A1 true US20130294744A1 (en) | 2013-11-07 |
Family
ID=40136592
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/140,231 Expired - Fee Related US8818161B2 (en) | 2007-06-25 | 2008-06-16 | Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method |
US13/936,877 Abandoned US20130294744A1 (en) | 2007-06-25 | 2013-07-08 | Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/140,231 Expired - Fee Related US8818161B2 (en) | 2007-06-25 | 2008-06-16 | Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US8818161B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5127318B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
TWI405474B (en) | 2008-12-31 | 2013-08-11 | Htc Corp | Flexible luminescent electro-acoustic transducer and electronic device using the same |
JP5569830B2 (en) * | 2011-03-25 | 2014-08-13 | 日本電気株式会社 | Video processing system, video processing method, video processing apparatus, control method thereof, and control program |
JP2013165477A (en) * | 2012-01-12 | 2013-08-22 | Funai Electric Co Ltd | Image voice device |
US20150030310A1 (en) * | 2013-07-23 | 2015-01-29 | International Business Machines Corporation | Intelligent viewing of a television program series using metadata |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20040078812A1 (en) * | 2001-01-04 | 2004-04-22 | Calvert Kerry Wayne | Method and apparatus for acquiring media services available from content aggregators |
US20060155754A1 (en) * | 2004-12-08 | 2006-07-13 | Steven Lubin | Playlist driven automated content transmission and delivery system |
US7187947B1 (en) * | 2000-03-28 | 2007-03-06 | Affinity Labs, Llc | System and method for communicating selected information to an electronic device |
US8358912B2 (en) * | 2005-09-22 | 2013-01-22 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method of synchronizing broadcast content between broadcast recorder and portable content player and apparatus for the same |
Family Cites Families (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2002044555A (en) * | 2000-07-28 | 2002-02-08 | Sony Corp | Information display controller and its method |
JP4001313B2 (en) | 2000-08-28 | 2007-10-31 | アルパイン株式会社 | Media player |
JP3818847B2 (en) * | 2000-12-27 | 2006-09-06 | パイオニア株式会社 | Information recording / reproducing apparatus and information recording / reproducing method |
JP3659498B2 (en) * | 2002-01-18 | 2005-06-15 | パイオニア株式会社 | Information recording medium, information recording apparatus and method, information reproducing apparatus and method, information recording / reproducing apparatus and method, computer program for recording or reproduction control, and data structure including control signal |
JP4116320B2 (en) | 2002-04-24 | 2008-07-09 | シャープ株式会社 | Content recording / playback device |
JP3991212B2 (en) | 2002-08-06 | 2007-10-17 | ソニー株式会社 | Content recording device |
JP2005109532A (en) | 2003-09-26 | 2005-04-21 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | Program receiving apparatus, program distributing apparatus, program distributing system, program receiving method, program distributing method, and program receiving program |
JP2005167818A (en) * | 2003-12-04 | 2005-06-23 | Pioneer Electronic Corp | Information providing apparatus, information providing method, information providing program and information recording medium |
JP2006040338A (en) * | 2004-07-23 | 2006-02-09 | Fujitsu Ten Ltd | Music data erasure device and music data erasure method |
JP2006140609A (en) * | 2004-11-10 | 2006-06-01 | Pioneer Electronic Corp | Information processor, information processing method and program, and recording medium |
JP4507254B2 (en) | 2005-02-22 | 2010-07-21 | ソニー株式会社 | Information management apparatus and method, and program |
JP2007011647A (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-18 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Information display control system |
JP4581929B2 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2010-11-17 | ソニー株式会社 | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program |
JP4599261B2 (en) * | 2005-09-21 | 2010-12-15 | 株式会社東芝 | Program recording reservation apparatus and program recording reservation method |
-
2007
- 2007-06-25 JP JP2007166632A patent/JP5127318B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2008
- 2008-06-16 US US12/140,231 patent/US8818161B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2013
- 2013-07-08 US US13/936,877 patent/US20130294744A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7187947B1 (en) * | 2000-03-28 | 2007-03-06 | Affinity Labs, Llc | System and method for communicating selected information to an electronic device |
US20040078812A1 (en) * | 2001-01-04 | 2004-04-22 | Calvert Kerry Wayne | Method and apparatus for acquiring media services available from content aggregators |
US20060155754A1 (en) * | 2004-12-08 | 2006-07-13 | Steven Lubin | Playlist driven automated content transmission and delivery system |
US8358912B2 (en) * | 2005-09-22 | 2013-01-22 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method of synchronizing broadcast content between broadcast recorder and portable content player and apparatus for the same |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8818161B2 (en) | 2014-08-26 |
JP2009004057A (en) | 2009-01-08 |
JP5127318B2 (en) | 2013-01-23 |
US20080317435A1 (en) | 2008-12-25 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
JP5296778B2 (en) | Multimedia content search and recording reservation system | |
US8397255B2 (en) | Advanced television system | |
KR101253001B1 (en) | Content rental system | |
US8358908B2 (en) | Recording and playback apparatus | |
CA2602327C (en) | System and method for quality marking of a recording | |
US20100017713A1 (en) | Content Management Apparatus and Content Management Method | |
US20070101394A1 (en) | Indexing a recording of audiovisual content to enable rich navigation | |
KR101546648B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for purchasing contents using a portable storage medium or through a network | |
AU2006327141A1 (en) | An interactive media guidance system having multiple devices | |
CA2655339C (en) | Method and apparatus for processing plurality of applications for broadcasting service and information storage medium storing the method | |
CA2633845A1 (en) | Systems and methods for accessing media program options based on program segment interest | |
US20130294744A1 (en) | Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method | |
JP2006301877A (en) | Information management apparatus and information management method | |
US20070027764A1 (en) | Information managing apparatus, information managing method, and information managing system | |
US20070055981A1 (en) | Method of recording broadcasted program based on ratings | |
US20080072265A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for processing plurality of applications for broadcasting service and information storage medium storing the method | |
US20130177289A1 (en) | Information processing apparatus and information processing method | |
US20110123174A1 (en) | System for and method of storing sneak peeks of upcoming video content | |
US9392209B1 (en) | Systems and methods for recording television programs | |
AU2012202242B2 (en) | An Interactive Media Guidance System Having Multiple Devices | |
JP5343149B2 (en) | Information processing apparatus and program guide display method | |
JP2010098528A (en) | Video recording and playback apparatus, and video recording and playback method | |
KR20070117031A (en) | Method for recording video contents in multi recorder |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |