WO2005015906A1

WO2005015906A1 - Recording device and method, program, and information processing system

Info

Publication number: WO2005015906A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/011054
Authority: WO
Inventors: Koji Fujita
Original assignee: Sony Corporation
Priority date: 2003-08-11
Filing date: 2004-08-02
Publication date: 2005-02-17

Abstract

Even when using a plurality of recording/reproduction devices, it is possible to easily and flexibly cope with situations including recording of the information acquired from outside and reproducing the information recorded. In a program recording system (50), one of a first hard disc recorder (51) to a third hard disc recorder (53) is set to be a master for managing the reservation information by collecting reservation information registered in each device via a network (54) and organizing all the reservation information to create an optimal recording schedule for all the hard disc recorders of the program recording system (50) and assign reservation information to each device so that a tuner of each device and hard discs are used effectively for performing recording processing. According to the reservation information assigned, the master and the slave perform recording processing. The present invention can be applied to a recording/reproduction system.

Description

Specification

Recording device and method, program, and information processing

Technical field

The present invention relates to a recording device and method, a program, and an information processing system, and particularly to a recording device suitable for recording information obtained from outside and reproducing the recorded information. And a method, a program, and an information processing system.

^ Scenic technology

[0002] Conventionally, a hard disk recorder, which is a recording / reproducing apparatus that records information on a recording medium such as a hard disk or reproduces information recorded on the hard disk, usually includes one or more tuners. A television signal or the like supplied from a broadcasting station or the like is received via an antenna or the like, and content data including image data and audio data included in the received signal is recorded on a built-in hard disk (recording). Do). Using such a hard disk recorder, a user makes a reservation for recording processing (recording reservation) using broadcast schedule information of a program or the like. The hard disk recorder performs a recording process based on the reservation information, and stores the content data (program) desired by the user on the hard disk.

[0003] The configuration of such a function relating to recording reservation of the hard disk recorder is shown, for example, as a functional block diagram in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the hard disk recorder 1 has an antenna 11, a tuner 12, and a content processing unit 13. The tuner 12 selects the frequency (channel) of the television signal to be received, receives the television signal of the channel via the antenna 11, and supplies the received television signal to the content processing unit 13. The content processing unit 13 has a built-in storage unit 14 composed of a hard disk, demodulates a television signal supplied via a tuner, extracts content data, and decodes the content data. The information is stored in the storage unit 14.

[0005] Further, the hard disk recorder 1 includes a CPU (Central

(Processing Unit) 21, programs related to various processes executed by the CPU 21 and It has a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22 for temporarily storing data, and an input unit 23 for receiving an input from a user or the like.

[0006] By executing the program stored in the RAM 22, the CPU 21 controls the tuner 12, as shown in FIG. 1, to control the tuner 12, and to execute the program from the television signal received by the tuner 12. An EPG extraction unit 32 that extracts EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data that is a schedule, a schedule management unit 33 that holds the EPG data and manages the broadcast schedule of programs, and a user input via the input unit 23. Manual reservation candidate reception control unit 34 for controlling the reception of reservation (recording reservation) candidates for recording processing, a program reservation candidate creation unit 35 for creating recording reservation candidates that are information related to recording reservation candidates for programs, and an input unit. A preference information reception control unit 36 that controls the reception of preference information relating to the recording process by the user input via the user interface 23; Preference information management unit 37 that manages preference information, program reservation information management unit 38 that creates and manages information (program reservation information) related to program recording processing based on program reservation candidates, and program reservation information management unit It has various functions such as a recording processing control unit 39 which is controlled by the content processing unit 13 and controls the content processing unit 13 to execute a recording process.

[0007] For example, the tuner control unit 31 controls the tuner 12 based on a user input or the like, and receives a signal including EPG data of a channel desired by the user via the antenna 11. The EPG extraction unit 32 extracts EPG data from the signal and causes the schedule management unit 33 to hold the EPG data.

[0008] When the user operates the input unit 23 to input information related to the reservation of the recording process of the program, the manual reservation candidate reception control unit 34 supplies the information (manual reservation candidate) to the program reservation candidate creation unit 35. I do. The program reservation candidate creating section 35 creates a program reservation candidate based on the manual reservation candidate.

[0009] Further, when the user operates the input unit 23 to input, for example, preference information relating to the reservation of the recording process of the program, such as a recorded video, a genre of the program, and a keyword of the program name, the preference information reception control unit. 36 supplies the information (preference information) to the preference information management unit 37. The preference information management unit 37 supplies the preference information based on the request of the program reservation candidate creation unit 35. The program reservation candidate creating unit 35 stores the preference information supplied from the preference information management unit 37. The program corresponding to the preference information is searched from the programs included in the EPG data stored in the schedule management unit 33 based on the program, and if it exists, a reservation candidate for the program is created.

[0010] The program reservation candidate creating unit 35 supplies the program reservation candidate created in this way to the program reservation information management unit 38. The program reservation information management unit 38 creates program reservation information based on the obtained program reservation candidates, and manages the schedule of the recording process. Then, at the time when the recording process starts, the tuner 12 is controlled via the tuner control unit 31 to receive a signal including the program to be recorded, and the content processing unit 13 is received via the recording process control unit 39. And the received program is stored in the storage unit 14.

[0011] That is, the hard disk recorder 1 reserves a recording process of a program based on information or the like input by a user, manages a schedule of the recording process, and performs the recording process based on the schedule. Do.

[0012] Therefore, even when there are a plurality of hard disk recorders 1, the respective hard disk recorders 1 operate independently of each other, so that the user makes a recording reservation at the plurality of hard disk recorders 1, for example. In such a case, recording reservation work had to be performed for each.

[0013] In each hard disk recorder 1, the number of programs that can be recorded simultaneously is limited to the number of tuners 12 included in the hard disk recorder 1. For example, if each of the hard disk recorders 1 is managed by a different user, a certain user can make a reservation only at the hard disk recorder 1 that he manages. If you want to record more programs than the number of tuners at the same time, you cannot use another hard disk recorder 1 to make a recording reservation.

[0014] On the other hand, for example, there is a method of managing recording reservations for a plurality of recording devices using a recording management device that performs schedule management of recording reservations (for example, see Patent Document 1)

) o

Patent Document 1: JP-A-7-21619

Disclosure of the invention Problems the invention is trying to solve

[0016] However, in the case of the above-described method, it is necessary to provide a recording management device other than the hard disk recorder 1 for recording a program, and there has been a problem that the cost increases. In addition, the user must manage a plurality of different types of devices, which increases the load of management processing.

In the above method, since the free space of the hard disk of each hard disk recorder 1 is not managed, for example, the hard disk recorder 1 having a hard disk whose free space is not enough to record a program is used. In some cases, the recording process was performed and the entire program could not be recorded.

[0018] Further, in the above-described method, since the content of a program to be reserved for recording is not managed, there is a possibility that a plurality of the same programs are recorded. When playing back a recorded program, the user must operate each of the hard disk recorders 1 one by one to search for the hard disk recorder 1 on which the program is recorded. However, there is a problem that complicated work may be involved.

[0019] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even when a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are used, it is possible to easily and flexibly cope with the problem and record information obtained from the outside. The recorded information can be reproduced.

Means for solving the problem

[0020] A first recording apparatus of the present invention is configured to select a receiving station, to receive a target content data, and to record content data received by the content data receiving means. Means, content data supply means for supplying the content data received by the content data receiving means to one or more other recording devices connected via a network, and reservation information for specifying the content data to be recorded First reservation information creating means for creating the first reservation information which is the first reservation information, and reservation information collecting means for collecting the first reservation information created in the other recording device from another recording device; The first reservation information created by the reservation information creation means of the first embodiment and the first reservation information collected from another recording device by the reservation information collection means. It is specified by about information

Processing performed by each recording device connected via the network to the The second reservation information creating means for creating the second reservation information for making the reservation, and the second reservation information created by the second reservation information creating means are supplied to another recording device via the network. Managing the second reservation information created by the second reservation information creating means, and the content data receiving means, the content data recording means, and the content data recording means based on the second reservation information. A control means for controlling the supply means to receive the content data and record the received content data, or a management control means for supplying the received content data to another recording device via a network for recording. It is characterized by.

[0021] The second reservation information includes information for specifying content data receiving means used for receiving content data from all content data receiving means provided in the first recording device and other recording devices. Power to be able to.

[0022] In the second reservation information, the management control means specifies the content data receiving means provided in the recording device and specifies the content data recording means provided in another recording device. In this case, it is possible to control the content data receiving means to receive the content data and control the content data supply means to supply the content data to another recording apparatus.

[0023] When there are a plurality of reservations having the same broadcast time and content of the content data to be reserved, the second reservation information creating means stores only one of them in the second reservation information. And other reservations can be deleted.

[0024] Attribute information collecting means for collecting information on a broadcast station that can be received by each content data receiving means of the other recording device from another recording device as attribute information of the other recording device is further provided. You can do so.

[0025] The information processing apparatus may further include an attribute information collecting unit that collects information on the free space of each content data recording unit of the another recording device from another recording device as attribute information of the other recording device. it can.

[0026] A first recording method of the present invention provides a first reservation information creating step of creating first reservation information, which is reservation information for specifying content data to be recorded, a communication unit, and a network. The first schedule created on one or more other recording devices connected via A reservation information collection control step for collecting contract information from another recording device, a first reservation information created by the processing of the first reservation information creation step, and a processing by the reservation information collection control step. Second reservation information for reserving a process to be executed by each recording device connected via the network with respect to the content data specified by the first reservation information collected from another recording device by the selected communication unit. A second reservation information creating step of creating a second reservation information, and controlling the communication unit to supply the second reservation information created by the processing of the second reservation information creation step to another recording device via a network. It manages the second reservation information created by the processing of the reservation information supply control step and the second reservation information creation step, and based on the second reservation information, the receiving section, the recording section, and the second section. Or a control step of controlling the communication unit to receive the content data and recording the received content data, or supplying the received content data to another recording device via a network for recording. And characterized in that:

[0027] The second reservation information includes information for specifying a receiver used for receiving content data from among all receivers included in the recording device and other recording devices. it can.

[0028] In the management control step, in the second reservation information, the receiving unit provided in the recording device is specified, and when the recording unit provided in another recording device is specified, the receiving unit is controlled to control the content. The data can be received, and the communication unit can be controlled to supply the content data to another recording device.

[0029] In the second reservation information creating step, when there are a plurality of reservations having the same broadcast time and the same content as the content data to be reserved, only one of them is used as the second reservation. It can be generated as information and other reservations can be deleted.

[0030] Attribute information that controls the communication unit and causes the other recording devices to collect information on broadcast stations that can be received by each receiving unit from other recording devices as attribute information of the other recording devices. A collection control step may be further included.

[0031] An attribute information collection control step of controlling the communication unit and collecting information on the free space of each recording unit of the other recording device as attribute information of the other recording device from another recording device is further included. Can be included. [0032] The first program of the present invention includes a first reservation information creation step of creating first reservation information, which is reservation information for specifying content data to be recorded, a communication unit, and a network. The first reservation information created by one or more other computers connected via the other computer is collected from another computer by the reservation information collection control step and the first reservation information creation step. The first reservation information and the content data specified by the first reservation information collected from another computer by the communication unit controlled by the processing of the reservation information collection control step are transmitted via the network. A second reservation information generating step for reserving processing to be executed by each of the connected computers; a second reservation information generating step; A reservation information supply control step of supplying the second reservation information created by the processing of the contract information creation step to another computer via a network; and a second reservation information created by the processing of the second reservation information creation step. And the receiving unit, the recording unit, and the communication unit are controlled based on the second reservation information to receive the content data, and to record the received content data, or And a management control step in which the received content data is supplied to another computer via a network and recorded.

[0033] In the first information processing system of the present invention, the first recording device creates first reservation information, which is reservation information for specifying content data to be recorded, and uses the communication unit to perform network communication. The first reservation information created in the second recording device connected via the first recording device is collected, and the first reservation information created and the second reservation information collected from the second recording device via the communication unit are collected. The second reservation information for reserving the processing executed by the first device or the second recording device for the content data specified by the first reservation information is created, and the second reservation information created using the communication unit is created. The second reservation information is supplied to the second recording device via the network, the generated second reservation information is managed, and the receiving unit, the recording unit, and the communication unit are communicated based on the second reservation information. Controls the unit to receive the content data The recording power of the content data or the received content data is supplied to the second recording device via the network and recorded thereon, and the second recording device creates the first reservation information, and To supply the first reservation information to the first recording device connected via the network, and to acquire the second reservation information supplied from the first recording device using the communication unit. , Take Based on the obtained second reservation information, the receiving unit, the recording unit, and the communication unit are controlled to receive the content data and to record the received content data, or to transmit the received content data to the network. Via the first recording device for recording.

[0034] The second recording apparatus of the present invention is reservation information for reserving recording of content data. The reserving information specifies the content data to be recorded and specifies the type of tuner necessary for receiving the content data. A reservation information generating means for generating information; and a tuner of a type designated by the reservation information among one or a plurality of other recording devices connected via a network, the reservation information generated by the reservation information generating means. The reservation information supply means for supplying the recording information to another recording device having the information, and the other recording device to which the reservation information is supplied by the reservation information supply means receives the content data received based on the reservation information and supplied via the network. Content data obtaining means for storing the content data obtained by the content data obtaining means. Data recording means.

[0035] The second recording method of the present invention is reservation information for reserving recording of content data. The reservation information specifies the content data to be recorded and specifies the type of tuner required for receiving the content data. A reservation information creation step for creating information, and controlling the communication unit, the reservation information created by the processing of the reservation information creation step is stored in one or more other recording devices connected via a network. A recording information supply control step for supplying the recording information to another recording apparatus having a tuner of the type specified by the control section, and a recording apparatus for controlling the communication section and supplying the reservation information by being controlled by the processing of the reservation information supply control step. A content data acquisition control system for acquiring content data received on the device based on the reservation information and supplied via the network. And a content data recording control step of controlling the recording unit and recording the acquired content data controlled by the processing of the content data acquisition control step.

[0036] The second program of the present invention is reservation information for reserving recording of content data. The program designates content data to be recorded, and is a tuner required for receiving content data. A reservation information creating step for creating reservation information designating the type of the reservation information, and controlling one or more communication apparatuses to control the reservation information created by the reservation information creation step. Of a computer having a tuner of the type specified by the reservation information, and a communication unit, and controlling the communication unit to supply the reservation information by being controlled by the processing of the reservation information supply control step. A content data acquisition control step for acquiring the content data received via the network based on the reservation information by the other computer and controlling the recording unit, and controlled by the processing of the content data acquisition control step. Data recording control switch for recording the content data And a step.

[0037] In a second information processing system according to the present invention, the first recording device is reservation information for reserving recording of the content data, specifies the content data to be recorded, and sets a tuner required for receiving the content data. The reservation information specifying the type of the reservation is created, and the created reservation information is supplied to the second recording device having the receiving unit of the type specified by the reservation information by using the communication unit. The second recording device acquires the content data received based on the reservation information and supplied via the network using the recording unit, and records the acquired content data using the recording unit. The recording device acquires the reservation information supplied from the first recording device using the communication unit, and receives the content data specified by the acquired reservation information using the reception unit. Using the communication unit, and supplying the received content data of that in the first recording device.

[0038] In the first recording device and method and the program according to the present invention, first reservation information, which is reservation information for specifying content data to be recorded, is created, the communication unit is controlled, and the communication unit is controlled. The first reservation information created in one or more other recording devices connected to the other recording device is collected from another recording device, and the content data specified by the first reservation information is collected via a network. Second reservation information for reserving processing to be executed by each connected recording device is created, the communication unit is controlled, and the second reservation information is supplied to another recording device via a network, and is managed. The receiving unit, the recording unit, and the communication unit are controlled based on the second reservation information stored, and the content data is received. The received content data is recorded, or the received content data is supplied to another recording device via a network and recorded.

[0039] In the second recording device and method and the program according to the present invention, the recording information is reservation information for reserving recording of content data. The content data to be recorded is specified and necessary for receiving the content data. Reservation information that specifies the type of tuner is created, and the created reservation information is stored in one or a plurality of other recording devices connected via a network, of the type specified by the reservation information. The content data supplied to another recording device having a tuner and supplied from the other recording device is acquired, and the acquired content data is recorded.

[0040] In the first information processing system of the present invention, the first recording device creates first reservation information, which is reservation information for specifying content data to be recorded, and is connected via a network. First reservation information created in the second recording device is collected, and the first device or the second recording device executes the content data specified by the first reservation information. Second reservation information for reserving processing is created, the created second reservation information is supplied to a second recording device via a network, and the created second reservation information is managed. The receiving unit, the recording unit, and the communication unit are controlled based on the managed second reservation information, various processes are performed, and the first reservation information is created in the second recording device. , The first reservation information is the first The second reservation information supplied to the recording device and supplied from the first recording device is obtained, and the receiving unit, the recording unit, and the communication unit are controlled based on the second reservation information, and various processings are performed. Is performed.

[0041] In the second information processing system of the present invention, in the first recording device, the recording information is reservation information for reserving recording of content data. Reservation information that specifies the type of tuner is created, and the created reservation information is supplied to a second recording device having a receiving unit of the type specified by the reservation information, and the second recording device outputs a network. Content data supplied through the first recording device is acquired, the acquired content data is recorded, and the reservation information supplied from the first recording device is acquired in the second recording device. The content data specified by the received reservation information is received, and the received content data is supplied to the first recording device.

The invention's effect

According to the present invention, information can be processed. In particular, even when a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are used, it is possible to more easily and flexibly cope with the problem, to record information acquired from outside, and to reproduce the recorded information.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional hard disk recorder.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a program recording system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a first hard disk recorder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a second hard disk recorder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a reservation control program executed by a CPU 71 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a master / slave selection process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating master / slave selection processing, continued from FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions relating to reservation of recording processing of a hard disk recorder as a master.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions relating to reservation of recording processing of a hard disk recorder as a slave.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a reservation process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating program reservation information creation processing.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the program reservation information creating process, continued from FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of how a reservation candidate list is created.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of how a reservation information list is created.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of how a reservation information list is supplied.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a program reservation management process.

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions related to a reproduction process of a hard disk recorder serving as a master. FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions related to a reproduction process of a hard disk recorder as a slave.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a reproduction process.

Explanation of symbols

[0044] 50 program recording system, 51 1st hard disk recorder, 52 2nd hard disk recorder, 53 3rd hard disk recorder, 54 network, 71 CPU, 78 communication control unit, 81 first tuner, 87 storage unit, 91 content storage unit , 92 control information storage section, 100 content processing section, 121 second tuner, 130 content processing section, 150 reservation control program, 151 master / slave selection program, 1 52 slave reservation control program, 153 master reservation control program, 164 program reservation candidate creation section, 165 manual reservation candidate reception control section, 166 preference information reception control section, 167 preference information management section, 168 program reservation information creation section, 169 program reservation candidate request section, 170 device information request section, 171 program reservation candidate acquisition control unit, 172 device information acquisition control unit, 173 program reservation information supply control unit, 174 program reservation information management unit, 181 Program reservation candidate request acquisition control unit, 182 program reservation candidate supply control unit, 183 program reservation information acquisition control unit, 184 device information request acquisition control unit, 185 device information management unit, 186 device information supply control unit, 1911-11 To 1913 reservation candidate group, 21 1_1 to 211-3 device information, 240 reservation candidate list, 250 device information list, 260 reservation information list, 301 playback instruction reception control unit, 302 content management unit, 303 recorded program information management Unit, 304 recorded program information holding unit, 305 content request supply unit, 306 content acquisition unit, 307 playback control unit, 308 content request acquisition unit, 309 content supply unit, 310 recorded program information request acquisition unit, 31 1 recording Recorded program information supply unit, 321 Recorded program information request supply unit, 322 Recorded program information acquisition unit

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, the program recording system 50 includes a first hard disk recorder 51 and a second hard disk recorder 51. This is a system including a disk recorder 52 and a third hard disk recorder 53. The three hard disk recorders are used to record programs broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations (not shown) (supplied from the broadcast stations). This system records content data contained in television signals.

[0048] There are a plurality of types of broadcasting services, which are programs that provide programs provided by broadcasting stations. For example, a broadcasting station transmits a VHF (Very High Frequency: ultra high frequency (100 MHz band) via a terrestrial broadcasting tower. Terrestrial broadcasting (terrestrial analog) that broadcasts programs by supplying analog or digital signals containing content data to the receiving side in frequency bands such as) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency). Broadcasting or terrestrial digital broadcasting) or a broadcasting station that broadcasts a program by using a broadcasting artificial satellite (BS) to supply analog or digital signals containing content data to the receiving side. Broadcasting (BS analog broadcasting or BS digital broadcasting) is available. In addition to this, for example, there is a CS digital broadcast in which a broadcasting station broadcasts a program by using a communication satellite (CS) to supply a digital signal including content data to a receiving side. I do. In addition, broadcasting stations that use only wireless broadcasting services, such as cable television (CATV: Community Antenna Television), broadcast programs by supplying data, including content data, over a dedicated line. In addition, there is a cable broadcasting service.

[0049] As described above, since the types of signals used and the supply methods are different in each broadcasting service, different tuners are required to use these services. In each of these broadcasting services, a plurality of broadcasting stations broadcast programs using a plurality of channels. In order to receive a plurality of programs (channels) in one broadcasting service, a plurality of broadcasting stations are required. Need a tuner.

[0050] In such a broadcasting service, the program recording system 50 uses a plurality of hard disk recorders each having a tuner to provide a plurality of programs (a plurality of programs broadcast in one or a plurality of broadcasting services). This is a system that allows users to view recorded programs one at a time or at the same time after recording. [0051] The first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 record information such as content data including audio data and image data on a recording medium such as a hard disk, or record information (for example, This is a recording / playback device that plays back content data. The first hard disk recorder 51 has an antenna 61, receives a television signal or the like supplied from a broadcasting station (not shown) via the antenna 61, and incorporates content data included in the signal. Record on the hard disk. Similarly, the second hard disk recorder 52 has an antenna 62, receives a television signal or the like supplied from a broadcasting station (not shown) via the antenna 62, and converts content data included in the signal. Record on the internal hard disk. As will be described later, the third hard disk recorder 53 has two built-in tuners corresponding to television signals of different broadcasting services, and has two antennas 63 and antennas 64 corresponding to the respective tuners. . The third hard disk recorder 53 receives a television signal or the like supplied from a broadcast station (not shown) via the antenna 63 or the antenna 64, and records the content data included in the signal on a built-in hard disk.

[0052] The broadcast service (the broadcast service corresponding to the antennas 61 to 64) that can be received by the tuner incorporated in each of the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 is any broadcast service. It is also possible to make it possible to receive the same broadcast service, or to allow some or all of them to receive different broadcast services. Further, the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 (the tuners built in) are the powers described so as to receive the programs via the antennas 61 to 64, respectively. It may also be possible to receive a program provided by the user.

In the following, in order to simplify the description, for the sake of simplicity, the first hard disk recorder 51 (a tuner built in and corresponding to the antenna 61) and the second hard disk recorder 52 (a tuner corresponding to the built-in antenna 62) The tuner) and the third hard disk recorder 53 (the tuner corresponding to the antenna 63 incorporated therein) receive the terrestrial analog broadcast, and the third hard disk recorder 53 (the tuner corresponding to the antenna 64 incorporated therein). ) Is assumed to receive BS digital broadcasting. The first to third hard disk recorders 51 to 53 are further connected to each other via a network 54. The network 54 is a network using, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) (Ethernet (R)) or IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394, and is connected to each device via a concentrator (HUB). This is a local area network (LAN). The network 54 may be composed of a plurality of networks. For example, the network 54 may include a WAN (Wide Area Network) using the Internet or a dedicated line. In this case, each hard disk recorder is connected via a modem, a router, a repeater, or the like, as well as a hub. This network may be a wired network, and may be a wireless network using IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.lb, or IEEE802.lg, etc. There may be.

[0055] The first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 connected to each other as described above integrally manage reservation information on recording processing registered in each device as a whole, and use an optimal method using the entire system. To perform the recording process.

[0056] In the program recording system 50, as described later, one of the first hard disk recorders 51 to 53 functions as a master for controlling (managing) the reservation information, and is registered in each device. The collected reservation information is collected via the network 54, all the reservation information is organized, and the recording processing of the program recording system is performed so that the recording processing is performed by effectively using the resources (tuners, hard disks, etc.) of each device. Schedule the optimal recording process for all hard disk recorders and assign reservation information to each device. The master and the hard disk recorders (slaves) other than the master perform the recording process based on the assigned reservation information.

[0057] For example, if the reservation information for instructing to record different programs at the same time in one hard disk recorder is registered in the number of tuners or more, only the hard disk recorder uses the same reservation information as the reservation information. The master cannot allocate the recording process to other hard disk recorders in the reservation information because the recording process cannot be performed at the same time (the tuner is insufficient). If the number of tuners exceeds the number of tuners, organize the reservation information in such a way. [0058] In addition, when there are pieces of reservation information having duplicate contents in a plurality of hard disk recorders, the master combines the pieces of reservation information into one and uses the resources of the program recording system 50 (such as a hard disk and a hard disk). Organize reservation information for effective use.

[0059] Further, the master specifies a tuner necessary for the recording process of the program (that is, necessary for receiving the program), and assigns reservation information corresponding to the recording process to a hard disk recorder having the tuner. Select a hard disk recorder that has enough free space on the hard disk (it can record all programs) and assign reservation information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the first hard disk recorder 51 of FIG.

In FIG. 3, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 71 of the first hard disk recorder 51 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 72 and controls each unit in the apparatus. And so on. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 73 appropriately stores data, programs, and the like necessary for the CPU 71 to execute various processes.

[0062] The CPU 71, the ROM 72, and the RAM 73 are mutually connected via a bus 74. A drive 75 is connected to the bus 74 as necessary, and a removable media 76 for control information such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory is appropriately attached thereto, and a computer program read out from the medium is read. It is installed in a control information storage unit 92 of a storage unit 87 to be described later, as required.

The CPU 71 uses the program and data recorded in the ROM 72 or the program / data installed from the control information removable medium 76 and the like and loaded into the RAM 73 to store the first hard disk recorder 51. It controls each unit to perform program recording processing and recording processing reservation processing.

[0064] The bus 74 also includes an input unit 77 constituted by buttons, a jog dial, and the like, which receives an input from a user, a communication control unit 78, which controls a communication interface 79 for communicating with other devices, and a GUI ( A graphic processing controller 80 that performs graphic processing such as Graphical User Interface) is connected.

[0065] The input unit 77 includes a dedicated remote control (not shown) in addition to the buttons and the jog dial. It has an infrared receiver 77A, which is an interface for receiving the infrared signal supplied from the camera. The remote controller (not shown) is one of the user interfaces, and is provided with various control buttons and the like. This remote controller has an infrared transmission unit that outputs an infrared wireless signal (infrared signal), and uses the infrared signal to send a control signal corresponding to a button or the like operated by a user to the first hard disk. Supply to recorder 51. The infrared wireless communication between the remote controller and the first hard disk recorder 51 may be performed based on a standard such as, for example, IrDA (InfraRed Data Association). It may be performed using a dedicated protocol.

The communication control unit 78 controls communication with another device connected via the communication interface unit 79, for example, under the control of the CPU 71. The communication interface unit 79 has various communication terminals, such as Ethernet (R) and IEEE1394, and connects to other devices via dedicated cables to construct a network. Can be. For example, when the second hard disk recorder 52 or the third hard disk recorder 53 is connected via the Ethernet (R) terminal of the communication interface unit 79, the communication control unit 78 is controlled by the CPU 71 to control the TCP / It communicates with these other hard disk recorders using protocols such as IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), and transfers information supplied via the bus 74 to other hard disk recorders via a communication interface. It supplies the information supplied from other hard disk recorders to the CPU 71 via the bus 74.

The graphic processing controller 80 is controlled by the CPU 71 to create, for example, a GUI such as a menu screen or the like and character data to be superimposed on an image as image information, and supply it to the display control unit 86 via the bus 74. Thus, the image information is displayed on the monitor 112.

The first hard disk recorder 51 has a first tuner 81 that receives a terrestrial analog broadcast via the antenna 61. The first tuner 81 is connected to the bus 74, is controlled by the CPU 71, adjusts the channel (frequency) of the received television signal, receives the desired program, and supplies the received signal to the demodulation unit 82 I do.

[0069] The demodulation unit 82 is connected to the bus 74, is controlled by the CPU 71, and receives a signal from the first tuner 81. When the supplied signal is demodulated to extract a transport stream including content data and the like, the transport stream is supplied to the decoder 83. The decoder 83 is connected to the bus 74, is controlled by the CPU 71 via the bus 74, stores the transport stream supplied from the demodulation unit 82 in the content memory 84, and stores the transport stream. The stream is decoded and various data such as control data such as character data, audio data, and image data are extracted. For example, the decoder 83 supplies the extracted control data to the graphic processing controller 80 via the bus 74, supplies the extracted audio data to the audio data output control unit 85, and controls the display of the extracted image data. Or supply to part 86. Further, the decoder 83 supplies control data, audio data, image data, and the like extracted from the transport stream to the content storage unit 91 of the storage unit 87 via the bus 74 and stores them.

[0070] The audio data output control unit 85 controls the PCM (Pulse Code

The audio data coded by Modulation) is decoded, and the audio signal is supplied to a speaker 111 connected to the first hard disk recorder 51 and output. The display control unit 86 expands the image data compressed by the MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2) method or the like supplied from the decoder 83, and connects the image signal to the first hard disk recorder 51. It is supplied to the monitor 112 and displayed. The display control unit 86 is connected to the bus 74, and combines image information such as a GUI supplied from the graphic processing controller 80 via the bus 74 with image data supplied from the decoder 83, The data is supplied to the monitor 112 as one image data and displayed.

[0071] The storage unit 87 and the drive 88 are further connected to the bus 87. The storage unit 87 includes a recording medium such as a hard disk, and stores information supplied from each unit, or retrieves, reads, and supplies information requested by each unit. The storage area of the storage unit 87 includes a content storage unit 91 for storing content data such as image data and audio data, and a control information storage unit 92 for storing control data and the like. The drive 88 is connected to the bus 74 as necessary, and is connected to a removable medium 89 for content such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory, which is appropriately mounted. Record content data such as audio data The

In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the demodulation unit 82, decoder 83, content memory 84, audio data output unit 85, display control unit 86, storage unit 87, drive 88, and content Unless it is particularly necessary to separately describe the removable media 89 for use, they are collectively described as a content processing unit 100 that processes content. The internal configuration of the second hard disk recorder 52 is basically the same as the internal configuration example of the first hard disk recorder 51 shown in FIG.

Also, the internal configuration of the third hard disk recorder 53 is basically the same as that of the first hard disk recorder 51 shown in FIG. 3, and in the case of the third hard disk recorder 53, it is shown in FIG. As shown, in addition to the first tuner 81 for receiving terrestrial analog broadcasting via the antenna 63, a second tuner 121 for receiving BS digital broadcasting via the antenna 64 is provided. As in the case of the first tuner 81, the second tuner 121 receives the television signal and supplies the signal to the demodulation unit 122. The demodulation unit 122 also demodulates the BS digital broadcast television signal supplied from the second tuner 121, which is not only the terrestrial analog broadcast television signal supplied from the first tuner 81, and extracts the transport stream. I do. The demodulation unit 122 supplies the transport stream to the decoder 123, similarly to the demodulation unit 82 in FIG. The decoder 123 not only performs the same processing as the above-described decoder 83 on the transport stream of the terrestrial analog broadcast, but also performs the same processing on the transport stream of the BS digital broadcast as in the case of the terrestrial analog broadcast. Then, the extracted control data is supplied to the graphic processing controller 80 via the bus 74, the extracted audio data is supplied to the audio data output control unit 125, and the extracted image data is supplied to the display control unit 126. Or supply.

The audio data output control unit 125 decodes the audio data and supplies the audio signal to the speed 141 connected to the _third hard disk recorder ₅₃ , similarly to the audio data output control unit 85 in FIG. And output. The display control unit 126 supplies an image signal corresponding to the supplied image data to the monitor 142 connected to the third hard disk recorder 53 to display the image signal.

In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the demodulation unit 122, decoder 123, The contents memory 130, the audio data output unit 125, the display control unit 126, the storage unit 87, the drive 88, and the removable media 89 for contents, unless it is necessary to separately describe them separately. Will be described together.

A reservation control program 150 as shown in FIG. 5 is installed in the ROM 72 or the control information storage unit 92 of each hard disk recorder of the first to third hard disk recorders 51 to 53. By executing the reservation control program 150, the CPU 71 of the hard disk recorder performs the reservation processing as described with reference to FIG. 2 and controls the recording processing.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reservation control program 150 is a program for selecting which hard disk recorder is to be set as a master or which is to be set as a slave. This is executed when selected as a slave.The slave reservation control program 152, which is a program for controlling reservation processing as a slave, and is executed when selected as a master. It is configured by a master reservation control program 153 which is a program for performing control.

In the reservation control program 150 having such a configuration, each hard disk recorder

First, the CPU 71 executes the master / slave selection program 151 to determine which of the hard disk recorders connected to the same network is set as the master and which is set as the slave. For example, when the main power is turned on in a hard disk recorder for which master / slave settings have not been made, such as when a new hard disk recorder is installed, or when an instruction to reset the master / slave is input to the user. In some cases, for example, when executing the reservation control program 150, the CPU 71 executes the master / slave selection program 151 and, based on a user's instruction, determines whether each hard disk recorder connected to the same network has a master or a slave. Decide which should be set or not set. In a normal case, for example, when the main power of a hard disk recorder for which a master / slave setting has already been made is turned on, the CPU 71 executes the reservation control program 150 in accordance with the setting. Then, the slave reservation control program 152 or the master reservation control program 153 is executed. As described above, the master / slave selection program 151 is executed even when the master / slave setting has already been made, such as when the user instructs resetting. Sometimes. For example, when adding a new hard disk recorder to the existing program recording system 50, the user turns on the main power of the newly added hard disk recorder (unset hard disk recorder) and sets the master Z slave selection program 15 1 May be executed, or the existing hard disk recorder (set hard disk recorder) may be instructed to reconfigure, and the master / slave selection program 151 may be executed to set the newly added unconfigured hard disk recorder. May go.

[0080] In one program recording system 50, the user can set only one hard disk recorder among multiple hard disk recorders as a master, and the other hard disk recorders are set as slaves. You. In other words, the program recording system 50 includes one master and slaves managed by the master. Note that a plurality of hard disk recorders connected to one network 54 may constitute a plurality of program recording systems (that is, a plurality of masters exist). In that case, each hard disk recorder set as the slave is set to belong to any one of the multiple hard disk recorders set as the master

As described above, for example, when the main power is turned on in an unconfigured hard disk recorder or when a reset is instructed by the user, the CPU 71 executes the master / slave selection program, Performs master / slave selection processing. The master / slave selection process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Here, the case where the CPU 71 of the first hard disk 51 executes the master / slave selection processing will be described.

First, in step S1, the CPU 71 of the first hard disk recorder 51 controls the communication control unit 78, and the other hard disk recorders connected to the network 54 to which the first hard disk recorder 51 is connected (see FIG. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 2, the second hard disk recorder 52 and the third hard disk recorder 53) are searched to acquire the information. Upon acquiring the information on the search result, the CPU 71 proceeds to step S2, and acquires the acquired information. Based on the information, for example, information about another hard disk recorder such as a master / slave setting of another hard disk recorder is created, and the process proceeds to step S3.

[0083] In step S3, the CPU 71 determines whether or not another hard disk recorder exists based on the created information on the other hard disk recorder. If it is determined that another hard disk recorder exists, the CPU 71 advances the process to step S4, controls the graphic processing controller 80 to create a selection GUI, and sends the created selection GUI to the display control unit 86. It is controlled and supplied to the monitor 112 for display. When the process in step S4 ends, the CPU 71 advances the process to step S5, controls the input unit 77, and starts accepting an input (master / slave setting instruction) by the user. The CPU 71 that has started accepting the input advances the process to step S6.

[0084] In step S6, the CPU 71 determines whether or not a master setting instruction from the user has been received. When the user operates the input unit 77 to designate a hard disk recorder, inputs an instruction to set the hard disk recorder as a master (master setting instruction), and determines that the master setting instruction has been accepted, the CPU 71 proceeds to step S7. The process proceeds to and the specified hard disk recorder is set as the master. Then, the CPU 71 proceeds to step S8, controls the hard disk recorder set as the master, initializes the reservation control program 150 installed in the hard disk recorder, and uses the master program of the reservation control program 150 for the master. The reservation control program 153 is executed. When the process in step S8 is completed, the CPU 71 updates information on the other hard disk recorders created in the process in step S2 in step S9, and proceeds to step S11 in FIG.

If it is determined in step S6 of FIG. 6 that the master setting instruction has not been received, the CPU 71 skips the processing of steps S7 to S9 and proceeds to step S11 of FIG.

[0086] In step S11 of Fig. 7, the CPU 71 determines whether or not a slave setting instruction from the user has been received. When the user operates the input unit 77 to designate a hard disk recorder, inputs an instruction to set the hard disk recorder as a slave (slave setting instruction), and determines that the slave setting instruction has been accepted, the CPU 71 proceeds to step S To 12 Proceeds and sets the specified hard disk recorder as a slave. Then, the CPU 71 proceeds to step S13, controls the hard disk recorder set as the slave, initializes the reservation control program 150 installed in the hard disk recorder, and sets the slave control program 150 The reservation control program 152 is executed. When the processing in step S13 is completed, the CPU 71 updates the information on the other hard disk recorder created in the processing in step S2 in FIG. 6 in step S14, and proceeds to step S15.

[0087] If it is determined in step S11 that the slave setting instruction has not been received, the CPU 71 skips the processing of steps S12 to S14 and proceeds to step S15.

[0088] In step S15, the CPU 71 determines whether or not to end the master / slave selection process, and if not, returns the process to step S6 in Fig. 6 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S15 that the master / slave selection process is to be terminated based on a user instruction or the like, the CPU 71 terminates the input reception or the selection GUI display in step S16. Etc., and terminate the master / slave selection processing.

[0089] If it is determined in step S3 in Fig. 6 that there is no other hard disk recorder connected to the network 54, the CPU 71 proceeds to step S17 in Fig. 7 and sends an error message to the monitor 112. After performing error processing such as displaying, the process returns to step S16 to perform termination processing, and terminates the master / slave selection processing.

As described above, the CPU 71 executes a master / slave selection process. Thereby, the CPU 71 can set the hard disk recorder in the program recording system 50 as a master or a slave, and can perform processing relating to reservation of recording processing as described later. Even in the case of using a reproducing apparatus, it is possible to easily and flexibly cope with the situation, to record information obtained from outside, and to reproduce the recorded information.

[0091] Also in the second hard disk recorder 52 or the third hard disk recorder 53, the master Z slave selection process is described with reference to the flowcharts of Figs. This is performed in the same manner as in the case of the first hard disk recorder 51 as described above.

[0092] In the following, for the sake of simplicity of description, the above-described master / slave selection processing is executed, whereby first hard disk recorder 51 is set as a master, and second hard disk recorder 52 and The case where the third hard disk recorder 53 is set as a slave will be described. Of course, the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 can be set as any of a master and a slave.

[0093] When the master is selected as described above, the CPU 71 of the first hard disk recorder 51 executes the master reservation control program 153 as described above, and performs the function relating to the reservation of the recording processing as shown in FIG. Is provided.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing functions relating to reservation of recording processing of the first hard disk recorder 51 set as a master.

In FIG. 8, the CPU 71 extracts the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data, which is a program schedule, from the television signal received by the tuner control unit 161 that controls the first tuner 81. EPG extraction unit 162, schedule management unit 163 that retains the EPG data and manages the broadcast schedule of the program, and program reservation candidates that create recording reservation candidates that are information on reservations (recording reservations) for program recording processing. A manual reservation candidate reception control unit 165 that controls the reception of recording reservation candidates (manual reservation candidates) by a user operation input via the creation unit 164 and the input unit 77, and a user input via the input unit 77. Information reception control unit 166, which controls the reception of the preference information regarding the recording process by the user, the preference information for managing the preference information regarding the recording process based on the input preference information and the like. A program created on another hard disk recorder via the program reservation information creation unit 168 and the communication control unit 78 that creates information (program reservation information) related to the recording process of the program based on the program reservation candidate. Device information requesting unit 170 for requesting information (device information) related to devices of other hard disk recorders via program reservation candidate requesting unit 169 and communication control unit 78 for requesting reservation candidate, program supplied based on the request A program reservation candidate acquisition control unit 171 that controls the acquisition of reservation candidates, a device information acquisition control unit 172 that controls the acquisition of device information supplied based on requests, and controls the supply of program reservation information to other hard disk recorders Program reservation information supply control unit 1 73, a program reservation information management unit 174 that manages program reservation information for the first hard disk recorder 51, and a recording process control that is controlled by the program reservation information management unit 174, controls the content processing unit 100, and executes a recording process. It has various functions such as section 175.

[0096] In such a CPU 71, the tuner control section 161 controls the first tuner 81 based on, for example, a user input or the like to adjust the frequency of a signal received via the antenna 61, and Receive the signal containing the EPG data of the desired channel. EPG extraction section 162 extracts EPG data from the signal and causes schedule management section 163 to hold the EPG data.

[0097] When the user operates the input unit 77 to input information related to the reservation of the recording process of the program, the manual reservation candidate reception control unit 165 supplies the information (manual reservation candidate) to the program reservation candidate creation unit 164. I do. The program reservation candidate creation section 164 creates a program reservation candidate based on the manual reservation candidate.

When the user operates the input unit 77 to input, for example, preference information regarding reservation of a recording process of a program, such as a recorded video, a program genre, and a keyword of a program name, the preference information reception control unit 166 supplies the information (preference information) to the preference information management unit 167. The preference information management unit 167 supplies the preference information based on the request of the program reservation candidate creation unit 164. Based on the preference information supplied from the preference information management section 167, the program reservation candidate creation section 164 selects a program corresponding to the preference information from the programs included in the EPG data stored in the schedule management section 163. And if it exists, create a reservation candidate for that program. The program reservation candidate creation unit 164 supplies the program reservation candidate created in this way to the program reservation information creation unit 168.

[0099] The program reservation candidate requesting unit 169 is controlled by the program reservation information creating unit 168, and requests the created program reservation candidate to each hard disk recorder via the communication control unit 78. Further, the device information requesting unit 170 is controlled by the program reservation information creating unit 168, and requests information on the device (hardware) to each hard disk recorder via the communication control unit 78.

[0100] Based on the request of the program reservation candidate requesting unit 169, the program reservation candidate is provided to the communication control unit 78. When supplied, the program reservation candidate acquisition control unit 171 acquires the program reservation candidate and supplies it to the program reservation information creation unit 168. Further, when the device information is supplied to the communication control unit 78 based on the request of the device information request unit 170, the device information acquisition control unit 172 acquires the device information and sends it to the program reservation information creation unit 168. Supply.

[0101] The program reservation information creation unit 168 creates program reservation information for controlling the recording process of a program based on these information, and then, corresponds to another hard disk recorder among the created program reservation information. The program reservation information is supplied to the program reservation information supply control unit 173. The program reservation information supply control unit 173 that has acquired the program reservation information controls the communication control unit 78 to supply the acquired program reservation information to each hard disk recorder corresponding to the program reservation information. Further, the program reservation information creating section 168 supplies the program reservation information corresponding to the hard disk recorder among the created program reservation information to the program reservation information management section 174 to be managed.

[0102] The program reservation information management unit 174 manages the schedule of the recording process based on the acquired program reservation information. Then, when the time to start the recording process comes, the first tuner 81 is controlled via the tuner control unit 161 to receive a signal (terrestrial analog signal) including the program to be recorded, and the recording control unit 175 Then, the content processing unit 100 is controlled, and the received program is stored in the storage unit 87.

[0103] As described above, the first hard disk recorder 51 set as the master includes the second hard disk recorder 52 set as the slave that is not limited to the program reservation candidates created by the program reservation candidate creation unit 164. The program reservation candidate created in the third hard disk recorder 53 is obtained, and program reservation information for controlling the recording process of the program is created based on all the program reservation candidates.

By doing so, the first hard disk recorder 51 performs a reservation process in cooperation with the second hard disk recorder 52 and the third hard disk recorder 53 as slaves, and the entire program recording system 50 It is possible to make a reservation for the recording process by using this. As a result, the first hard disk recorder 51 can easily and flexibly cope with a case where a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are used, record information acquired from outside, or reproduce the recorded information. be able to. The first hard disk recorder 51 acquires device information that is information on hardware of the second hard disk recorder 52 and the third hard disk recorder 53. By doing so, the first hard disk recorder 51 sets a recording process schedule based on the acquired device information in an appropriate manner so as to effectively use the resources of the program recording system 50, and reserves the recording. Information can be created. Thus, even when a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are used, the first hard disk recorder 51 can more easily and flexibly deal with the problem, and can record information obtained from outside or reproduce the recorded information. Power S can.

Next, the second hard disk recorder 52 selected as a slave will be described. Note that parts corresponding to FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The CPU 71 of the second hard disk recorder 52 set as the slave by the processing of FIGS. 6 and 7 executes the slave reservation control program 152 as described above and has a function related to the reservation of the recording processing as shown in FIG. .

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing functions relating to reservation of recording processing of the second hard disk recorder 52 set as a slave.

The main differences between the slave shown in FIG. 9 and the master shown in FIG. 8 are, for example, the program reservation information creating unit 168 and the program reservation candidate requesting unit 1 in FIG. 69, the device information requesting unit 170, the program reservation candidate acquisition control unit 171, the device information acquisition control unit 172, and the program reservation information supply control unit 173 do not exist, and instead, the program reservation candidate request acquisition control unit 181 does not exist. A program reservation candidate supply control unit 182, a program reservation information acquisition control unit 183, a device information request acquisition control unit 184, a device information management unit 185, and a device information supply control unit 186.

In FIG. 9, slave program reservation candidate creation section 164 holds the created program reservation candidates. Upon acquiring the program reservation candidate request supplied from the master via the communication control unit 78, the program reservation candidate request acquisition control unit 181 supplies the request to the program reservation candidate creation unit 164. Upon acquiring the request, the program reservation candidate creation unit 164 supplies the held program reservation candidate to the program reservation candidate supply control unit 182. The program reservation candidate supply control unit 182 is a master of the requested program reservation candidate via the communication control unit 78 (requested). Source) to the first hard disk recorder 51.

When the program reservation information acquisition control unit 183 acquires the program reservation information via the communication control unit 78, it supplies the acquired program reservation information to the program reservation information management unit 174. The program reservation information management unit 174 manages the recording process schedule based on the supplied program reservation information, as in the case of the master shown in FIG.

When acquiring the device information request via the communication control unit 78, the device information request acquisition unit 184 supplies the acquired device information request to the device information management unit 185. The device information management unit 185 manages information about the hardware (device information), and supplies device information to the device information supply control unit 186 based on the supplied request. The device information supply control unit 186 supplies the device information to the first hard disk recorder 51, which is the master (request source), via the communication control unit 78.

[0112] Note that the function of the third hard disk recorder 53 set as the slave for the reservation of the recording process is also the same as that of the second hard disk recorder 52 shown in Fig. 9, and the functional block shown in Fig. 9 Since the drawings can be applied, the description thereof is omitted.

[0113] By doing so, the second hard disk recorder 52 and the third hard disk recorder 53 make a reservation for the recording process in cooperation with the first hard disk recorder 51 which is the master, and use the entire program recording system 50. To make a reservation for the recording process. As a result, the second hard disk recorder 52 and the third hard disk recorder 53 can easily and flexibly cope with a case where a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are used, record information obtained from outside, and record the information. Information can be reproduced.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10, a recording reservation process by the program recording system 50 (by the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53) will be described.

First, in step S 31, the program reservation candidate creation unit 164 of the first hard disk recorder 51 performs a reservation candidate creation process, and specifies a recorded program by the user supplied from the manual reservation candidate reception control unit 165. In addition, a reservation candidate is created based on preset preference information supplied from the preference information management unit 167 and the EPG stored in the schedule management unit 163. Similarly, the program reservation candidate work of the second hard disk recorder 52 In step S51, the component unit 164 performs a reservation candidate creation process to create a reservation candidate. Similarly, the program reservation candidate creation section 164 of the third hard disk recorder 53 performs a reservation candidate creation process in step S71 to create a reservation candidate. These processes are performed independently of each other.

[0116] Then, the program reservation candidate requesting unit 169 of the first hard disk recorder 51, which is the master, advances the process to step S32 when a predetermined timing is reached or when instructed by the user, and proceeds to step S32. A request for a program reservation is made to the third hard disk recorder 53 as a slave via 78. At this time, the device information requesting unit 170 similarly requests device information from the third hard disk recorder 53 as a slave via the traffic line control unit 78.

[0117] Also, the program reservation candidate requesting unit 169 of the first hard disk recorder 51, which is the master, similarly sends the second hard disk recorder 52, which is the slave, via the line control unit 78 in step S33. Request a program reservation candidate. At this time, the device information requesting unit 170 similarly requests device information from the second hard disk recorder 52, which is a slave, via the line control unit 78.

When the program reservation candidate request acquisition control section 181 of the second hard disk recorder 52 acquires the program reservation candidate request supplied from the first hard disk recorder 51 in step S52, the program reservation candidate creation Supply to section 164. The program reservation candidate creation unit 164 searches for the program reservation candidate corresponding to the request from the held program reservation candidates, and supplies the program reservation candidate to the program reservation candidate supply control unit 182 if it exists. I do. The program reservation candidate supply control unit 182 supplied with the program reservation candidate supplies the request to the first hard disk recorder 51 via the communication control unit 78 in step S53.

At this time, when the device information request acquisition control unit 184 of the second hard disk recorder 52 acquires the device information request supplied together with the program reservation candidate request from the first hard disk recorder 51, the request is transmitted to the device The information is supplied to the information management unit 185. The device information management unit 185 supplies the managed device information (information on the hardware of the second hard disk recorder 52) to the device information supply control unit ₁₈₆ based on the request. Device information The device information supply control unit 186 supplied with the first hard disk recorder 51 as the request source via the communication control unit 78 simultaneously with the program reservation candidate supply control unit 182 supplying the program reservation candidate. To supply.

At this time, the communication control unit 78 adds the device information supplied from the device information supply control unit 186 to the program reservation candidate supplied from the program reservation candidate supply control unit 182, and 1 Supply to the hard disk recorder 51.

[0121] In step S34, the program reservation candidate acquisition control unit 171 of the first hard disk recorder 51 controls the communication control unit 78 to acquire the program reservation candidate and supplies it to the program reservation information creation unit 168. I do. Similarly, the device information acquisition control unit 172 of the first hard disk recorder 51 controls the communication control unit 78 to output the device information (device information of the hard disk recorder that supplied the program reservation candidate). ) Is obtained and supplied to the program reservation information creation unit 168.

[0122] Also, in step S72, the program reservation candidate request acquisition control unit 181 of the third hard disk recorder 53 acquires the program reservation candidate request supplied from the first hard disk recorder 51, This is supplied to the reservation candidate creating section 164. The program reservation candidate creation unit 164 searches for the program reservation candidate corresponding to the request from the held program reservation candidates, and supplies the program reservation candidate to the program reservation candidate supply control unit 182 if it exists. I do. The program reservation candidate supply control unit 182 supplied with the program reservation candidate supplies the request to the first hard disk recorder 51 via the communication control unit 78 in step S73.

At this time, when the device information request acquisition control unit 184 of the third hard disk recorder 53 acquires the device information request supplied together with the program reservation candidate request from the first hard disk recorder 51, the device information request The information is supplied to the information management unit 185. The device information management unit 185 supplies the managed device information (information on the hardware of the third hard disk recorder 53) to the device information supply control unit 186 based on the request. The device information supply control unit 186 supplied with the device information sends the first hard disk as the request source via the communication control unit 78 at the same time as the program reservation candidate supply control unit 182 supplies the program reservation candidate. Supply to recorder 51. At this time, the communication control unit 78 adds the device information supplied from the device information supply control unit 186 to the program reservation candidate supplied from the program reservation candidate supply control unit 182, and 1 Supply to the hard disk recorder 51.

[0125] In step S35, the program reservation candidate acquisition control unit 171 of the first hard disk recorder 51 controls the communication control unit 78 to acquire the program reservation candidate and supplies it to the program reservation information creation unit 168. I do. Similarly, the device information acquisition control unit 172 of the first hard disk recorder 51 controls the communication control unit 78 to output the device information (device information of the hard disk recorder that supplied the program reservation candidate). ) Is obtained and supplied to the program reservation information creation unit 168.

[0126] In step S36, the program reservation information creation unit 168 of the first hard disk recorder 51 that has acquired the program reservation candidates and the device information from the slaves performs the program reservation based on the acquired program reservation candidates and the device information. Create information.

[0127] When the creation of the program reservation information is completed, the program reservation information creation section 168 of the first hard disk recorder 51 supplies the program reservation information for the third hard disk recorder 53 from the created program reservation information. This is supplied to the control unit 173. In step S37, the program reservation information supply control unit 173 supplies the acquired program reservation information for the third hard disk recorder 53 to the third hard disk recorder 53 via the communication control unit 78. Similarly, the program reservation information creation unit 168 of the first hard disk recorder 51 supplies the program reservation information for the second hard disk recorder 52 to the program reservation information supply control unit 173 among the created program reservation information, and The information supply control unit 173 supplies the acquired program reservation information for the second hard disk recorder 52 to the second hard disk recorder 52 via the communication control unit 78 in step S38.

At this time, the program reservation information creation unit 168 of the first hard disk recorder 51 supplies the program reservation information for the first hard disk recorder 51 to the program reservation information management unit 174 among the created program reservation information. I do. The program reservation information management unit 174 supplied with the program reservation information for the first hard disk recorder 51 executes the program reservation management process in step S39, and manages and controls the recording process schedule based on the program reservation information. You. In this way, the processing of the program reservation information for all the first hard disk recorders 51 is completed. Upon completion, the first hard disk recorder 51 ends the recording reservation process.

[0129] Also, the program reservation information acquisition control unit 183 of the second hard disk recorder 52 communicates the program reservation information for the second hard disk recorder 52 supplied from the first hard disk recorder 51 in step S38, in step S54. When the program reservation information is obtained via the control unit 78, the program reservation information is supplied to the program reservation information management unit 174. The program reservation information management unit 174 supplied with the program reservation information for the second hard disk recorder 52 executes the program reservation management process in step S55, manages the schedule of the recording process based on the program reservation information, Control. Thus, when the processing of the program reservation information for all the second hard disk recorders 52 is completed, the second hard disk recorder 52 ends the recording reservation processing.

[0130] Similarly, the program reservation information acquisition control unit 183 of the third hard disk recorder 53 transmits the program reservation information for the third hard disk recorder 53 supplied from the first hard disk recorder 51 in step S37 to step S574. Then, when the program reservation information is acquired via the communication control unit 78, the program reservation information is supplied to the program reservation information management unit 174. The program reservation information management unit 174 supplied with the program reservation information for the third hard disk recorder 53 executes the program reservation management process in step S75, and manages the schedule of the recording process based on the program reservation information. ,Control. When the processing of the program reservation information for all the third hard disk recorders 53 is completed in this way, the third hard disk recorder 53 ends the recording reservation processing.

By doing so, the first hard disk recorder 51 through the third hard disk recorder 53 make reservations for recording processing in cooperation with each other, and make reservations for recording processing using the entire program recording system 50. It can be performed. As a result, the first hard disk recorder 51 to the _third hard disk recorder ₅₃ can easily and flexibly cope with a case where a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are used, record information acquired from outside, and record the recorded information. You can play.

[0132] Next, the program reservation information creation processing executed by the CPU 71 of the first hard disk recorder 51, which is the master, when creating program reservation information will be described with reference to Figs. This process corresponds to step S36 in FIG. Also, if necessary, This will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0133] In step S91, the program reservation information creation unit 168 of the first hard disk recorder 51 that has acquired the program reservation candidates from each hard disk recorder sorts (organizes) the plurality of acquired program reservation candidates based on the contents thereof. Create a program reservation candidate list.

[0134] The program reservation information creation unit 168 may, for example, determine a date, a time, a reservation method, a tuner restriction by a broadcasting service of a program to be recorded, or a hard disk capacity required for recording. Priorities are set to the reservation candidates, and the reservation candidates are sorted in the order of priority, for example, by arranging in order of the physical value with the highest priority value.

[0135] At this time, if there are reservation candidates in which the program to be recorded overlaps (when there are a plurality of reservation candidates for reserving the recording process of the same program), the program reservation information creation unit 168 sets the Processing such as combining reservation candidates into one (leaving only one of the plurality of reservation candidates and deleting others) is performed.

[0136] For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the program reservation information creating unit 168 receives the reservation candidate group 1911 from the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53, as shown in FIG. To get 3.

In the reservation candidate group 191-1 of FIG. 13, the reservation candidates are indicated by rows, for example, as the reservation candidates 201, and the content (item) of the reservation candidate is “month” indicating the date on which the recording process is performed. "Date", "Time" indicating the time to perform the recording process, "Channel" of the program to be recorded, "Image quality" to specify the image quality when recording, and "Tuner" to specify the tuner to use for the recording process And the like. For example, in the case of the reservation candidate 201, "3/25" is indicated in the item of "month and day", "8:00-9:00" is indicated in the item of "time", and " The item “Channel” indicates “1CH”, the item “Image quality” indicates “^”, and the item “Tuner” indicates “No designation”. In this case, the reservation candidate 201 reserves to record a program broadcast on channel number 1 between 8:00 and 9:00 on March 25 with SP (standard) image quality using any tuner. This is a candidate for reservation. Note that the reservation candidate groups 191-2 and 191-3 are also the same as the reservation candidate group 191-1, and a description thereof will be omitted. In such a case, for example, the program reservation information creating section 168 sets the reservation candidates 201 of the reservation candidate group 1911 set in the first hard disk recorder 51 and the reservation candidates 201 set in the second hard disk recorder 52. Since the programs to be recorded overlap with the reservation candidate 221 of the reservation candidate group 191-2, the reservation candidate 221 is deleted and only the reservation candidate 201 is left. Similarly, since the reservation candidate 222 of the reservation candidate group 191-2 and the reservation candidate 231 of the reservation candidate group 191-3 set in the third hard disk recorder 53 overlap the programs to be recorded, The candidate 231 is deleted, and only the reservation candidate 222 is left.

Next, the program reservation information creating section 168 refers to the items “date” and “time 1J” of the remaining reservation candidates, for example, and arranges them in order from the earliest one and the earlier one. Then, the program reservation information creating section 168 refers to the item “tuner” of the plurality of reservation candidates having the same time, and sorts those having the designation of the tuner to be used in the higher order. At this time, when there are a plurality of reservation candidates specifying a tuner, the program reservation information creation unit 168 changes the priority value set by the specified tuner.

When “date” and “time” overlap and there are a plurality of reservation candidates for which no tuner is used, the program reservation information creation unit 168 refers to, for example, the item of “channel”, The reservation candidates are arranged in ascending order of value.

In the example of FIG. 13, the program reservation information creation unit 168 determines that the reservation candidate 222 and the reservation candidate 223 of the reservation candidate group 191-2 have the earliest time for performing the recording process and the tuner used for recording is Since "2" (the first tuner 81 of the second hard disk recorder 52) or "3_2" (the second tuner 121 of the third hard disk recorder 53), these priorities are set higher and the reservation candidates 222 Is set (sorted) as the reservation candidate 241 on the first line from the top of the reservation candidate list, and the reservation candidate 223 is set (sorted) as the reservation candidate 242 on the second line from the top of the reservation candidate list.

[0142] In addition, the program reservation information creation unit 168 determines that the reservation candidate 201 of the reservation candidate group 191-1 has the earliest time for performing the recording process and among the reservation candidates with no tuner designation, Since the value is the smallest, the reservation candidate 201 is set (sorted) as the reservation candidate 243 on the third line from the top of the reservation candidate list, and then the reservation candidate group 191-3 of the reservation candidate group 191-3 with the next smallest channel value 232 Is set (sorted) as reservation candidate 244 on the fourth line from the top of the reservation candidate list. ing.

[0143] Then, the program reservation information creation unit 168 sets the reservation candidate 233 of the reservation candidate group 191-3 in which the recording processing is to be performed next, as the reservation candidate 245 on the fifth line from the top of the reservation candidate list. (Sort), and the reservation candidate 234 of the reservation candidate group 191-3 which is the latest in performing the recording process is set (sorted) as the reservation candidate 246 in the bottom line of the reservation candidate list.

As described above, in step S91, the program reservation information creating unit 168 sorts (organizes) the plurality of acquired program reservation candidates based on the contents thereof, and creates a program reservation candidate list.

[0145] In step S92, the program reservation information creation unit 168 that has created the program reservation candidate list sorts (organizes) the plurality of pieces of acquired device information based on the contents, and creates a device information list.

[0146] The program reservation information creating unit 168 sorts the device information based on, for example, a device number assigned to each hard disk recorder in advance.

[0147] For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the program reservation information creating unit 168 generates the device information 211-1 to the reservation candidate group 211-3 from the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53, respectively. get.

[0148] For example, the device information 211-1 indicates, as the content (item) of the information, the free space of the hard disk incorporated in the hard disk recorder (that is, the free space of the content storage unit 91 of the storage unit 87). "Free space", "number of tuners" indicating the number of tuners in the hard disk recorder, and "received signal type" indicating the type of broadcast service that can be received (that is, the type of received signal that can be received by the tuner) And other items are included. For example, in the case of the device information 211-1 of the first hard disk recorder 51, "30 GB" is indicated in the item of "free space", and "1" is indicated in the item of the number of tuners. The item “Received signal type” indicates “terrestrial wave” indicating terrestrial analog broadcast. In this case, the device information 211-1 indicates that the free space of the built-in hard disk is 30 GB (gigabyte), the number of built-in tuners is one (only the first tuner 81), and the tuner can receive It has been shown that the broadcast service is terrestrial analog broadcasting. Note that the device information 211-2 and 211-3 are the same as in the case of the device information 211-1. The description is omitted.

In such a case, for example, the program reservation information creating unit 168 sets the device number of the first hard disk recorder 51 to “1”, sets the device number of the second hard disk recorder 52 to “2”, Assuming that the device number of the hard disk recorder 53 is "3", the device information 211-1-1 through 211-3 are sorted by the device number, and a device information list 250 as shown in FIG. 13 is created. . In the device information list 250, the device information 211-1 is sorted as the device information 251 on the first line from the top, and the device information 211-2 is sorted as the device information 252 on the second line from the top. 3 is sorted as the device information 253 on the third line from the top.

[0150] As described above, in step S92, the program reservation information creating unit 168 sorts (arranges) the plurality of pieces of acquired device information based on, for example, device numbers and the like, and creates a device information list.

When the process of step S92 is completed, the program reservation information creation unit 168 starts creating program reservation information using the created reservation candidate list and device information list.

[0152] The program reservation information creation unit 168 that has completed the processing in step S92 proceeds to step S93, and sets the value of the variable N for selecting a reservation candidate in the program reservation candidate list 240 to "1". Then, the process proceeds to step S94. In step S94, the program reservation information creation unit 168 reads, for example, the Nth program reservation candidate from the top from the program reservation candidate list 240 as a processing target, and proceeds to step S95. In step S95, the program reservation information creation unit 168 confirms the tuner corresponding to the read program reservation candidate. That is, the program reservation information creation unit 168 specifies the type of tuner that can receive the program specified by the program reservation candidate based on the read information on the channel of the program reservation candidate and the like, and The hard disk recorder having the tuner is specified by reference. Then, the program reservation information creating section 168 refers to the already created reservation information and confirms the use status (scheduled use) of the tuner at the scheduled recording time. If there are a plurality of recordable tuners, the program reservation information creation unit 168 checks all of them.

[0153] When the use schedule (availability) of the tuner is confirmed as described above, the program reservation information In step S96, the component unit 168 selects a tuner corresponding to the program reservation candidate, that is, a tuner capable of recording the program specified by the program reservation candidate (the program can receive the program specified by the program reservation candidate, and It is determined whether there is a tuner that is not scheduled to be used at the scheduled recording time.

[0154] As a result of the confirmation in step S95, if it is determined that there is a tuner corresponding to the program reservation candidate, the program reservation information creation unit 168 advances the process to step S97, and the tuner corresponding to the program reservation candidate is determined. It is determined whether or not a plurality exists. If there are a plurality of tuners, the program reservation information creating section 168 proceeds to step S98, refers to the device information, and, among the hard disk recorders having the tuners, the hard disk recorder having the largest available free space. Search for a tuner.

[0155] Then, when the search is completed, the program reservation information creating unit 168, in step S99, uses the searched tuner of the hard disk recorder having the hard disk having the largest free space in the recording process corresponding to the program reservation candidate. It is decided to use it, and the process proceeds to step S101 in FIG.

If it is determined in step S97 that there is only one tuner corresponding to the program reservation candidate and that there are not a plurality of tuners, the program reservation information creation unit 168 omits the processing of step S98 and proceeds to step S99. It is determined that one tuner is to be used for the recording process corresponding to the program reservation candidate, and the process proceeds to step S101 in FIG.

[0157] As described above, the tuner to be used for each reservation candidate is determined. However, there may be a case where the hard disk built in the hard disk recorder using the tuner has insufficient free space. Therefore, by the following processing, the program can be stored on the hard disk of the hard disk recorder different from the tuner used for the recording processing.

In step S101 in FIG. 12, the program reservation information creation unit 168 estimates and calculates the amount of data required for recording with reference to the items “time stamp 1” and “image quality” of the program reservation candidates. Then, the program reservation information creating unit 168 advances the process to step S102, and based on the device information, stores the program in the hard disk of the tuner hard disk recorder used for the recording process. It is determined whether the program can be stored. If it is determined that the free space capacity S of the hard disk of the tuner hard disk recorder used for the recording process is insufficient to store the program and that the program cannot be stored, the program reservation information creation unit 168 proceeds to step S103. The process proceeds, and it is determined by referring to the device information list whether or not a storage unit capable of storing the program exists in another hard disk recorder. If it is determined that the free space is sufficient for recording and that there is a storage unit capable of storing the program, the program reservation information creating unit 168 proceeds to step S104, and stores the program in the storage unit. Is determined to be the storage unit having the largest free space among the storage units that can store, and the process proceeds to step S105.

[0159] Also, in step S102, if it is determined that the program has enough free space on the hard disk of the hard disk recorder of the tuner to be used for the recording process and that the program can be stored, The reservation information creation unit 168 omits the processing of step S103 and step S104, and proceeds to step S105.

[0160] In step S105, the program reservation information creating unit 168 updates the device information based on the above determination, and reduces the free space of the hard disk determined to be used by the estimated usage calculated in step S101. Then, the process proceeds to step S106, program reservation information is created based on the above determination, and the process proceeds to step S108.

[0161] Further, when it is determined in step S96 of FIG. 11 that there is no tuner corresponding to the program reservation candidate, or in step S103 of FIG. If it is determined that the program does not exist in the hard disk recorder constituting the program, the program reservation information creation unit 168 proceeds to step S107, performs error processing, stops processing for this reservation candidate, and proceeds to step S108. Proceed with the process.

[0162] As described above, the program reservation information creation unit 168 performs processing on one program reservation candidate included in the reservation candidate list 240, determines a tuner, a hard disk, and the like to be used. Is created, and a reservation information list as shown in FIG. 14 is created.

In FIG. 14, a reservation information list 260 is a list of program reservation information created based on the program reservation candidates and the device information 250 included in the reservation candidate list 240. In the reservation information list 260, the program reservation information is indicated in each line as in the program reservation information 261 to the program reservation information 266. In FIG. 14, program reservation information 261 to program reservation information 266 are , Are program reservation information corresponding to the program reservation candidates 241 to 246, respectively. The tuners not specified in the program reservation candidates 243 to 246 are also specified in the program reservation candidates 263 to 266 as described above.

[0164] Then, in step S108, the program reservation information creation unit 168 determines whether or not the value of the variable N is the maximum value, that is, for all the program reservation candidates included in the reservation candidate list 240, If the variable N is not the maximum value, that is, if it is determined that there is an unprocessed program reservation candidate, the process proceeds to step S109. Then, the value of the variable N is incremented by "1" (increase in calories), the process returns to step S94 in FIG. 11, and the subsequent processes are repeated. That is, the program reservation information creation unit 168 starts processing for the next program reservation candidate.

[0165] As described above, the program reservation information creation processing is performed for each program reservation candidate. If it is determined in step S108 that processing has been performed for all program reservation candidates, the program reservation is performed. The information creating unit 168 advances the process to step S110, performs an end process, and ends the program reservation information creating process.

As described above, since the program reservation information is created, the first hard disk recorder 51 can make a reservation for the recording process by using the entire program recording system 50. As a result, the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 can easily and flexibly cope with a case where a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are used, and can record information obtained from outside or record the information. Information can be reproduced.

[0167] In step S37 and step S38 in Fig. 10, the program reservation information created as described above is transmitted to the hard disk recorder corresponding to the program reservation information via the network 54 as shown in Fig. 15. Supplied.

[0168] In Fig. 15, the reservation information list 260 is divided into a first hard disk recorder reservation information list 270, a second hard disk recorder reservation information list 280, and a third hard disk recorder reservation information list 290. , The first hard disk recorder 51, the second hard disk recorder 52, or the third hard disk recorder 53.

[0169] The supply destination of the program reservation information is determined by the tuner used in the recording process. Is done. That is, the program reservation information 271 included in the first hard disk recorder reservation information list 270 corresponds to the program reservation information 264 of the reservation information list 260, and the recording performed using the first tuner 81 of the first hard disk recorder 51. The program reservation information 272 is program reservation information corresponding to the program reservation information 266 of the reservation information list 260 and is recording information performed using the first tuner 81 of the first hard disk recorder 51. .

Similarly, the program reservation information 281 included in the second hard disk recorder reservation information list 280 corresponds to the program reservation information 261 of the reservation information list 260, and uses the first tuner 81 of the second hard disk recorder 52. This is the reservation information of the recording processing performed.

[0171] Also, the program reservation information 291 included in the third hard disk recorder reservation information list 290 corresponds to the program reservation information 262 of the reservation information list 260, and uses the second tuner 121 of the third hard disk recorder 53. The program reservation information 292 corresponds to the program reservation information 263 of the reservation information list 260, and is the reservation information of the recording processing performed using the first tuner 81 of the third hard disk recorder 53. The program reservation information 293 corresponds to the program reservation information 265 of the reservation information list 260 and is the reservation information of the recording process performed using the first tuner 81 of the third hard disk recorder 53.

[0172] If there is only one tuner of the hard disk recorder to which the program reservation information is supplied, as shown in the second hard disk recorder reservation information list 280, the item of the "used tuner" of the program reservation information May be omitted and supplied.

Next, the program reservation management processing executed when performing the recording processing based on the program reservation information created as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. This processing corresponds to step S39, step S55, and step S75 in FIG.

The program reservation information management unit 174 first determines whether or not the program reservation information supplied from the master program reservation information creation unit 168 has been acquired in step S121. As described above, in the case of the master program reservation information management unit 174, the program reservation information is directly supplied from the program reservation information creation unit 168, and in the case of the slave program reservation information management unit 174, it is transmitted via the network 54. Supplied. If it is determined that the program reservation information has been acquired, the program reservation information management unit 174 proceeds to step S122, holds and manages the acquired program reservation information, and proceeds to step S123. Also, in step S121, program reservation If it is determined that the information has not been acquired, the program reservation information management unit 174 skips the processing in step S122 and proceeds to step S123.

[0175] In step S123, the program reservation information management unit 174 determines whether or not the current time is the recording preparation specified time based on the held program reservation information. If it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to step S124. In step S124, the program reservation information management unit 174 controls the channel of the tuner designated via the tuner control unit 161 so as to receive the program to be recorded, and in step S125, performs the recording process control. The unit 175 is controlled to perform recording preparation processing. In step S126, the program reservation information management section 174 determines whether or not to use the storage section 87 of another hard disk recorder based on the program reservation information. The unit 174 advances the process to step S127, controls the hard disk recorder having the specified storage unit 87, and makes the hard disk usable. After completing the processing of step S127, the program reservation information management unit 174 proceeds to step S128

If it is determined in step S123 that the current time is not the designated time for recording preparation, the program reservation information management unit 174 skips the processing of steps S124 to S127 and proceeds to step S128. Further, when it is determined in step S126 that the storage unit 87 of the same hard disk recorder as the tuner is used and the storage units 87 of the other hard disk recorders are not used, the program reservation information management unit 174 also performs the processing of step S127. Is omitted, and the process proceeds to step S128.

[0177] In step S128, the program reservation information management unit 174 determines whether or not the current time is the recording start time, and when it is determined that the current time is the recording start time, in step S129, The recording process is started by controlling the tuner via the tuner control unit 161 or the content processing unit 100 via the recording process control unit 175, and the process proceeds to step S130. If it is determined in step S128 that the current time is not the recording start time, the program reservation information management unit 174 skips the processing in step S129 and proceeds to step S130.

[0178] In step S130, the program reservation information management unit 174 determines that the current time is In step S131, the tuner is controlled via the tuner control unit 161 or the content processing is performed via the recording processing control unit 175. The recording process is terminated by controlling the unit 100 or the like, and the process proceeds to step S132. If it is determined in step S130 that the current time is not the recording end time, the program reservation information management unit 174 skips step S131 and proceeds to step S132.

Then, in step S132, program reservation information management section 174 determines whether or not to end the program reservation management processing, and if not, returns the processing to step S121, and performs the subsequent processing. repeat. If it is determined in step S132 that the program reservation management process is to be ended, the process proceeds to step S133, an end process is performed, and the program reservation management process ends.

[0180] By doing so, the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 can easily manage the reserved recording process using the entire program recording system 50 and execute the recording process. be able to. As a result, the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 can easily and flexibly cope with a case where a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are used, record information acquired from outside, or record the recorded information. You can play.

[0181] The program recorded as described above may be stored in a storage unit of a hard disk recorder different from the reserved hard disk recorder. Therefore, in such a case, it is desirable for the user to be able to reproduce the program in the same manner as when the program is stored in the storage unit of the reserved hard disk recorder. The method is described below.

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram for describing functions related to a reproduction process in a hard disk recorder serving as a master.

In FIG. 17, the reproduction instruction reception control unit 301 of the CPU 71 controls reception of a reproduction instruction input by the user via the input unit 77, and the received reproduction instruction is stored in the storage unit 87. The content is supplied to a content management unit 302 that manages the content. The master creates all the program reservation information, so when and which program Since it is possible to know whether or not the recorded program is recorded, based on the information, the recorded program information that is information on the recorded program is created, and the recorded program information is stored in the recorded program information holding unit 304 of the RAM 73, and the recorded program information is stored. It is managed by the program information management unit 303.

[0184] When the content management unit 302 accesses the recorded program information management unit 303 and acquires the recorded program information, the program instructed to be reproduced is recorded on any of the hard disk recorders based on the information. Figure out what is being done. Then, when the program instructed to be reproduced is recorded on another hard disk recorder, the content request supply unit 305 is controlled by the content management unit 302, and transmits the content to the hard disk recorder via the communication control unit 78. Request. The content acquisition unit 306 acquires the content data supplied based on the request via the communication control unit 78 and supplies the content data to the content management unit 302.

[0185] The playback control unit 307 controls the content processing unit 100 to play back the content data stored in the storage unit 87 or the content data supplied from the content management unit 302 to the content processing unit 100.

[0186] The content request acquisition unit 308 sends the content request supplied when another hard disk recorder instructs to reproduce the content data stored in the storage unit 87 of the hard disk recorder to the communication control unit 78. And supplies it to the content management unit 302. Based on the request, the content management unit 302 accesses the storage unit 87 of the content processing unit 100 and obtains the target content data, and supplies the content data to the content supply unit 309. The content supply unit 309 supplies the supplied content data to the requesting hard disk recorder via the communication control unit 78.

[0187] Also, since the master manages recorded program information, if a reproduction instruction is input in another hard disk recorder, the recorded program information is requested. The recorded program information request acquisition unit 310 acquires such a request via the communication control unit 78 and supplies the request to the recorded program information management unit 303. When the recorded program information management unit 303 acquires the recorded program information from the recorded program information holding unit 304 of the RAM 73 based on the request, the recorded program information management unit 303 transmits the acquired recorded program information to the recorded program information supply unit 311. Supply to The The recorded program information supply unit 311 supplies the supplied recorded program information to the requesting hard disk recorder via the communication unit 78.

[0188] Fig. 18 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions related to reproduction processing in a hard disk recorder serving as a slave. Parts corresponding to those in FIG. 17 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 18, unlike the master, the slave does not manage the recorded program information, so the recorded program information management unit 303, the recorded program information holding unit 304, and the recorded program information request acquisition unit 310 and the recorded program information supply unit 311. Instead, since the slave does not manage the recorded program information, it is controlled by the content management unit 302, and via the communication control unit 78, the recorded program information request supply unit that requests the recorded program information. 321, and a recorded program information acquisition unit 322 that acquires recorded program information supplied via the communication unit 78 based on the request, and supplies the acquired program information to the content management unit 302. You.

[0190] A reproduction process executed in the program recording system 50 including such a master and slaves (the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53) will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Here, the program reserved for recording in the second hard disk recorder 52 is stored in the storage unit 87 of the third hard disk recorder 53, and the user instructs the second hard disk recorder 52 to reproduce the program. If you do, let me explain.

[0191] First, when the user of the second hard disk recorder 52 operates the input unit 77 to instruct the start of the reproduction process, the content management unit 302 of the second hard disk recorder 52, which is the slave, supplies the recorded program information request. It instructs the unit 321 to supply a request for recorded program information to the master. In step S171, the recorded program information request supply unit 321 controls the communication control unit 78 based on the instruction from the content management unit 302, and sends the recorded program information to the first hard disk recorder 51 that is the master. Request program information.

[0192] The recorded program information request acquisition unit 310 of the first hard disk recorder 51, which is the master, acquires the request supplied in the process of step S171 via the communication control unit 78 in step S151. Recorded program information that has obtained a request for recorded program information The request acquisition unit 310 supplies the information to the recorded program information management unit 303. When the recorded program information management unit 303 acquires the recorded program information from the recorded program information holding unit 304 of the RAM 73 based on the request, it supplies the recorded program information to the recorded program information supply unit 311. I do. In step S152, the recorded program information supply unit 311 supplies the supplied recorded program information to the requesting second hard disk recorder 52 via the communication control unit 78.

[0193] When the recorded program information acquisition unit 322 of the second hard disk recorder 52 acquires the recorded program information via the communication control unit 78 in step S172, the acquired program information is supplied to the content management unit 302. When acquiring the recorded program information, the content management unit 302 supplies the acquired program information to the graphic processing controller 80 to convert the recorded program information into image information. After converting the recorded program information into image information, the graphic processing controller 80 supplies the converted recorded program information to the monitor 142 via the display control unit 86, and the image corresponding to the recorded program information is provided. Is displayed.

The user selects a program to be reproduced based on the image related to the recorded program information displayed as described above, and operates the input unit 77 to input the information. The reproduction instruction reception control unit 301 performs a program reproduction designation reception process in step S173, receives an instruction for specifying a program to be reproduced, which is input from the input unit 77, and supplies the instruction to the content management unit 302. .

[0195] Based on the instruction, the content management unit 302 recognizes that the target content data is stored in the storage unit 87 of the third node disk recorder 53, and sends the content request unit 305 to the content request unit 305. Ask for data. The content request unit 305 is controlled by the content management unit 302 in step S 174, and requests the third hard disk recorder 53 for the content data of the reproduction designated program via the communication control unit 78. The content request acquisition unit 308 of the third hard disk recorder 53, which is a slave, acquires the request via the communication control unit 78 and supplies it to the content management unit 302 in step S191. Based on the request, the content management unit 302 accesses the storage unit 87 and obtains the target content data, and supplies it to the content supply unit 309. The content supply unit 309 is controlled by the content management unit 302, and in step S192, The requested content data (reproduction designated program) is supplied to the second hard disk recorder 52 that is the request source via the communication control unit 78.

[0196] Upon acquiring the requested content data via the communication control unit 78 in step S175, the content acquisition unit 306 of the second hard disk recorder 52 supplies it to the content management unit 302. In step S176, the content management unit 302 controls the playback control unit 307 to play back the acquired content data (playback designated program). The reproduction control unit 307 controls the content processing unit 100 to reproduce the supplied content data.

When the reproduction of the content data ends, the second hard disk recorder 52 ends the reproduction processing.

[0198] As described above, the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 perform reproduction processing in cooperation with each other. By doing so, the user of the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 can use the entire program recording system 50, such as reproducing a program recorded on another hard disk recorder. The reproduction process for reproducing the recorded program can be easily performed. As a result, the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 can easily and flexibly cope with a case where a plurality of recording / reproducing devices are used, and can record information obtained from outside or record the information. Information can be reproduced.

In the above description, in the second hard disk recorder 52, the user has reserved a program and the program corresponding to the reservation is stored in the storage unit of the third hard disk recorder 53. Not limited to this, any hard disk recorder can reproduce a program stored in any hard disk recorder.

[0200] In the above, the users of the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 are not limited to the power described in the case where they are different from each other. All users are the same person.

[0201] For example, the users of the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 are the same person, and these hard disk recorders are managed by one user. If this is the case, it may be desirable for the preference information in each hard disk recorder to be unified. In such a case, the reservation candidate created based on the preference information may not be supplied from the slave to the master.

[0202] The present invention can also be applied to a hard disk recorder having a function other than the functions described above. Therefore, the first hard disk recorder 51 to the third hard disk recorder 53 described above may of course have functions other than those described above.

[0203] In addition to the hard disk recorder described above, for example, a recording / reproducing device using an optical disk such as a DVD or a CD may be used as a terminal device constituting the program recording system 50 in FIG. Of course, it may be.

[0204] It has been described above that the master collects the reservation candidates created in each hard disk recorder, generates program reservation information based on them, and distributes the program reservation information to each slave. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each hard disk recorder may generate program reservation information based on a reservation candidate that is set individually, and the program reservation information may be required for each other. It may be distributed to other hard disk recorders accordingly.

[0205] That is, in the above description, "the number and group recording system 50 is configured by one master and a slave managed by the master", but this description is based on the physical network configuration. This is not a description of a logical network configuration but a description of a logical network configuration, and physically the same disk drive may belong to a plurality of “program recording systems 50”. For example, in FIG. 2, a plurality of “program recording systems 50” including the hard disk recorder 51 to the hard disk recorder 53 may be configured. In that case, the hard disk recorders that are the masters of each “program recording system 50” are different from each other.

[0206] By configuring the "program recording system 50" in this manner, the hard disk recorders 51 to 53 can simultaneously operate as masters. At that time, since each master does not collect a reservation candidate from another hard disk recorder as a slave, the same reservation candidate power is generated by each master. That can be suppressed. In other words, in this case, each hard disk recorder generates program reservation information based only on the reservation candidates set in itself.

For example, it operates as a hard disk recorder power master without a tuner, sets a reservation candidate from preference information, user input, and the like, generates reservation information from the reservation candidate, and transmits the reservation information to the tuner. To other hard disk recorders that it has over the network. In this reservation information, a desired program (content data) is received by a predetermined tuner to another hard disk recorder (slave) to which the reservation information has been supplied, and the content data is supplied to the master. Have been instructed to. The slave receives the desired content data based on the reservation information and supplies it to the master via the network. When the master acquires the content data, it records it on the hard disk.

[0208] As described above, by using a tuner of another apparatus to receive a program, a target program (content data) can be recorded on a hard disk even if the hard disk recorder does not have a tuner. it can. Conversely, a device that does not have a hard disk (recording medium) can receive a target program (content data) using its own tuner and record it on the hard disk of another device.

[0209] In the system as shown in Fig. 2, such processing as a master can be performed simultaneously with each other, instead of being performed only by a specific apparatus. This allows the devices to control each other and operate so as to compensate for each other's lacking functions, so that more advanced recording and playback control processing can be performed.

[0210] The above-described series of processing can be executed by hardware, or can be executed by software as described above. When a series of processing is executed by software, various functions must be executed by installing a computer in which the programs constituting the software are embedded in dedicated hardware, or by installing various programs. For example, it is installed from a recording medium or the like in a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

[0211] In this specification, the step of describing a program recorded on a recording medium is as follows. However, not only the processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but also the processing executed in parallel or individually, although not necessarily performed in chronological order. Also, in this specification, a system refers to an entire device including a plurality of devices.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] In a recording device that performs processing related to recording of content data broadcast from a broadcasting station,

Content data receiving means for selecting a receiving station and receiving the desired content data;

Content data recording means for recording the content data received by the content data receiving means,

Content data supply means for supplying the content data received by the content data reception means to one or more other recording devices connected via a network;

First reservation information creating means for creating first reservation information which is reservation information for specifying content data to be recorded;

Reservation information collecting means for collecting the first reservation information created in the other recording device from the other recording device;

The first reservation information created by the first reservation information creation means, and content data specified by the first reservation information collected from the other recording device by the reservation information collection means A second reservation information generating means for generating second reservation information for reserving a process to be executed by each of the recording devices connected via the network,

Reservation information supply means for supplying the second reservation information created by the second reservation information creation means to the other recording device via the network;

The second reservation information created by the second reservation information creation unit is managed, and the content data reception unit, the content data recording unit, and the content data supply are managed based on the second reservation information. Means for controlling means for receiving the content data and recording the received content data, or a management control means for supplying the received content data to another recording device via the network and recording the same.

A recording device comprising:

[2] The second reservation information includes information for specifying a content data receiving unit used for receiving the content data from all content data receiving units included in the recording device and the other recording device. Contains

2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein:

[3] In the second reservation information, the management control unit may be configured to determine whether or not the second reservation information is included in the recording device.

Controlling the content data to be received, and controlling the content data supply means to supply the content data to the other recording device.

3. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein:

[4] In the case where there are a plurality of reservations having overlapping broadcast times and contents of the content data to be reserved, the second reservation information creating means may store only one of them in the second reservation. Generate as information, delete other reservations

2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein:

[5] Attribute information collecting means for collecting information on the broadcast station that can be received by each content data receiving means of the other recording device as attribute information of the other recording device from the other recording device. Prepare more

2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein:

[6] Attribute information collecting means for collecting information on the free space of each content data recording means of the other recording device from the other recording device as attribute information of the other recording device is further provided.

2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein:

[7] A recording method of a recording device having a receiving unit, a recording unit, and a communication unit and performing a process related to recording of content data broadcasted from a broadcasting station,

First reservation information creation step of creating first reservation information that is reservation information specifying content data to be recorded;

The communication unit is controlled so that the first reservation information created in one or more other recording devices connected via a network is collected from the other recording device. About information collection control step;

The first reservation information created by the processing of the first reservation information creation step, and the communication section controlled by the processing of the reservation information collection control step, the communication section controlled by the other recording device. Second reservation information creation for creating second reservation information for reserving a process to be executed by each recording device connected via the network for the content data specified by the first reservation information Steps and

A reservation information supply control step of controlling the communication unit to supply the second reservation information created by the processing of the second reservation information creation step to the other recording device via the network;

Managing the second reservation information created by the processing of the second reservation information creation step, controlling the receiving unit, the recording unit, and the communication unit based on the second reservation information, A management control step of receiving the content data and recording the received content data, or supplying and recording the received content data to another recording device via the network.

A recording method comprising:

[8] The second reservation information includes information for specifying a receiving unit used for receiving the content data from all receiving units included in the recording device and the other recording device.

8. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein:

[9] The management control step may include, when the second reservation information specifies a receiving unit included in the recording device and specifies a recording unit included in the other recording device, Control to receive the content data, and control the communication unit to supply the content data to the other recording device.

9. The recording method according to claim 8, wherein:

[10] In the second reservation information creating step, when there are a plurality of reservations having the same broadcast time and the same content as the content data to be reserved, only one of them is stored in the second reservation information. Generate as reservation information, delete other reservations

8. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein:

[11] The communication unit is controlled to collect information on the broadcasting station that can be received by each receiving unit of the other recording device from the other recording device as attribute information of the other recording device. Further including an attribute information collection control step

8. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein:

[12] Attribute information collection control that controls the communication unit and causes the other recording device to collect information on the free space of each recording unit of the other recording device as attribute information of the other recording device. Further including steps

8. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein:

[13] In a program that causes a computer having a receiving unit, a recording unit, and a communication unit to perform processing related to recording of content data broadcast from a broadcasting station,

A reservation information collection control step of controlling the communication unit to cause the other computer to collect the first reservation information created by one or more other computers connected via a network;

The first reservation information created by the processing of the first reservation information creation step, and the first reservation information collected from the other computer by the communication unit controlled by the processing of the reservation information collection control step. A second reservation information generating step of generating second reservation information for reserving a process to be executed by each computer connected via the network for the content data specified by the first reservation information;

A reservation information supply control step of controlling the communication unit to supply the second reservation information created by the processing of the second reservation information creation step to the other computer via the network;

Managing the second reservation information created by the processing of the second reservation information creation step, controlling the receiving unit, the recording unit, and the communication unit based on the second reservation information, A management control step of receiving the content data and recording the received content data, or supplying and recording the received content data to another computer via the network. A program characterized by including:

[14] An information processing system including a first recording device and a second recording device, which includes a receiving unit, a recording unit, and a communication unit, and performs a process related to recording of content data broadcast from a broadcast station. ,

The first recording device creates first reservation information, which is reservation information that specifies content data to be recorded, and creates the first reservation information in the second recording device connected via a network using the communication unit. The first reservation information collected and collected is designated by the first reservation information created and the first reservation information collected from the second recording device via the communication unit. It creates second reservation information for reserving processing performed by the first device or the second recording device for content data, and uses the communication unit to create the second reservation information. To the second recording device via the network, further manages the created second reservation information, and, based on the second reservation information, the receiving unit and the recording unit. , And controls the communication unit, and Receiving the content data and recording the received content data, or supplying the received content data to the second recording device via the network to record the content data;

The second recording device creates the first reservation information, and supplies the first reservation information to the first recording device connected via the network using the communication unit. Acquiring the second reservation information supplied from the first recording device using the communication unit, and based on the acquired second reservation information, the receiving unit, the recording unit, And controlling the communication unit to receive the content data and record the received content data, or supply the received content data to the first recording device via the network. Record

An information processing system, comprising:

[15] In a recording device that performs processing related to recording of content data broadcast from a broadcasting station,

Reservation information for reserving recording of content data, which specifies the content data to be recorded and also specifies the type of tuner required to receive the content data Reservation information creating means for creating reservation information to be made;

Another recording device having the tuner of the type specified by the reservation information among one or a plurality of other recording devices connected via a network to the reservation information created by the reservation information creating means. Reservation information supply means for supplying

A content data acquisition unit that receives the content data supplied via the network in another recording device to which the reservation information is supplied by the reservation information supply unit, based on the reservation information;

Content data recording means for recording the content data obtained by the content data obtaining means;

A recording device comprising:

[16] A recording method of a recording device having a recording unit and a communication unit and performing a process related to recording of content data broadcast from a broadcast station,

A reservation information creation step of creating reservation information that is reservation information for reserving recording of content data and that specifies the content data to be recorded and also specifies a tuner type required for receiving the content data;

The communication unit is controlled, and the reservation information created by the process of the reservation information creation step is stored in one or a plurality of other recording devices connected via a network by a type designated by the reservation information. Reservation information supply control step of causing another recording apparatus having the tuner to supply the recording information;

The communication unit is controlled based on the reservation information, and is received based on the reservation information in another recording device to which the reservation information has been supplied under the control of the processing of the reservation information supply control step. A content data acquisition control step for acquiring content data;

A content data recording control step of controlling the recording section and recording the acquired content data controlled by the processing of the content data acquisition control step;

A recording method comprising:

[17] Processing related to recording of content data broadcast from a broadcasting station is performed by a recording unit and a communication unit. In a program to be executed by a computer having a unit,

The communication unit is controlled, and the reservation information created by the processing of the reservation information creation step is stored in one or a plurality of other computers connected via a network by a type designated by the reservation information. A reservation information supply control step of supplying the reservation information to another computer having the tuner of

The content, which is controlled based on the reservation information by another computer to which the reservation information is supplied by being controlled by the reservation information supply control step and controlling the communication unit, and supplied through the network. A content data acquisition control step for acquiring data;

A program characterized by including:

[18] A first recording device that has a recording unit and a communication unit and performs processing related to recording of content data broadcast from a broadcasting station, and a reception unit and a communication unit that are broadcast from the broadcasting station. An information processing system in which a second recording device that performs a process related to recording of content data to be stored is connected to each other via a network,

The first recording device is reservation information for reserving recording of content data, and generates reservation information for specifying the content data to be recorded and for specifying a tuner type required for receiving the content data; The communication unit is used to supply the created reservation information to the second recording device having the reception unit of the type specified by the reservation information, and the communication unit is used to supply the reservation information. The second recording device acquires the content data received based on the reservation information and supplied via the network, and records the acquired content data using the recording unit; The second recording device acquires the reservation information supplied from the first recording device using the communication unit, and is specified by the acquired reservation information using the receiving unit. Receiving the content data and supplying the received content data to the first recording device using the communication unit;

Information processing characterized by the following: