WO2007032383A1

WO2007032383A1 - Content reproducing apparatus and content reproducing method

Info

Publication number: WO2007032383A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/318147
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hiroaki Kimura; Shingo Izawa; Takaaki Ishida; Kotaro Kataoka
Original assignee: Kddi Corporation; Keio University
Priority date: 2005-09-13
Filing date: 2006-09-13
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: JPWO2007032383A1; JP5172343B2

Abstract

There are included a receiving part (101) that selectively receives, among IP packets IP multicasted via a broadcast network, an IP packet addressed to an established IP address; a reproducing part (105) or external reproducing device (150) that reproduces a content from the IP packet received by the receiving part (101); and a transmission/reception I/F switching control part (103) that establishes, for the receiving part (101), the IP address used for selectively receiving the IP packet of the content corresponding to the reproduction capability of the reproducing part (105) or external reproducing device (150).

Description

Specification

Content playback apparatus and content playback method

Technical field

The present invention relates to a content playback apparatus that plays back received content, and more particularly to a content playback apparatus and content playback method that receive and play back content corresponding to the capabilities of a playback device.

Background art

Conventionally, content is received via a communication network such as the Internet or a broadcast network. Such contents such as television and radio programs can be received by a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-78830

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] However, in the conventional technology, since the content is played back using the received terminal device, the playback is limited to the content playback capability of the received terminal device. For example, in the case of a mobile phone, only a simple display could be performed because the display screen was small.

[0005] In addition, since the content transmission side also transmits the content in conformity with the playback capability of the terminal device, for example, the content to be transmitted to the mobile phone is initially set to a low playback rate or resolution. It was done simply in the whole system. Therefore, even if a large monitor device can be connected to a mobile phone, it only enlarges the screen displayed on the mobile phone. I couldn't do it.

An object of the present invention is to provide a content playback apparatus and a content playback method capable of receiving and playing back content according to the playback force of a playback device in order to eliminate the above-described problems caused by the prior art. .

Means for solving the problem [0007] In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the content reproduction apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is directed to a set IP address among IP packets IP multicasted via a broadcast network. Receiving means for selectively receiving the IP packet multicasted to the receiver, reproducing means for reproducing the content from the IP packet received by the receiving means, and selecting an IP packet of the content corresponding to the reproduction capability of the reproducing means And setting means for setting an IP address for receiving in the receiving means.

[0008] Further, the content playback apparatus according to the invention of claim 2 is the content playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the playback means includes an internal playback means built in the apparatus and a predetermined communication interface. And external reproduction means externally connected to the apparatus, and the setting means selectively receives IP packets of contents corresponding to the reproduction capabilities of the internal reproduction means and the external reproduction means, respectively. The IP address is set in the receiving means.

[0009] Furthermore, in the content reproducing apparatus according to the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the receiving means converts the IP packet to which an IP header is added into a predetermined transmission packet. Transmission packet receiving means for receiving the encapsulated transmission packet from the broadcasting network, and IP packet extracting means for releasing the encapsulation of the transmission packet received by the transmission packet receiving means and extracting the IP packet IP multicast correspondence information receiving means for receiving information related to IP multicast correspondence in which an IP multicast group address for each IP packet and a condition for receiving the IP packet are set, and the setting means include the IP The recommendation included in the information related to the IP multicast correspondence received by the multicast correspondence information receiving means. That the information of the reproduction capabilities of the reproduction means, wherein by comparing the information of the reproduction capabilities of the reproduction means, and sets the IP multicast group address suitable based on the comparison result.

[0010] Further, the content reproduction method according to the invention of claim 4 selectively selects IP packets multicasted to a set IP address among IP packets multicasted via a broadcast network. A receiving step for receiving the content, a playback step for playing back the IP packet received in the receiving step as content, and a content IP packet corresponding to the playback capability of the playback means for playing back in the playback step. IP address for receiving And a setting step of setting as an IP address in the reception step. The invention's effect

[0011] According to the content playback apparatus and content playback method that are useful in the present invention, it is possible to receive and play back content according to the playback capability of the playback device. Brief Description of Drawings

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a content reproduction apparatus that is useful in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a chart showing an example of multicast correspondence information.

[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the content processing content on the content transmission side.

[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the content reception processing content on the receiving side. [FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the content reproduction processing content on the receiving side.

[0013] 100 receiver terminal

101 Receiver

102, 151 Communication IZF

103 Transmission / reception IZF switching controller

104 Playback device information section

105 Playback section

106 Operation unit

107 Channel selector

150 External playback device

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a content playback apparatus and a content playback method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [0015] (Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a content playback apparatus that is useful for an embodiment of the present invention.

. The illustrated receiver terminal 100 reproduces the received broadcast wave using the reproduction unit 105 or the external reproduction device 150. During playback using the external playback device 150, the received content is transferred to the external playback device 150 for playback.

The receiver terminal 100 includes a receiving unit 101, a communication IZF 102, a transmission / reception iZF switching control unit 103, a playback device information unit 104, a playback unit 105, an operation unit 106, and a channel selection unit 10

7 and.

The receiving unit 101 receives a broadcast wave such as digital broadcast transmitted from the transmission side, and outputs it to the transmission / reception IZF switching control unit 103. The transmission side power also receives multicast correspondence information to be sent to an arbitrary receiving node and outputs it to the transmission / reception IZF switching control unit 103.

[0018] On the transmission side, content to be transmitted as a broadcast program is transmitted as a plurality of different contents on the same broadcast wave. Even if the content is the same, it is possible to use different playback rates depending on the playback capability of the playback device that plays the broadcast wave, or to divide the content according to the playback capability, such as the camera angle cut method. It is done. In this way, a plurality of contents with different contents, compression ratios, and technical conditions are transmitted for each reproduction capability of different possible reproduction devices. The playback capability of the playback device is determined based on the size of the playback device and the number of pixels. Therefore, information for selecting content corresponding to the playback capability of the playback device is set in the multicast support information transmitted together with the broadcast wave from the transmission side (details will be described later).

Communication IZF 102 is an IZF for transferring broadcast waves to external playback device 150, and is an IZF such as a WLAN, for example. The transmission / reception IZF switching control unit 103 switches whether the broadcast wave content received by the reception unit 101 is reproduced by the receiver terminal 100 or transferred to the external reproduction device 150 via the communication IZF 102.

In the playback device information unit 104, information for each broadcast content playback device is set in advance via the operation unit 106 and the like. In the example shown in the figure, information related to the playback unit 105 provided on the receiver terminal 100 side and the external playback device 150 is set. Settings include manufacturer name, model, screen size, number of pixels, and network address. [0021] The reproduction unit 105 reproduces broadcast waves, and is a video display unit and an audio output unit built in the receiver terminal 100. The display unit is a small display unit having a smaller number of pixels than the external playback device 150, for example. The operation unit 106 is provided to input information about a broadcast wave playback device and to perform an operation of selecting a playback device when a broadcast wave is received.

[0022] Channel selection section 107 selects content (corresponding to a channel) corresponding to a playback device from among a plurality of contents included in a broadcast wave (details will be described later). The playback device is selected based on the multicast support information received by the receiving unit 101 and the playback capability of the playback device set in the playback device information unit 104. Select the playback device you want to play. The channel selection unit 107 determines which content is suitable for the playback device and gives an instruction so that the content can be received. Specifically, the receiver unit 100 of the receiver terminal 100 is instructed to assign a multicast address group. Also, a playback instruction is given to the external playback device 150. Specifically, it instructs the transmission / reception IZF switching control unit 103 to route traffic to the external playback device 150.

The external playback device 150 includes a communication IZF 151 such as a WLAN, and plays back broadcast wave content transferred from the receiver terminal 100. The external playback device 150 is a large television having a larger number of pixels than the playback unit 105 provided in the receiver terminal 100, for example.

Here, content transmission / reception processing using broadcast waves will be described. The content is transmitted from the transmission side via a digital broadcasting network. A transmission packet of a predetermined format used for the broadcast wave of this digital broadcast is transmitted with the IP packet encapsulated inside the transmission packet. The transmission packet includes a plurality of programs (contents) for different playback devices for this single receiver terminal 100 by IP multicast.

[0025] The receiving unit 101 of the receiver terminal 100 releases the encapsulation of the transmission packet transmitted from the broadcast network, and extracts the IP packet. The extracted IP packet address is compared with the multicast group address set in the receiving unit 101. If they match, the extracted IP packet is received.

[0026] The receiving unit 101 is capable of receiving a plurality of programs (contents). By performing the setting, the content IP packet according to the playback capability of the playback device (playback unit 105 or external playback device 150) built in the receiver terminal 100 or externally connected is selectively received.

[0027] Further, the multicast correspondence information transmitted by the transmission side is periodically transmitted to an arbitrary receiver terminal 100 via the broadcast network as the most important address control information. As a result, any receiver terminal 100 among the plurality of receiver terminals 100 capable of receiving broadcast waves receives this multicast-compatible information.

FIG. 2 is a chart showing an example of multicast correspondence information. The multicast correspondence information 200 shown in FIG. 2 is an example in which two IP multicast group addresses A and B are set. For IP multicast group address A, the content is a program for a large TV screen, and the recommended playback device information is the TV screen size (for example, 32 type) and pixel number information (for example, 1024 X 1024). For IP multicast group address B, the content is a small, portable screen program, and the recommended playback device information includes the TV screen size (eg, 2.2 inches) and pixel count information ( For example, 240 X 320). The content is not limited to a broadcast program, but may be a commercial (CM).

[0029] Next, content reproduction processing with the above configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the content processing content on the content transmission side. On the transmission side, content is created for each playback capability of the playback device (step S301). A single content is edited differently for each playback device (playback unit 105 and external playback device 150) on the receiver terminal 100 side. For example, IP multicast group address A “contents for large TV screens” and IP multicast group address B “portable screen content” are created. For IP multicast group address A, there are programs that have been edited on a screen with a wide field of view, including the background, and programs that have a larger screen size (number of pixels) than the original content. IP multicast group address B includes programs that are edited with the display target at the center of the original content, and programs that have a smaller screen size (number of pixels).

[0030] Next, for each created content, an IP multicast group address and recommended The IP multicast support information 200 (see Fig. 2) including the playback device information to be created is created (step S302).

[0031] Next, the content created in step S301 is transmitted on the broadcast wave (step S303). Also, the IP multicast correspondence information 200 is transmitted to an arbitrary receiving node (step S304). This IP multicast correspondence information 200 is periodically transmitted as the most important address control information, and is received by any receiver terminal 100 that has received a broadcast wave. The above is the processing on the transmission side.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the content reception processing content on the reception side. In the receiver terminal 100, information on a playback device for playing back content is input to the playback device information unit 104 (step S401). For the playback device information, the operation unit 106 is operated, and information related to the playback unit 105 and the external playback device 150 is set in advance. Information on the playback device includes the manufacturer name, model, screen size, pixel number information, network address, and the like. The number of external playback devices 150 is not limited to one, and a plurality of external playback devices 150 can be switched and connected, and each of the plurality of external playback devices 150 to be connected may be set.

Then, receiving section 101 of receiver terminal 100 on the receiving side receives IP multicast correspondence information 200 sent to an arbitrary receiver terminal 100 (step S402).

[0034] When the user views the content, a reproduction device for reproducing the content is designated (step S403). This designation is performed by operating the operation unit 106. Information on the designated playback device is set in the playback device information section 104. In addition, it can be configured to automatically detect the connection of the external playback device 150. For example, the playback unit 105 is specified when the external playback device 150 is not connected, and the external playback device 150 is specified preferentially as the playback device when the external playback device 150 is connected.

[0035] Next, the channel selection unit 107 displays the recommended playback device set in the received IP multicast correspondence information 200 (see FIG. 2) and the playback device information set in the playback device information unit 104. Compare (step S404). Specifically, the screen size and the number of pixels are compared with each other. Then, as a result of the comparison, the channel selection unit 107 determines that the receiver unit 101 has an IP multicast that meets (or approximates) the recommended playback device conditions. A toggle address (A or B in FIG. 2) is acquired, and the acquired IP multicast group address is assigned as the IP address of the receiving unit 101 (step S405). The “channel selection” of the channel selection unit 107 refers to selecting contents by IP multicast group address (A or B in FIG. 2)! /.

[0036] Also, channel selection section 107 selects a playback device (playback section 105 or external playback device 150) that matches the capabilities of the playback device included in IP multicast support information 200 based on this comparison. . Then, the receiving unit 101 receives the content of the IP multicast group address that includes the set IP address (step S406).

[0037] Then, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the playback device set in the IP multicast correspondence information 200 received by the receiving unit 101 or the playback device information unit 104 (step S407). If there is no change (step S407: No), the process proceeds to step S408, and the current content is continuously received (step S408). The processing after step S408 will be described with reference to FIG. On the other hand, if there has been a change (step S407: Yes), the process returns to step S404 and again selects contents by channel.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the content reproduction processing content on the receiving side. The process after step S408 of FIG. 4 is shown. The transmission / reception IZF switching control unit 103 confirms the designation of the playback device in step S403 (step S501). Here, it is confirmed whether or not the playback device is the external playback device 150. If the playback device is the external playback device 150 (step S501: Yes), the IP packet received by the receiving unit 101 is communicated to the communication IZF102 (step S502). . At this time, the transmission / reception IZF switching control unit 103 changes the address of the IP packet received by the reception unit 101 to the IP address of the communication IZF 151. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, when the external playback device 150 is connected to the receiver terminal 100, the IP address set in the receiver 101 is the IP multicast group address A shown in FIG. It is an included address.

[0039] Thereby, the communication IZF 102 can transfer the IP packet to the communication IZF 151 of the external reproduction device 150 via the WLAN or the like, and the external reproduction device 150 can reproduce the content (step S503). The content of the IP packet transferred to the external playback device 150 is a large TV screen program that conforms to the screen size of the external playback device 150. The

[0040] On the other hand, when the playback device is specified as playback unit 105 in step S501 (step S501: No), the content is played back by playback unit 105 built in receiver terminal 100 (step S504). The content output to the playback unit 105 is a small portable screen program. Here, when the external playback device 150 is not connected to the receiver terminal 100 and the playback device is the playback unit 105, the IP address set in the reception unit 101 is included in the IP multicast group address B shown in FIG. Address.

[0041] In the embodiment described above, the content transmitted by the transmission side is not limited to transmission via the above-described broadcast network. In addition, it may be a wireless communication network such as a mobile phone network or a wireless LAN network, or a wired communication network via the Internet.

According to the embodiment described above, it becomes possible to select and play back content corresponding to the playback capability of a playback device built in receiver terminal 100 or connected externally. In addition, it can receive content for large screens that is not limited to the playback capability of the small playback unit 105 built in the receiver terminal 100, and the playback capability of a large-sized TV connected externally is high. Playback using the external playback device 150 is now possible.

That is, even if the playback capability is low, such as the display screen of the playback unit 105 built in the receiver terminal 100 is small, the receiver terminal 100 is used for the external playback device 150 connected externally. It is possible to receive and play content that requires a high playback capability. For example, the receiver terminal 100 can be configured with a mobile phone, and a user with this mobile phone can view content on a large screen simply by connecting the mobile phone to the external playback device 150. become. Furthermore, even if the external playback device 150 does not have the function to receive the above content (digital terrestrial broadcasting), it is only necessary to connect the receiver terminal 100 such as a mobile phone to the external playback device to perform digital terrestrial broadcasting. Can be watched on a large screen.

Note that the content reproduction method described in the present embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer provided in receiver terminal 100. This program is hard disk, flexible disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD It is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as, and executed by being read out by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed through a network such as the Internet.

Industrial applicability

As described above, the content playback apparatus and the content playback method according to the present invention are useful for applications in which a large number of receiver terminals simultaneously receive content via a broadcast network, and in particular, satellite digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting. It is suitable for terminal devices on the receiving side that receive content via broadcast networks such as the Internet and communication networks such as the Internet.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] Receiving means for selectively receiving the IP packet multicasted to a set IP address among IP packets IP multicasted via a broadcasting network;

Reproducing means for reproducing content from the IP packet received by the receiving means, and setting means for setting an IP address for selectively receiving IP packets of content corresponding to the reproducing capability of the reproducing means in the receiving means When,

A content playback apparatus comprising:

[2] The reproduction means includes

Internal reproduction means built into the device;

External reproduction means externally connected to the apparatus via a predetermined communication interface, wherein the setting means selectively selects IP packets of content corresponding to the reproduction capabilities of the internal reproduction means and the external reproduction means, respectively. 2. The content playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the IP address for receiving is set in the receiving means.

[3] The receiving means includes

Transmission packet receiving means for receiving, from the broadcast network, a transmission packet in which the IP packet with the IP header added is encapsulated in a predetermined transmission packet;

Releases the capsule of the transmission packet received by the transmission packet receiving means.

IP packet extracting means for extracting the IP packet,

IP multicast correspondence information receiving means for receiving information on IP multicast correspondence in which an IP multicast group address for each IP packet and a condition for receiving the IP packet are set;

The setting means includes

Based on the comparison result, the recommended information on the reproduction capability of the reproduction means included in the information on the IP multicast correspondence received by the IP multicast correspondence information reception means is compared with the information on the reproduction capability of the reproduction means. 3. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the IP multicast group address suitable for the setting is set. A receiving step of selectively receiving IP packets multicasted to a set IP address among IP packets IP multicasted via a broadcast network;

An IP address for selectively receiving the IP packet of the content corresponding to the playback capability of the playback means that plays back the IP packet received by the receiving step as the content and the playback step. A setting step for setting as an IP address of the receiving step;

A content reproduction method comprising: