WO2010004667A1

WO2010004667A1 - Communication device and content management method

Info

Publication number: WO2010004667A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/000771
Authority: WO
Inventors: 太田賢
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2008-07-08
Filing date: 2009-02-23
Publication date: 2010-01-14
Also published as: JP2010021643A

Abstract

Provided are a communication device and a content management method capable of making a content, which the user wants to watch and listen, correspond to a renderer, which the user wants to use preferentially, and also capable of storing the renderer priority information corresponding to acquired content information. A controller unit (22) in the communication device (2) acquires renderer information of a render (3). A server unit (23) in the communication device (2) generates, according to the renderer information acquired by the controller unit (22), a virtual folder provided for each renderer and storing a content reproducible by the render (3) and also extracts, according to the renderer information, a content reproducible by the render (3) to store the content into the corresponding virtual folder provided for each renderer. This makes it possible to hold a content management state corresponding to a renderer environment.

Description

Communication device and content management method

The present invention relates to a communication device equipped with a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) function and a content management method in the communication device.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, communication devices that can be connected to a network have become widespread, and as a device that receives content via the network and displays and reproduces the received content (hereinafter referred to as a renderer), a television receiver, a PC ( Devices such as Personal Computers have become widespread.

There are also electronic devices equipped with a controller function for displaying the priority order of renderers who view content (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 1 determines the priority order for the content attribute of the renderer by itself ([1]), then acquires the renderer attribute by the controller function ([2]), and stores the content. By selecting the content from the server and assigning the content attribute, the priority order is determined based on the setting information [1], the profile information [2], and the content attribute [3]. When the priority order is determined, a list of renderers is displayed, and the user can select a content so that the content can be surely reproduced.

JP 2006-323556 A

However, in the electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the priority of the renderer for the content is determined, if the content that the user (user) wants to view does not correspond to the renderer that the user wants to view, the priority is set. In addition, there is a problem that it is troublesome because the selection of the content has to be performed again from the beginning, and the content cannot be viewed when the selected content cannot be played back by the renderer that has priority.

In addition, since priority is determined for each content selection, renderer priority information corresponding to the acquired content information cannot be stored. Therefore, every time content is viewed, “priority setting” and “profile information” are stored. ”Acquisition”, “acquisition of content attribute”, and there is a problem that it takes time and effort.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and enables communication of content that the user wants to view can correspond to the renderer that the user wants to prioritize and that can store the priority information of the renderer corresponding to the acquired content information. An object is to provide a device and a content management method.

The communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a renderer information acquisition unit that acquires renderer information from a renderer device, a content storage unit that stores content for viewing, a folder generation unit that generates a folder corresponding to the renderer device, and the renderer Content management means for extracting content that can be reproduced by the renderer device based on information and storing the extracted content in a folder corresponding to the renderer device.

According to the above configuration, a folder corresponding to the renderer device is generated, content that can be played back by each renderer device is extracted based on the renderer information of each renderer, and stored in the folder corresponding to the renderer device. The content management state corresponding to the renderer environment can be maintained.

In the above configuration, the folder is a virtual folder, and the content management unit stores the extracted content in a virtual folder corresponding to the renderer device.

According to the above configuration, since the extracted content is stored in the virtual folder corresponding to the renderer device, even if it appears to the user that the same content is stored in a plurality of virtual folders, there may be only one content entity. Thus, usability can be improved without increasing the storage capacity so much.

In the above configuration, the renderer information includes a renderer name of the renderer device, and the content management unit extracts the renderer name from the renderer information and searches for a folder having the same name as the extracted renderer name. If there is no folder with the same name, a folder with the renderer name is generated.

According to the above configuration, a folder corresponding to the renderer can be generated.

In the above configuration, the renderer information includes reproduction format information, and the content management unit can reproduce the content from the plurality of contents stored in the content storage unit on the renderer device based on the reproduction format information. The content is extracted, and the extracted content is stored in the folder.

According to the above configuration, the corresponding content can be stored in the folder corresponding to the renderer.

Further, in the above configuration, a renderer determination information acquisition unit that acquires a renderer determination information sent from the external communication terminal when a renderer device is selected by the external communication terminal, and a renderer determination acquired by the renderer determination information acquisition unit Content list generating means for generating a content list of a folder corresponding to the renderer device based on information, and content providing means for providing the content list generated by the content list generating means to the external communication terminal .

According to the above configuration, the renderer discrimination information is acquired from the external communication terminal, so that the renderer can be discriminated. As a result, a content list can be generated, and the generated content list can be provided to the external communication terminal so that the content list can be displayed on the external communication terminal.

The content management method of the present invention includes: a renderer information acquisition step for acquiring renderer information from a renderer device; a content storage step for storing content for viewing; a folder generation step for generating a folder corresponding to the renderer device; A content management step of extracting content that can be reproduced by the renderer device based on the renderer information, and storing the extracted content in a folder corresponding to the renderer device.

According to the above method, a folder corresponding to the renderer device is generated, content that can be played back by each renderer device is extracted based on the renderer information of each renderer, and the folder corresponding to the renderer device is stored. The content management state corresponding to the environment can be maintained.

The content management program of the present invention includes a renderer information acquisition step for acquiring renderer information from a renderer device, a content storage step for storing content for viewing, a folder generation step for generating a folder corresponding to the renderer device, A content management step of extracting content that can be reproduced by the renderer device based on renderer information, and storing the extracted content in a folder corresponding to the renderer device.

According to the above program, a folder corresponding to the renderer device is generated, content that can be played back by each renderer device is extracted based on the renderer information of each renderer, and the folder corresponding to the renderer device is stored. The content management state corresponding to the environment can be maintained.

According to the present invention, since the folder corresponding to the renderer device is generated, the content management state corresponding to the renderer environment can be maintained. In addition, it is possible to acquire a content list corresponding to the renderer device to be designated.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content providing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the communication apparatus of the content provision system of FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a communication apparatus about the virtual folder production | generation and management method in the content provision system of FIG. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the content provision system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the external communication terminal of the content provision system of FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of an external communication terminal about the content list acquisition method in the content provision system of FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a communication apparatus about the content list provision method in the content provision system of FIG. The figure which shows the virtual folder displayed on the external communication terminal of the content provision system of FIG. The figure which shows the content list list displayed on the external communication terminal of the content provision system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF

SYMBOLS

1, 5

Content provision system

2, 2A Communication apparatus 3 Renderer 4 External communication terminal 10 Folder 11

Content list list

21, 41 Communication part 22 Controller part 23

Server part

42, 221, 231 Renderer information receiving part 43,232 Renderer information analysis part 44 Renderer Discrimination Information Transmitter 45 Server Information Receiver 46

Server Information Selector

47, 223

Device Search Unit

211, 411

Receiver

212, 412 Transmitter 222 Renderer Information Provider 233 Virtual Folder Generator 234 Virtual Folder Manager 235 Virtual Folder Information storage unit 236 Content information analysis unit 237 Content storage unit 238 Renderer discrimination information reception unit 239 Content information transmission unit

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content providing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In this figure, a content providing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a communication device 2 and a renderer 3 and can generate and manage a folder (hereinafter referred to as a “virtual folder”) corresponding to the reproduction environment of the renderer 3. It is. For example, the virtual folder is a folder for each renderer that stores content that can be reproduced by the renderer device based on the renderer information acquired by the controller function. Here, the meaning of “virtual folder” is that the content content is smaller than the number of folders (for example, one), and the same content appears to be stored in a plurality of folders as viewed from the user. This means that the folder is virtually constructed.

Communication device 2 and renderer 3 are connected via a network. The communication device 2 includes a communication unit 21, a controller unit 22, and a server unit 23. The controller unit 22 acquires renderer information from the renderer 3 connected to the network, and provides it to the server unit 23.

The server unit 23 extracts a renderer name from the renderer information of the renderer 3 provided from the controller unit 22, and generates a virtual folder corresponding to the extracted renderer name. The virtual folder is generated for each of the plurality of renderers 3. After creating the virtual folder, the server unit 23 extracts content corresponding to the virtual folder from the rendering format of the renderer information, that is, content that can be reproduced by the renderer 3, and stores the extracted content in the corresponding virtual folder of the renderer 3. In this case, the processing is performed for all contents held by the server unit 23. When the renderer 3 receives the device search request transmitted from the controller unit 22 of the communication device 2, the renderer 3 transmits renderer information including a renderer name and a format that can be played back by the renderer 3 to the communication device 2.

Here, since the server unit 23 stores the extracted content in a virtual folder corresponding to the renderer device, even if it appears that the same content is stored in a plurality of virtual folders when viewed from the user, The number of virtual folders may be smaller than the number of virtual folders (for example, one may be sufficient), and usability can be improved without increasing the storage capacity so much.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the communication device 2. In this figure, the communication unit 21 includes a reception unit 211 and a transmission unit 212. The controller unit 22 includes a renderer information receiving unit 221, a renderer information providing unit 222, and a device searching unit 223. The server unit 23 includes a renderer information reception unit 231, a renderer information analysis unit 232, a virtual folder generation unit 233, a virtual folder management unit 234 that is a content management unit, a virtual folder information storage unit 235 that is a content list generation unit, and a content information analysis. Unit 236, content storage unit 237, renderer discrimination information receiving unit 238, and content information transmitting unit 239.

The reception unit 211 and the transmission unit 212 of the communication unit 21 perform transmission / reception of information to / from a network connection device such as the renderer 3. The renderer information receiving unit 221 of the controller unit 22 receives renderer information transmitted from the renderer 3 connected to the network. The renderer information of the renderer 3 received by the renderer information receiver 221 is input to the renderer information provider 222. The renderer information includes information including renderer specific information such as “renderer name” and “MAC (Media Access Control) address”, and information including a reproduction format that the renderer can reproduce in addition to the renderer specific information. Other executable information may also be included. The renderer information is response information from the renderer 3 that can be acquired by the device search unit 223, and can be acquired according to the number of renderers 3. The renderer information input to the renderer information providing unit 222 is input to the renderer information receiving unit 231 of the server unit 23. The device search unit 223 makes a request for renderer information to the renderer 3 connected to the network.

The renderer information analysis unit 232 of the server unit 23 analyzes the renderer information received by the renderer information reception unit 231 and extracts a renderer name and a format in which the renderer can be played back (hereinafter referred to as a renderer playback format). The virtual folder management unit 234 searches for a virtual folder corresponding to the renderer name. If there is no corresponding virtual folder from the search result, the virtual folder management unit 234 inputs renderer information to the virtual folder generation unit 233. The virtual folder generation unit 233 generates a virtual folder based on the renderer name of the renderer information extracted by the renderer information analysis unit 232 and the corresponding renderer playback format.

The content information analysis unit 236 searches the content group stored in the content storage unit 237 based on the renderer playback format of the virtual folder generated by the virtual folder generation unit 233 to search for content that can be played in the format of the corresponding renderer. Do. The reproducible content searched by the content information analysis unit 236 is stored in the corresponding virtual folder by the virtual folder management unit 234.

The virtual folder information storage unit 235 stores the virtual folder generated so far and the content that can be played back in the playback format of the renderer corresponding to the virtual folder. Further, when renderer discrimination information is input from the renderer discrimination information receiving unit 238 via the virtual folder management unit 234, a virtual folder is searched from the renderer name of the renderer discrimination information. The renderer discrimination information includes information unique to the renderer, such as “renderer name” and “MAC address”. In addition, executable information may be included.

The renderer discrimination information receiving unit 238 receives renderer discrimination information including the renderer name of the renderer that the user desires to view. The renderer discrimination information received by the renderer discrimination information receiving unit 238 is stored in the virtual folder information storage unit 235 by the virtual folder management unit 234. The content information transmission unit 239 acquires the content list provided from the virtual folder information storage unit 235 via the virtual folder management unit 234 and inputs the content list to the transmission unit 212 of the communication unit 21.

The virtual folder management unit 234 performs all management related to virtual folders. When a virtual folder search request is input from the renderer information analysis unit 232, the virtual folder information storage unit 235 that stores virtual folder information searches the corresponding folder. Further, the virtual folder management unit 234 acquires a new virtual folder generated by the virtual folder generation unit 233, and stores the content extracted by the content information analysis unit 236 in the corresponding virtual folder. Further, the virtual folder management unit 234 acquires the renderer discrimination information received by the renderer discrimination information receiving unit 238, transmits the renderer discrimination information by the virtual folder information storage unit 235, and requests a search for the corresponding renderer 3. Further, the content list is acquired from the virtual folder information storage unit 235, and the acquired content list is input to the content information transmission unit 239.

Next, the operation of the communication device 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the communication device 2 for the virtual folder generation and management method of the communication device 2. In order to create and manage a virtual folder on the communication device 2, it is first necessary to find a renderer 3 that is a basis for creating the virtual folder. The device search unit 223 of the communication device 2 searches for the renderer 3 connected to the network (step ST10), and determines whether the renderer 3 has been searched (step ST11). When the renderer 3 can be found, the renderer information is acquired for the found renderer 3 (step ST12). The renderer information is sent to the renderer information analysis unit 232 of the server unit 23 to analyze the renderer information, and the virtual folder is searched based on the renderer name obtained by the analysis (step ST13).

As a result of the virtual folder search, it is determined whether there is a virtual folder corresponding to the renderer name (step ST14). If there is no virtual folder corresponding to the renderer name, the virtual folder generation unit 233 newly generates a virtual folder. It performs (step ST15). When the generation of the virtual folder is completed, the content information analysis unit 236 searches for content based on the reproduction format of the renderer information (step ST16). When content corresponding to the playback format is extracted, the virtual folder management unit 234 stores the content in the virtual folder (step ST17). When the content corresponding to the playback format is stored in the virtual folder, the process is finished. On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST14 that there is a virtual folder corresponding to the renderer name, no process is performed and the process ends.

Thus, according to the content providing system 1 of the present embodiment, the controller unit 22 of the communication device 2 acquires the renderer information of the renderer 3, and the renderer acquired by the server unit 23 of the communication device 2 by the controller unit 22. Generates a virtual folder for each renderer that stores content that can be played back by the renderer 3 based on the information, extracts content that can be played back by the renderer 3 based on the renderer information, and stores it in a virtual folder for each corresponding renderer Therefore, the content management state corresponding to the renderer environment can be maintained.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the content providing system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this figure, the content providing system 5 of the present embodiment has a communication device 2A, a renderer 3 and an external communication terminal 4, and the external communication terminal 4 transmits discrimination information of the renderer 3 that the external communication terminal 4 wants to reproduce to the communication device 2A. Thus, a reproducible content list can be provided collectively. The communication device 2A includes content providing means (not shown) in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. This content providing means acquires a renderer discrimination information sent from the external communication terminal 4 when a renderer is selected by the external communication terminal 4, and a folder corresponding to the renderer 3 for viewing based on the acquired renderer discrimination information The content list is generated, and the generated content list is provided to the external communication terminal 4. Note that the communication device 2A according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the communication device 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, unless otherwise specified.

The communication device 2A, the renderer 3 and the external communication terminal 4 are connected to the network. The external communication terminal 4 acquires renderer information from the renderer 3, extracts discrimination information of the renderer 3 to be reproduced from the acquired renderer information, and transmits the extracted renderer discrimination information to the communication device 2 </ b> A. The communication device 2 </ b> A receives the renderer determination information transmitted from the external communication terminal 4 and searches for a virtual folder corresponding to the renderer 3. If there is a corresponding virtual folder, the content list in the corresponding virtual folder is transmitted to the external communication terminal 4.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the external communication terminal 4. In this figure, an external communication terminal 4 includes a communication unit 41 having a reception unit 411 and a transmission unit 412, a renderer information reception unit 42, a renderer information analysis unit 43, a renderer determination information transmission unit 44, and a server information reception unit. 45, a server information selection unit 46, and a device search unit 47. The reception unit 411 and the transmission unit 412 of the communication unit 41 perform transmission / reception of information to / from network connection devices such as the renderer 3 and the communication device 2A. The renderer information receiving unit 42 receives renderer information transmitted from the renderer 3 connected to the network. The device search unit 47 searches for the renderer 3 connected to the network, and requests the renderer 3 for the searched renderer 3. The device search unit 47 also searches for the communication device 2A.

The renderer information analysis unit 43 extracts the renderer name from the renderer information of each renderer 3 by selecting the renderer 3 that the user desires to view from the plurality of renderers 3 based on the renderer information received by the renderer information receiving unit 45. . Then, renderer discrimination information including the extracted renderer name is input to the renderer discrimination information transmission unit 44. The renderer determination information transmission unit 44 transmits renderer determination information including the name of the renderer to be viewed to the renderer determination information reception unit 238 of the communication device 2A. The server information receiving unit 45 receives the content list transmitted from the content information transmitting unit 239 of the communication device 2A. The server information selection unit 46 selects content to be viewed from the content list received by the server information reception unit 45.

Note that the communication device 2A having a virtual folder can also be used as a server. For server access from the external communication terminal 4 equipped with a controller function, the virtual folder is disclosed and stored in the selected virtual folder. The published content list can be published.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the external communication terminal 4 regarding the content list acquisition method. In this figure, in order to acquire a content list by the external communication terminal 4, it is necessary to first select the renderer 3 to be reproduced. Therefore, the device search unit 47 searches all renderers 3 connected to the network. Then, the content list providing source communication device 2A is searched (step ST20). Then, it is determined whether or not the renderer 3 has been found (step ST21). If the renderer 3 has been found, the renderer information is acquired for each of all the found renderers 3 (step ST22). Next, the renderer 3 to be viewed is determined from all the found renderers 3 (step ST23). Next, the renderer information analysis unit 43 acquires the determined renderer discrimination information of the renderer 3 (step ST24).

After acquiring the render discriminating information, it is determined whether or not the communication device 2A has been found (step ST25). If the communication device 2A cannot be found, the process returns to step ST20. To do. At this time, after confirming that the network with the communication device 2A has been established, renderer discrimination information is transmitted from the renderer discrimination information transmission unit 44 (step ST26). After transmitting the renderer determination information, it is determined whether or not a content list from the communication device 2A has been received (step ST27). If the content list cannot be received, this determination is repeated until the content list can be received. When a content list reproducible with the designated renderer is acquired from the communication device 2A, the content to be viewed is selected from the content list (step ST28), and the content is reproduced (step ST29).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the communication device 2A for the content list providing method. In this figure, the communication device 2 </ b> A performs content list provision processing by acquiring the renderer discrimination information of the renderer 3 that is desired to view from the external communication terminal 4. First, it is determined whether or not renderer discrimination information has been acquired from the external communication terminal 4 (step ST40). When the renderer discrimination information is acquired from the external communication terminal 4 (that is, when the renderer discrimination information is received by the renderer discrimination information receiving unit 238), the virtual folder stored in the virtual folder information storage unit 235 is searched (step) ST41). As a result of the search for the virtual folder, it is determined whether there is a virtual folder corresponding to the renderer determination information (step ST42). If there is no virtual folder corresponding to the renderer determination information, the process returns to step ST40, and the virtual folder exists. In this case, the content information transmission unit 239 transmits the content list to the external communication terminal 4 (step ST43), and the process ends.

FIG. 8 shows a screen display when server information is acquired on the external communication terminal 4 without transmitting the renderer discrimination information using the communication device 2A as a server. The virtual server folder 10 stored in the communication device 2A is displayed on the screen. FIG. 9 shows a content list 11 displayed when the virtual folder shown in FIG. 8 is selected. The screen displayed when the renderer 3 to be viewed on the external communication terminal 4 is selected and the content list provided from the communication device 2A is received is not displayed as shown in FIG. 8, but is displayed as shown in FIG.

As described above, the content providing system 5 of the present embodiment provides the renderer information of the renderer 3 selected by the user from the external communication terminal 4 to the communication device 2A, and the communication device 2A is provided from the external communication terminal 4. Since the content list list of the virtual folder corresponding to the viewing renderer 3 is provided to the external communication terminal 4 based on the renderer information, the user can acquire the content list list corresponding to the designated renderer 3.

Although the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-178215) filed on July 8, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention has an effect that the content that the user wants to view can be associated with the renderer that the user wants to prioritize, and the priority information of the renderer that corresponds to the acquired content information can be saved, and is equipped with a DLNA function. Applicable to communication equipment.

Claims

Renderer information acquisition means for acquiring renderer information from the renderer device;
Content storage means for storing content for viewing;
Folder generation means for generating a folder corresponding to the renderer;
Content management means for extracting content that can be played by the renderer based on the renderer information, and storing the extracted content in a folder corresponding to the renderer;
Communication equipment equipped with.
The folder is a virtual folder;
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the content management unit stores the extracted content in a virtual folder corresponding to the renderer device.
The renderer information includes the renderer name of the renderer device,
The content management means extracts a renderer name from the renderer information, searches for a folder having the same name as the extracted renderer name, and if there is no folder with the same name, generates a folder with the renderer name The communication device according to claim 1 or 2.
The renderer information includes playback format information,
The content management unit extracts content that can be played back by the renderer device from a plurality of contents stored in the content storage unit based on the playback format information, and stores the extracted content in the folder. The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
A renderer determination information acquisition unit that acquires a renderer determination information sent from the external communication terminal when a renderer device is selected at the external communication terminal, and the renderer determination information based on the renderer determination information acquired by the renderer determination information acquisition unit. The content list generating means for generating the content list of the folder corresponding to the apparatus, and the content providing means for providing the content list generated by the content list generating means to the external communication terminal. 5. The communication device according to any one of 4.
A renderer information acquisition step of acquiring renderer information from a renderer device;
A content storage step for storing content for viewing;
A folder generation step for generating a folder corresponding to the renderer;
A content management step of extracting content that can be reproduced by the renderer device based on the renderer information, and storing the extracted content in a folder corresponding to the renderer device;
Content management method comprising:
A renderer information acquisition step for acquiring renderer information from the renderer device;
A content storage step for storing content for viewing;
A folder generation step for generating a folder corresponding to the renderer;
A content management step of extracting content that can be reproduced by the renderer device based on the renderer information, and storing the extracted content in a folder corresponding to the renderer device;
Content management program with