WO2010032290A1

WO2010032290A1 - Content reproducing system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2010032290A1
Application number: PCT/JP2008/066758
Authority: WO
Inventors: 四郎鈴木
Original assignee: パイオニア株式会社
Priority date: 2008-09-17
Filing date: 2008-09-17
Publication date: 2010-03-25

Abstract

A content reproducing system includes a content reproducing device (2), a content processor (1), a video output device (3), and an audio output device (4). The content processor has a determining means (14) for determining to perform a noise reduction processing of a received audio signal in one of a plurality of matching systems preset so that the noise level of an image signal indicated by information on the noise level of the image signal received from the video output device and the noise level of an audio signal received from the content reproducing device are mutually matched and an audio signal processing means (15) for performing the noise reduction processing of the audio signal according to the determined result, and balances the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal.

Description

Content reproduction system and method

The present invention belongs to the technical field of a content reproduction system and method for outputting, for example, an image signal and an audio signal reproduced by an optical disc player from a video device such as a display and a speaker, an audio device, and the like.

In this type of content playback apparatus, as a AV (Audio Visual) content, a viewer can simultaneously experience a video emitted from a display and a sound emitted from a speaker. In this regard, various techniques such as a technique for improving an image signal by image noise reduction processing and a technique for improving an audio signal by sound noise reduction processing have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a cyclic noise attenuating device that attenuates noise without generating an afterimage when there is a change to an uncorrelated image such as a scene change. Patent Document 2 describes a noise attenuating device capable of attenuating noises of input signals having different levels and simplifying the configuration.

JP 2000-224444 A JP-A-11-145857

However, according to the techniques described in

Patent Documents

1 and 2, even if only the noise of the image signal or only the noise of the audio signal is improved, if the video and audio are not reproduced in an integrated manner, the content is to be transmitted. Impressed by the content will fade. Furthermore, when reproducing AV content recorded on a recording medium such as VHS (Video Home System), only the noise of the video signal is removed by the image DNR (Digital Noise Reduction) function of the display. As a result, there is a technical problem that audio noise is relatively large with respect to the image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, for example, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a content reproduction system and method capable of balancing the noise level of an image signal and the noise level of an audio signal. .

(Embodiment of content reproduction system)
In order to solve the above problems, a content playback system according to the present invention is a content playback system including a content playback device, a content processing device, a video output device, and an audio output device, wherein the content playback device includes an image signal, A reproduction unit that reproduces a content signal including an audio signal; and a reproduction-side communication unit that transmits the reproduced image signal and audio signal. The content processing apparatus includes the transmitted image signal and audio signal. The first communication means for receiving the image signal, the image signal processing means for signal processing the received image signal, the image noise level information indicating the noise level of the image signal transmitted from the video output device, and the signal Second communication means for transmitting the processed image signal and before indicated by the received image noise level information; The received audio signal is subjected to noise reduction by any one of a plurality of preset matching methods so that the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the received audio signal are mutually matched. Determining means for determining whether to process; audio signal processing means for performing noise reduction processing on the received audio signal by the determined one matching method; and third communication for transmitting the noise signal subjected to the noise reduction processing And a video side communication means for transmitting the image noise level information and receiving the signal processed and transmitted image signal, and noise reduction of the received image signal. Processing and detecting the noise level of the received image signal to detect the image noise level. Video processing means for generating information and passing it to the video side communication means, and video output means for outputting the noise-reduced image signal as video, wherein the audio output device is subjected to the noise reduction processing and Voice side communication means for receiving the transmitted voice signal and voice output means for outputting the received voice signal as voice.

According to the content reproduction system of the present invention, at the time of its operation, first, in a content reproduction apparatus such as a DVD player or an optical disk player, an image signal and an audio signal are received by reproduction means including, for example, an optical pickup and a decoder. The containing content signal is played back. That is, for example, as in movies, animation, video live, music with video, the image signal and the audio signal are reproduced in a mutually corresponding form or in harmony with the contents of a series of contents. Further, these reproduced image signals and audio signals are transmitted by reproduction side communication means such as an interface and a modem.

When an image signal or the like is transmitted in this way, next, in a content processing apparatus including, for example, an AV amplifier, a controller, and the like, first, the transmitted information is connected to a content reproduction apparatus by, for example, a wired or wireless interface. And received by the first communication means such as a modem. Then, the received image signal is subjected to, for example, through processing, image quality improvement processing or interpolation processing, thinning processing or rounding processing, noise attenuation processing, and the like by an image signal processing means including an image processor, an image memory, and the like. The signal processing is performed. Here, the “through process” means a process for allowing a signal to pass through without performing any process on the image signal.

In parallel with or in parallel with this, image noise level information indicating the noise level of the image signal is transmitted to the content processing device by the video side communication means such as an interface or a modem provided in the video output device. The Here, “noise” of an image signal is, for example, luminance noise, color noise, unstructured noise, structured noise in a still image, or block noise or snow noise when playing video content on a television device or the like. It means a noise signal that interferes with a normal image signal, such as switching noise. On the other hand, “noise” of an audio signal means a noise signal that interferes with a normal audio signal, such as petit noise, hum noise, white noise, aliasing noise, and hiss noise of a cassette tape. The “noise level” indicates the level of the amount of noise mixed in the image signal or audio signal, or the level of the level. The image noise level information is a predefined number and may be proportional to the noise level of the detected image signal. Alternatively, the image noise level information may be a ratio between the amount of an image signal originally reproduced or transmitted and the amount of noise mixed in the image signal.

Subsequently, in the content processing apparatus, the image noise level information is received by the second communication means such as an interface or a modem that is wired or wirelessly connected to the video output apparatus. Here, the first and second communication means may be shared or may be independent of each other. Furthermore, the image signal processed by the image signal processing means is transmitted by the second communication means.

In parallel or prior to the transmission of such an image signal, when the image noise level information is received by the second communication means, the noise level of the audio signal received by the first communication means as described above The audio signal received by any one of a plurality of preset matching methods so as to match the image signal noise level indicated by the image noise level information received by the second communication means. Whether to perform noise reduction processing is determined by, for example, a determination unit including a processor, a memory, and the like.

Here, “matching noise levels to each other” means that the lower the noise level in one of the image signal and the audio signal, the lower the noise level in the other of the image signal and the audio signal. The higher the noise level in one of the audio signals, the higher the noise level in the other of the image signal and the audio signal. At this time, since it is only necessary to relatively match, only the noise level of the audio signal may be increased or decreased, or only the noise level of the image signal may be increased or decreased, and the noise levels of both the audio signal and the image signal may be increased. It may be increased or decreased (further, both may be increased, both may be decreased, one may be increased and the other decreased). For example, if a standard correspondence between the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal is set in advance for each value of the noise level, the noise level of any signal is determined based on this correspondence. Is relatively high or low, where the noise level of the signal identified as high is relatively low or the noise level of the other signal is relatively high Thus, the noise levels can be adjusted to each other. Alternatively, if the noise level of the signal identified as low here is relatively high, or the noise level of the other signal is relatively low, the noise levels can be matched to each other.

Here, “a plurality of matching methods” are a plurality of methods (that is, a plurality of combinations or pairs) that respectively define appropriate combinations or pairs of the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal. In such a content processing apparatus, for an individual specific content reproduction apparatus, or for an individual specific video output apparatus or audio output apparatus, it is of a nature that is set in advance empirically or experimentally. For example, it is set in advance experimentally or empirically as a method (typically one of them or a conversion method for adjusting sound quality) when realizing a comfortable combination or pair of image quality and sound quality.

Subsequently, the audio signal processing means including, for example, a processor, a memory, a converter, and the like performs noise reduction processing on the audio signal according to the one matching method determined by the determining means as described above, so that the first communication means The noise level of the received audio signal and the noise level of the received image signal are matched with each other. For example, when a high-noise image signal and audio signal such as VHS content are reproduced, the image signal noise reduction process attenuates the image signal deeply, so that the audio signal noise reduction process matches the image signal. The noise of the audio signal is deeply attenuated. Conversely, when a low-noise image signal and audio signal such as HD (High Definition) content are reproduced, for example, the image signal is reduced to a shallow level by the image signal noise reduction process. Accordingly, the noise of the audio signal is attenuated shallowly or not by the audio signal noise reduction process. Thereafter, the audio signal subjected to the signal processing in this manner is transmitted by, for example, an audio transmission unit connected to the audio output device by wire or wirelessly.

Then, in the video output device, for example, an image signal transmitted through the signal processing as described above is received by video side communication means such as an interface or a modem connected to the content processing device by wire or wirelessly. Here, the image signal received by the video processing means is subjected to noise reduction processing. For example, Y / C separation (that is, the luminance signal Y and the color signal C are separated from the video signal and digital processing is performed on each of them, thereby causing flicker noise in the luminance signal, rough noise, and extra color in the color signal. The image signal is subjected to DNR (Digital Noise Reduction) processing by a technique such as three-dimensional digital noise reduction. Further, prior to the determination in the determination unit, the image noise level information is generated based on the image noise level detected from the image noise reduction process of the video processing unit, and the content processing is performed via the second communication unit. Sent to the device side.

Subsequently, the received image signal is output as video by a video output means such as a flat panel display, a projector, or a monitor.

In parallel with such video output, in the audio output device, the audio signal that has been subjected to the above signal processing and transmitted is received by, for example, audio side communication means connected to the audio output means by wire or wirelessly. Subsequently, the received audio signal is output as audio by an audio output means such as a speaker or an amplifier.

As described above, with the one matching method determined by the determining means, the noise level of the audio signal and the noise level of the image signal are matched with each other, and then video output and audio output are performed. Therefore, it is possible to reliably realize a balance between the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal. In addition to improving the quality of video and audio, and balancing the video noise level and the audio noise level during playback, the video output from the video output device by the viewer and the audio output from the audio output device can be reproduced. It is possible to experience it at the same time. At this time, it is possible to prevent an increase in processing burden associated with attenuating one of the noise levels to an unbalanced level.

Furthermore, even if the data recorded on the recording medium such as VHS is reproduced, it is extremely advantageous to prevent the imbalance between the attenuation of the image signal noise and the attenuation of the audio noise. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently transmit a large amount of video / audio information with attenuated noise and balance the video noise level with the audio noise level during playback, so that the viewer can finally experience the AV content. Can improve the sense of unity of the image sound. Moreover, there is no difficulty in continuity between devices, and it is extremely advantageous in practice to realize a system that can automatically adjust to an ideal viewing environment for viewers.

In another aspect of the content reproduction system of the present invention, the determining means determines the degree of noise reduction processing applied to the audio signal according to the image noise level, so that the plurality of preset matching methods Whether or not noise reduction processing is performed using any one of the matching methods, and the sound signal processing unit is configured to correspond to the determined degree of application using the determined one matching method. Adjust the gain in the noise reduction process.

According to this aspect, the sound is correlated with the real-time information indicating how much noise reduction is being applied from the image DNR processing incorporated in the image signal processing means by the determination means and the sound signal processing means as described above. Change the DNR level. For example, if the NR (Noise Reduction) condition of the image DNR process is strong, the NR condition of the audio DNR process is also strong. If the NR condition of the image DNR process is weak, the NR condition of the sound DNR process is also weakened. For example, the NR degree of the audio DNR process may be adjusted by making the NR degree of the image DNR process in direct proportion.

Specifically, for example, in the audio signal processing means of the present invention, the audio DNR processing itself uses a type that can automatically estimate the floor noise level of the received audio signal and control the degree of NR processing, and perform image signal processing. The relationship between the floor noise level of the audio signal and the audio DNR process is changed according to the NR application status of the means. In this type of audio DNR processing, a gain control means such as a gain controller controls gains such as an attenuation rate and an amplification rate of the audio DNR processing based on the detected floor noise level of the audio signal, so that the audio signal Noise attenuation is realized. Usually, the attenuation rate of the attenuation process is set to the threshold level / floor noise level, and the amplification factor of the attenuation process is set to the floor noise level / threshold level. The threshold level is stored in advance in a holding unit such as a memory.

At this time, image noise level information, for example, a predefined number that is proportional to the noise amount of the detected image signal is used to adjust the gain of the audio DNR process, thereby determining the degree of application of the audio DNR process. Are adjusted to the degree of image DNR processing. For example, the numbers 1 to 10 representing the noise level of the image may be added to or multiplied by the attenuation rate of the audio DNR process by proportional conversion of the image noise level information. On the other hand, the method of adjusting the gain based on the image noise level information, that is, the relational characteristic between the image noise level information and the audio DNR processing gain may be held in advance in a holding unit such as a memory.

Specifically, when the NR condition of the image DNR process is weak with respect to the sound signal, the gain of the sound DNR process is adjusted to be small so that the NR condition of the sound DNR process matches the image DNR process. On the contrary, when the NR condition of the image DNR process is strong, the gain of the sound DNR process is largely adjusted so that the NR condition of the sound DNR process matches the image DNR process.

As described above, the determination unit and the audio signal processing unit adjust the gain of the audio DNR process so as to match the noise level of the image, so that the balance between the image DNR process and the audio DNR process is balanced. It becomes possible to take. In addition, it effectively attenuates and accurately reproduces the noise of content signals with different floor noise levels such as VHS, DVD, BD, and HD-DVD, and optimally balances the noise levels of both image and sound signals. Can be taken realistically.

In another aspect of the content reproduction system of the present invention, the determining means is one of the plurality of image sound digital noise reduction modes set in advance as the one matching method, It is determined whether to perform noise reduction processing on the received audio signal.

According to this aspect, as a method for matching a plurality of image noise levels, for example, a plurality of image sound digital noise reduction modes such as a VHS content mode, an HD (High Definition) content mode, a high sound quality mode, and a high image quality mode are pre- Is set. Therefore, according to each content, it can reproduce | regenerate by an appropriate one among the set modes.

For example, when the VHS content mode is determined, since both the image signal and the audio signal are high in noise, both DNR processes may be deeply attenuated. At this time, the NR application in the audio DNR process is made the same so as to match the NR application in the image DNR process. For example, the gains of both DNR processes are set to the same rate.

For example, when the HD (High Definition) content mode is determined, since high-quality image signals and audio signals are reproduced, both DNR processes may be deeply noise attenuated. At this time, for example, the NR condition in the audio signal noise reduction process is set to zero or OFF. That is, since the sound signal is of high sound quality, it is not necessary to remove the noise of the sound signal, no matter how much the noise of the image signal is attenuated.

For example, when the high sound quality mode is determined, the quality of only one of the audio signals is pursued, so that the noise is deeply attenuated by the audio DNR processing rather than the image DNR processing. At this time, for example, the NR application level in the audio DNR process may be set to any multiple of the NR application level in the image DNR process.

For example, when the high image quality mode is determined, the quality of only one of the image signals is pursued, so that the noise of the audio DNR processing is attenuated more shallowly than the image DNR processing. At this time, for example, the NR condition in the audio DNR process may be set to a fraction of the NR condition in the image DNR process.

Therefore, image DNR processing can be performed very efficiently and reliably by performing DNR processing of image signals and audio signals in a special image / sound digital noise reduction mode in accordance with special content contents or a special playback device. It is possible to balance the condition and the condition of voice DNR processing. Furthermore, video and audio are integrated and played back, and the excitement of what the content wants to convey can be further deepened. That is, an optimal viewing environment can be provided for special content.

In this aspect, the determining means may determine one of the plurality of image sound digital noise reduction modes as an initial setting.

With this configuration, for example, an image / sound digital noise reduction mode is set by an initial setting operation, and the setting state is stored in the content reproduction apparatus. Further, when reproducing the DVD, it is determined whether or not the set image / audio digital noise reduction mode is recorded in the content processing apparatus, and if it is recorded, the image / audio digital noise reduction mode is set. Correspondingly, the image signal and the audio signal in which the noise of the image signal and the noise of the audio signal are attenuated are reproduced.

Then, for example, it is not necessary to reset the image / sound digital noise reduction mode when the AV content is played back, and the AV content can be viewed without performing a troublesome setting operation.

In another aspect of the content reproduction system of the present invention, the content signal and the image noise level information are transmitted between the content reproduction device and the content processing device and between the content processing device and the video output device through a digital interface. The digital interface is an HDMI cable.

According to this aspect, since the image signal, the audio signal, and the image noise level information are transmitted / received via the HDMI cable, the content processing device, the content reproduction device, and the video output device can be easily and reliably connected. .

Here, all HDMI cables are the same standard. The same standard means that the transmission system is the same regardless of the shape of the terminal connected to the cable, that is, the plug. Therefore, HDMI and IEEE 1394 are not the same standard. On the other hand, HDMI is classified into an A type, a B type, and a C type according to the type of plug or connector in the standard version at the present stage.

Therefore, high-efficiency transmission of a large amount of information can be performed so as to transmit a noise-attenuated image signal and audio signal, and image noise level information necessary for adjusting the digital noise reduction processing of the audio signal can be transmitted simultaneously with the content signal. Transmission to a predetermined processing unit is possible.

In another aspect of the content reproduction system of the present invention, the content reproduction device, the content processing device, and the video output device are arranged in a common housing or frame, or overlap each other or arranged side by side.

According to this aspect, the transmission / reception method of the image signal, the audio signal, and the image noise level information between the devices is not necessarily HDMI. At this time, the content reproduction system includes, as system products, for example, a content reproduction device such as a player, a content processing device such as an AV amplifier, and a video output device such as a display, all in the same casing or frame. Or arranged side by side, that is, function as one system product.

As described above, according to the present invention, the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal are balanced, and the number of necessary parts is reduced by integrating the system products. And cost reduction. In addition, it is possible to automatically adjust the problem of continuity between devices.

Note that the content reproduction device, content processing device, and video output device may be physically separated from each other. For example, they may be sold separately, installed at different occasions, and exchanged at different occasions.

Another content playback system of the present invention is a content playback system including a content playback device, a content processing device, a video output device, and an audio output device in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. And a reproduction means for reproducing the content signal including the audio signal and a reproduction-side communication means for transmitting the reproduced image signal and audio signal, and the content processing apparatus includes the transmitted image signal and audio A first communication means for receiving a signal; an image signal processing means for signal processing the received image signal; an audio signal processing means for signal processing the received audio signal; and the signal processed image signal. Second communication means for transmitting, third communication means for transmitting the signal-processed audio signal, and the received or transmitted image signal In order to match the noise level and the noise level of the received or transmitted audio signal to each other, any one of a plurality of preset matching methods may be used to match the received audio signal and image signal. Determining means for determining whether noise reduction processing is performed on at least one of the signals, and the video output device includes video-side communication means for receiving the signal signal processed and transmitted, and the received signal Video output means for outputting an image signal, and the audio output device outputs audio of the received audio signal and audio side communication means for receiving the signal-processed and transmitted audio signal Audio output means, and further provided in the image signal processing means, the audio signal processing means, and the video output device, the video side communication. At least one processing means among the image processing means for signal processing the image signal received by means, as part of the signal processing and noise reduction processing in the at least one of the one matching method for a signal which is the determined.

According to another content reproduction system of the present invention, video output and audio output are performed, and the video processing unit, the image signal processing unit, and the audio signal processing unit are controlled by one matching method determined by the determination unit. The noise level of the audio signal and the noise level of the image signal can be matched by performing noise reduction processing on at least one of the received image signal and audio signal by at least one processing means.

In other words, the audio signal may be subjected to digital noise reduction processing by the audio signal processing means of the content processing apparatus so that the noise level of the audio signal matches the noise level of the image signal. On the other hand, the image signal may be subjected to digital noise reduction processing by the video processing unit of the video output device or the image signal processing unit of the content processing device so that the noise level of the image signal matches the noise level of the audio signal.

Therefore, the video and audio noises are attenuated, and the video noise level and the audio noise level are balanced during playback, so that the viewer can generate the video and audio generated from the video playback device. It is possible to experience it at the same time. Furthermore, the assembly of system products is more flexible. Moreover, the freedom to select parts increases.

It should be noted that other content reproduction systems of the present invention can take various aspects similar to those of the content reproduction system of the present invention described above.

(Embodiment of content reproduction method)
In order to solve the above problems, a content playback method according to the present invention is a content playback method in a content playback system including a content playback device, a content processing device, a video output device, and an audio output device. A reproduction step for reproducing a content signal including an image signal and an audio signal, and a reproduction-side communication step for transmitting the reproduced image signal and the audio signal are performed. In the content processing apparatus, the transmitted image signal is transmitted. And a first communication step for receiving an audio signal, an image signal processing step for signal processing the received image signal, and image noise level information indicating a noise level of the image signal transmitted from the video output device. A second communication step of transmitting the signal processed image signal; and the received image noise level. The noise level of the image signal indicated by the image information and the noise level of the received audio signal are matched with each other by any one of a plurality of preset matching methods. A determination step for determining whether the received audio signal is subjected to noise reduction processing, an audio signal processing step for performing noise reduction processing on the received audio signal by the determined one matching method, and the noise signal subjected to the noise reduction processing A video communication step for transmitting the image noise level information and receiving the signal-processed and transmitted image signal, and receiving the received image signal. The image signal is subjected to noise reduction processing and the noise level of the received image signal is detected. A video processing step of generating the image noise level information and passing it to the video side communication means, and a video output step of outputting the image signal subjected to the noise reduction processing, and the audio output device A voice-side communication process for receiving a voice signal that has been subjected to noise reduction and transmitted, and a voice output process for outputting the received voice signal as a voice are executed.

According to the content reproduction method of the present invention, the noise level of the audio signal and the noise level of the image signal are matched by performing noise reduction processing on the received audio signal with one matching method determined in the determining step. Then, video output and audio output are performed. Therefore, as in the case of the content reproduction system according to the present invention described above, it is possible to reliably realize a balance between the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal.

It should be noted that the content reproduction method of the present invention can also adopt various aspects similar to those of the content reproduction system of the present invention described above.

Another content reproduction method of the present invention is a content reproduction method in a content reproduction system including a content reproduction device, a content processing device, a video output device, and an audio output device, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. Then, a reproduction process for reproducing a content signal including an image signal and an audio signal and a reproduction-side communication process for transmitting the reproduced image signal and the audio signal are performed. In the content processing apparatus, the transmitted image is transmitted. A first communication step for receiving a signal and an audio signal, an image signal processing step for signal processing the received image signal, an audio signal processing step for signal processing the received audio signal, and the signal processing A second communication step for transmitting an image signal; a third communication step for transmitting the signal-processed audio signal; Alternatively, the received image signal may be received by any one of a plurality of preset matching methods so as to match the noise level of the transmitted image signal and the noise level of the received or transmitted audio signal. A determination step for determining whether noise reduction processing is performed on at least one of the audio signal and the image signal, and in the video output device, the video-side communication step of receiving the signal signal processed and transmitted And a video output step of outputting the received image signal as a video, and in the audio output device, an audio side communication step of receiving the audio signal that has been processed and transmitted, and the received audio An audio output step for outputting a signal as audio, and the image signal processing step, the audio signal processing step, and the video output device At least one of the video processing steps of performing the signal processing on the image signal that is executed and received by the video side communication step, the signal is processed as a part of the signal processing by the at least one matching method. Perform noise reduction processing.

According to the content reproduction method of the present invention, video output and audio output are performed, and in one matching method determined by the determination step, among the video processing step, the image signal processing step, and the audio signal processing step The noise level of the audio signal and the noise level of the image signal can be matched by performing noise reduction processing on at least one of the received image signal and audio signal in at least one processing step. Therefore, as in the case of the other content reproduction system according to the present invention described above, it is possible to reliably realize the balance between the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal.

It should be noted that, in the other content reproduction method of the present invention, various aspects similar to those of the above-described other content reproduction system of the present invention can be adopted.

The operation and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified from the best mode for carrying out the invention to be described below.

As described above in detail, the content reproduction system of the present invention includes a content processing device, and the content processing device further includes a determination unit and an audio signal processing unit that match a noise level of an image signal and a noise level of an audio signal. On the other hand, since the content reproduction method of the present invention includes a determination step and an audio signal processing step for matching the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal, the noise of the image signal and the noise of the audio signal are attenuated. It is possible to balance the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content reproduction system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the determination part and audio | voice signal processing part which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the attenuation characteristic in the noise reduction part of the audio | voice signal which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart shown about the content reproduction method which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content reproduction system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart shown about the content reproduction method which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart shown about the content reproduction method which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Content processing apparatus, 2 ... Content reproduction apparatus, 3 ... Video output apparatus, 4 ... Audio | voice output apparatus, 11 ... 1st communication part, 12 ... 2nd communication part, 13 ... Image signal processing part, 14 ... Determination part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Audio | voice signal processing part, 16 ... 3rd communication part, 21 ... Disc, 22 ... Playback part, 23 ... Playback side communication part, 31 ... Video | video side communication part, 32 ... Video processing part, 33 ... Video output part, 41 ... Audio side communication unit, 42 ... Audio output unit, 51, 52 ... HDMI cable, 201 ... Frame

Hereinafter, embodiments of the content reproduction system and method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the overall configuration of the content reproduction system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the content reproduction system according to the first embodiment.

1, the content reproduction system includes a content processing device 1, a content reproduction device 2, a video output device 3, and an audio output device 4. The content processing device 1, the content reproduction device 2, the video output device 3, and the audio output device 4 exchange AV content signals including image signals and audio signals and noise level information of the image sound signals, and reproduce video and audio. To output.

As shown in FIG. 1, the content reproduction apparatus 2 is an optical disk player such as a DVD player, for example, and includes a reproduction unit 22 that reproduces the optical disc 21 and a reproduction-side communication unit 23 that transmits the reproduced content signal. ing.

The playback unit 22 plays back the disc 21 inserted in the content playback device 2 and reads the image signal and audio signal on the disc. The type of the disc 21 here is not limited to the number of recording layers, and various types such as a Blu-ray disc, HD-DVD, and DVD can be considered. In any case, the disc 21 has information such as AV content to be reproduced by the content reproduction system.

Also, the playback-side communication unit 23 is cable-connected to the first communication unit 11 of the content processing apparatus 1. The reproduction-side communication unit 23 transmits information read from the disc 21 by the reproduction unit 22 to the first communication unit 11.

The content processing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that processes image signals and audio signals such as an AV amplifier. The content processing apparatus 1 includes a first communication unit 11, a second communication unit 12, an image signal processing unit 13, a determination unit 14, an audio signal processing unit 15, and a third communication unit 16.

The first communication unit 11 is cable-connected to the reproduction side communication unit 23 of the content reproduction apparatus 2 and receives a content signal including an image signal and an audio signal from the reproduction side communication unit 23. The first communication unit 11 transmits the received image signal to the image signal processing unit 13 and transmits the received audio signal to the audio signal processing unit 15. Here, the audio signal processing unit 15 is an example of the “audio signal processing means” according to the present invention, which performs DNR processing of an audio signal.

The second communication unit 12 receives the image noise level information of the video output device 3 via the video side communication unit 31 as a receiving mechanism. Here, the image noise level information is information indicating the level of the amount of noise mixed in the image signal. More specifically, the image noise level information is a predefined number that is proportional to the noise amount of the detected image signal. It is. On the other hand, the second communication unit 12 transmits the image signal processed by the image signal processing unit 13 to the video side communication unit 31 as a transmission mechanism.

The image signal processing unit 13 processes the image signal received by the first communication unit 11. In a normal case, the image processing unit 13 transmits the image signal received from the first communication unit 11 to the second communication unit 12 as it is without being processed as a through processing unit.

The determination unit 14 includes a processor, a memory, and the like, and a plurality of preset values are set so that the image signal noise level information received by the second communication unit 12 and the noise level of the received audio signal are mutually matched. It is determined whether noise reduction processing is performed on the received audio signal by any one of the matching methods. Specifically, the determination unit 14 determines the degree of noise reduction processing applied to the audio signal according to the image noise level.

The determination unit 14 of the present embodiment has a plurality of matching methods, that is, a plurality of image noise reduction modes. The plurality of image noise reduction will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

The audio signal processing unit 15 includes, for example, a processor, a memory, a decoder, and the like, and according to the determination result of the determination unit 14, the noise level of the audio signal received by the determined matching method and the received image signal The audio signal is subjected to noise reduction processing so as to match the noise level with each other. For example, when a high-noise image signal and an audio signal are reproduced, the noise of the image signal is deeply attenuated by the image DNR process, so that the noise of the audio signal is adjusted by the audio DNR process so as to match the noise level of the image signal. Attenuate deeply. Conversely, when a low-noise image signal and an audio signal are reproduced, the noise of the image signal is shallowly attenuated by the image DNR process. Therefore, the audio DNR process is performed to match the noise level of the image signal. Attenuates noise shallowly.

The processing of the determination unit 14 and the audio signal processing unit 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the determination unit and the audio signal processing unit according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an example of an attenuation characteristic in the noise reduction unit of the audio signal processing unit 15 according to the first embodiment. FIG.

In FIG. 2, as the audio signal processing unit 15, for example, a DNR processor of a type that can automatically estimate the floor noise level Vfnoise of the input audio signal and control the degree Cnr of NR processing is used. The audio signal processing unit 15 includes a division unit 15a, a detection unit 15b, a noise reduction unit 15c, a gain control unit 15d, and a synthesis unit 15e.

The dividing unit 15a divides the audio signal input from the first communication unit 11 for each preset frequency band and transmits the audio signal to the noise reduction unit 15c in order to perform audio DNR processing.

The detection unit 15b detects the floor level Vfnoise of noise in the audio signal input from the first communication unit 11, and transmits it to the gain control control unit 15d.

The noise reduction unit 15c performs DNR processing on the audio signal divided into the respective frequency bands according to the ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel of the received audio signal and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR processing. The ratio Pig is stored in advance in, for example, the noise reduction unit 15c itself or a holding unit such as a memory.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the ratio Pig is in the state 100a, the signal attenuation amount Att increases as the input level InputLevel of the audio signal decreases. It may be set arbitrarily, and for example, it may have a characteristic constituted only by a certain inclination. Further, the relational characteristic between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR process can be appropriately changed according to the design requirement other than that shown in FIG.

As a gain controller, the gain control unit 15d controls the ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR process according to the noise floor level Vfnoise of the received audio signal, that is, the noise floor level of the audio signal. The attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR process performed in the noise reduction unit 15c is adjusted by the relationship characteristic Gpig between Vfnoise and the ratio Pig. The relational characteristic Gpig here means the same as the NR process degree Cnr.

The synthesizing unit 15 e is, for example, an amplifier, and synthesizes the audio signal that has been divided and noise attenuated in the entire band, and transmits the audio signal that has been subjected to DNR processing to the third communication unit 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the determination unit 14 includes a hook condition adjustment unit 14a and a memory 14b. The determination unit 14 controls the relational characteristic Gpig between the noise floor level Vfnoise of the received audio signal and the ratio Pig by selecting the image noise level information Ivn and the image noise reduction mode described later, and thereby the input level of the audio signal. Controls the ratio Pig between InputLevel and attenuation amount Att of audio DNR processing.

The application condition adjusting unit 14a controls the relational characteristic Gpig based on the image noise level information Ivn received from the second communication unit 12, and further sets the ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel of the audio signal and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR process. adjust. Here, the NR degree of the audio DNR process is adjusted by making the NR degree of the image DNR process in direct proportion, that is, if the image noise level information Ivn is large, the relation characteristic Gpig is adjusted to adjust the input level InputLevel and the audio level. The ratio Pig with the attenuation amount Att of the DNR process is increased.

The memory 14b stores a ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR process according to the image noise level information Ivn and each image noise reduction mode described later. Note that the attenuation characteristic in the memory 14b is not particularly limited, such as being stored in the form of an arithmetic expression indicating the characteristic or in the form of a lookup table.

Next, an example of the attenuation characteristic of the noise reduction process stored in the gain control unit 15d is shown in FIG. Here, in FIG. 3, the horizontal axis indicates the input level InputLevel corresponding to the input audio signal in the noise reduction unit 15c, and the vertical axis indicates the attenuation amount Att of the DNR process controlled by the gain control unit 15d. Yes.

When the ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR process is in the state 100a, the noise reduction unit 15c adjusts the DNR process based on the state 100a. For example, when the input level in the audio signal is −50 dBV, the attenuation amount Att of the DNR process of the noise reduction unit 15 c is −4 dB.

When the amount of noise in the image signal increases, that is, when Ivn increases, the ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR processing also increases. Therefore, the ratio Pig is changed from the state 100a to the state 100b by moving in the lower right direction in FIG. At this time, for example, when the input level in the audio signal is −50 dBV, the attenuation amount Att of the DNR processing of the noise reduction unit 15 c is −5 dB.

Conversely, when the noise amount of the image signal decreases, that is, when Ivn becomes smaller, the ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR processing also becomes smaller. Accordingly, the ratio Pig is changed from the state 100a to the state 100c by moving in the upper left direction in FIG. At this time, for example, when the input level of the audio signal is −50 dBV, the attenuation amount Att of the DNR process of the noise reduction unit 15 c is −3 dB.

Therefore, the received image noise level information Ivn controls the relationship characteristic Gpig between the noise floor level Vfnoise of the received audio signal and the ratio Pig, so that the ratio between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR processing Adjust Pig.

For example, the attenuation characteristics of the

states

100a, 100b, and 100c shown in FIG. 3 are stored in the memory 14b. The attenuation characteristic stored in the memory 14b is not particularly limited, for example, stored in the form of an arithmetic expression indicating the characteristic or in the form of a lookup table. On the other hand, the image noise level information Ivn indicating the noise level of the image signal is a predefined number 1 to 10 that is proportional to the amount of noise of the detected image signal, and is directly used for the attenuation rate of the audio DNR processing. Att may be added or multiplied.

As described above, the determination unit 14 and the audio signal processing unit 15 adjust the gain of the audio DNR process so as to match the noise level of the image. It becomes possible to balance. Furthermore, the noise of the image signal and the audio signal can be effectively attenuated and reproduced accurately, and the optimum balance between the noise levels of both the image and sound signals can be realistically achieved.

1 again, the third communication unit 16 transmits the audio signal subjected to the noise reduction process by the audio signal processing unit 15 to the audio side communication unit 41 of the audio output device 4.

The video output device 3 is a display, for example, and outputs an image signal transmitted from the content processing device. The video output device 3 includes a video communication unit 31, a video processing unit 32, and a video output unit 33.

The video side communication unit 31 has two functions, like the second communication unit 12 of the content processing apparatus 1. The video side communication unit 31 is connected to the second communication unit 12 of the content processing apparatus 1 as a transmission mechanism by a cable, and receives image noise level information indicating the noise level of the image signal detected by the video processing unit 32. 2 Transmit to the communication unit 12. On the other hand, as a receiving mechanism, the image signal processed by the image signal processing unit 13 of the content processing device 1 is received via the second communication unit for output by the video output unit 32.

The video processing unit 32 performs image DNR processing on the image signal received by the video side communication unit 31 by a technique such as Y / C separation or three-dimensional digital noise reduction. Image As an example of “image noise level information” according to the present invention, noise of an image signal is detected by DNR processing of its own image signal. This image noise level information indicates the amount of noise mixed in the image signal. Here, the image noise level information is a number from 0 to 10 defined in advance, and is proportional to the noise amount of the detected image signal. 0 means that there is little noise in the image signal, and 10 means that there is much noise in the image signal.

The video output unit 33 outputs the image signal subjected to the noise reduction processing by the video processing unit 32 as a video. That is, it is displayed on the screen of its own in the direct view type or on a screen separately provided in the projection type.

The audio output device 4 is, for example, a speaker, and includes an audio side communication unit 41 and an audio output unit 42. The audio side communication unit 41 receives from the audio transmission unit 16 an audio signal processed by the content processing apparatus 1 and particularly subjected to matching processing of the image noise level. The audio output unit 42 outputs audio based on the audio signal received by the audio side communication unit 41.

With the above configuration, the video signal and the audio output are performed after the noise level of the audio signal and the noise level of the image signal are matched with each other. Therefore, it is possible to reliably realize a balance between the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal. Furthermore, by improving the quality of the video and audio and balancing the video noise level and the audio noise level during playback, the video and audio output from the video output device by the viewer can be reproduced. It becomes possible to realize more integrated and simultaneous experience.

Furthermore, even if the data recorded on the recording medium such as VHS is reproduced, it is extremely advantageous to prevent the imbalance between the attenuation of the image signal noise and the attenuation of the audio noise. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently transmit a large amount of video / audio information with attenuated noise and balance the video noise level with the audio noise level during playback, so that the viewer can finally experience the AV content. Can improve the sense of unity of the image sound. Moreover, there is no difficulty in continuity between devices, and it is extremely advantageous in practice to achieve a system that can automatically adjust to an ideal viewing environment for the viewer.

Note that the content reproduction system of this embodiment further includes HDMI cables 51 and 52. The HDMI cables 51 and 52 are configured to interconnect the content processing apparatus 1, the content reproduction apparatus 2, and the video output apparatus 3 as connection members, and to transmit and receive image signals, audio signals, and image noise level information. Yes. The transmission standard to which the content processing device 1, the content reproduction device 2, and the video output device 3 are compliant is HDMI. All HDMI cables have the same standard.

Therefore, by using an HDMI cable, high-efficiency transmission of a large amount of information can be performed so as to transmit a noise-attenuated image signal and audio signal, and necessary image noise level information for adjusting the digital noise reduction processing of the audio signal. Can be transmitted to the predetermined processing unit simultaneously with the content signal.

Further, a plurality of image sound modes of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of image noise reduction modes (that is, modes corresponding to the plurality of states 100 a illustrated in FIG. 3) are set in advance, and the determination unit 14 has or is included in the determination unit 14. Each value of the attenuation amount Att with respect to the input level InputLevel classified by mode is stored in a table format in the connected memory 14b. Thereafter, when the content is reproduced, the determination unit 14 selects one image / noise reduction mode, so that the application condition adjustment unit 14a refers to the relational characteristics corresponding to each mode stored in the memory 14b. The amount adjustment amount of the audio DNR process of the gain control unit is controlled.

3, as a matching method, a high image quality mode, a VHS content mode, and a high sound quality mode (that is, a mode corresponding to the plurality of states 100a illustrated in FIG. 3) are provided. FIG. 3 shows the attenuation characteristics of the noise reduction unit 15c with respect to each image sound mode.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the high image quality mode is selected, the ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR processing is set to the state 100a. That is, since the quality of only one of the image signals is pursued, the audio DNR process attenuates the noise shallowly by the image DNR process. At this time, for example, when the input level in the audio signal is −50 dBV, the attenuation amount Att of the DNR process of the noise reduction unit 15 c is −4 dB.

When the VHS content mode is selected, the ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR process is set to the state 101a. That is, since both the image signal and the audio signal are high in noise, it is better to attenuate the noise deeply in the DNR process for both the image and sound. Therefore, the NR application in the audio signal noise reduction process is made the same so as to match the NR application in the image signal DNR process. At this time, for example, when the input level in the audio signal is −50 dBV, the attenuation amount Att of the DNR process of the noise reduction unit 15 c is −10 dB.

Further, when the high sound quality mode is selected, the ratio Pig between the input level InputLevel and the attenuation amount Att of the audio DNR process is set to the state 102a. That is, since the quality of only one of the audio signals is pursued, the audio DNR process attenuates noise more deeply than the image DNR process. At this time, for example, when the input level in the audio signal is −50 dBV, the attenuation amount Att of the DNR process of the noise reduction unit 15 c is −15 dB.

When the HD content mode is selected, although not illustrated in FIG. 3, the attenuation level Att of the audio DNR process is 0 dB regardless of the input level InputLevel, that is, the high-quality audio signal. Even if it attenuates to the extent, it is not necessary to attenuate the noise of the audio signal. At this time, for example, the NR condition in the audio signal noise reduction process is set to zero or OFF.

According to the configuration described above, the image DNR processing is performed by performing the DNR processing of the image signal and the audio signal in the special image sound digital noise reduction mode according to the special content content or the special playback device. It is possible to balance the degree of sound DNR processing. Furthermore, video and audio are integrated and played back, and the excitement of what the content wants to convey can be further deepened. That is, an optimal viewing environment can be provided for special content.

Furthermore, the HD content mode is set as the initial setting. That is, as an initial setting, the setting state of the HD content mode is stored in the memory 14b of the determination unit 14. Then, when the content is played back, the content is directly played back in the HD content mode unless the image / noise reduction mode is reset. Therefore, it is not necessary to reset the image and noise reduction mode when reproducing the AV content, and the AV content can be viewed without performing a troublesome setting operation.

Next, a content reproduction method in the content reproduction system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the content reproduction method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4, first, as an example of “reproducing content information” according to the present invention, for example, an image signal recorded on a disc 21 inserted in a content reproduction apparatus 2 (see FIG. 1) such as an optical disc player, and the like. A content signal including an audio signal is reproduced. That is, the image signal and the audio signal on the disk 21 are read (step S101).

Next, as an example of “sending content information from the reproduction side” according to the present invention, the read image signal and the audio signal are transmitted to the HDMI cable 51 as a digital interface by the reproduction side communication unit 23 (see FIG. 1). And transmitted to the first communication unit 11 of the content processing apparatus 1. (Step S102).

Then, the content processing apparatus receives an image signal and an audio signal transmitted from the content reproduction apparatus as an example of “reception of content information on the processing side” according to the present invention. Among these, since image signal processing is performed on the image signal, the image signal is transmitted to the image signal processing unit 13 (see FIG. 1). Since the matching process is performed, the audio signal is transmitted to the determination unit 14 (step S103).

Next, as an example of “processing the image signal” according to the present invention, the image signal reproduced and transmitted by the content reproduction apparatus 2 (see FIG. 1) is subjected to through processing. That is, it is transmitted to the next second communication unit 12 (see FIG. 1) without being processed substantially (step S104).

Next, as an example of “transmitting an image signal from the processing side” according to the present invention, the through-processed image signal is transmitted through the HDMI cable 52, which is a digital interface, by the second communication unit 12 (see FIG. 1). It is transmitted to the video side communication unit 31 of the video output device 3 (step S105).

Next, the video output device 3 receives the image signal transmitted from the content processing device 1 and transmits it to the next video processing unit 32 as an example of “receiving the image signal on the output side” according to the present invention. (Step S106).

Next, as an example of “digital signal reduction processing of image signal” according to the present invention, the image signal received by the video side communication unit 31 is subjected to digital noise reduction processing by the image DNR processing unit. (Step S107).

Next, at the end of the image signal processing, as an example of “outputting the image signal” according to the present invention, the image signal subjected to the digital noise reduction processing is output as a video by the video output unit 33 (step S108).

In parallel with or before or after the step of reproducing the content information (step S101), the video output device 3 uses the image noise level information as an example of “generate image noise level information” according to the present invention. This is generated based on the image noise level detected from the image noise reduction process of the video processing unit 32 (step S109).

Next, as an example of “transmitting image noise level information from the output side” according to the present invention, image noise level information is extracted from the video processing unit 32 (see FIG. 1), and a video side communication unit such as a digital interface is used. 31, that is, through the HDMI cable 52 to the second communication unit of the content processing apparatus 1 (step S 110).

In the content processing apparatus, as an example of “receiving the image noise level information on the processing side” according to the present invention, the transmitted image noise level information is received, and the process of determining the next matching method is performed. It is transmitted to the determination unit 14 (step S111).

Next, as an example of “determining the matching method” according to the present invention, any one of a plurality of matching methods set in advance according to the image noise level information received from the video output device 3 Thus, the degree of noise reduction processing for the audio signal is determined (step S112).

Subsequently, as an example of “digital noise reduction processing of audio signal” according to the present invention, the noise level of the received audio signal and the noise level of the received image signal are mutually matched by the determined matching method. As described above, noise reduction processing is performed on the audio signal. For example, when a high-noise image signal and an audio signal are reproduced, the image signal noise reduction process attenuates the image signal deeply, so that the audio signal noise reduction process matches the image signal so as to match the image signal. Attenuates noise deeply. Conversely, when a low-noise image signal and audio signal are reproduced, the image signal noise reduction process attenuates the image signal to a shallow level, so that the audio signal is reduced by the audio signal noise reduction process to match the image signal. Are attenuated shallowly (step S113).

Thereafter, as an example of “transmitting an audio signal from the processing side” according to the present invention, the audio signal with reduced noise is transmitted to the audio output device 4 by the third communication unit 16 such as a digital interface (step). S114).

Next, in the audio output device 4, as an example of “receiving the audio signal on the output side” according to the present invention, the processed and transmitted audio signal is received and the audio output process is performed. The data is transmitted to the unit 42 (step S115).

Finally, in parallel with or before and after the video output, as an example of “output an audio signal” according to the present invention, the received audio signal is output by the audio output unit 42 such as a speaker ( Step S116).

Through the series of processes described above, it is possible to reliably achieve a balance between the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal. Furthermore, by improving the quality of video and audio and balancing the quality of the video and the noise level of the audio during playback, the video emitted from the video output device by the viewer and the audio emitted from the audio output device are further improved. It is possible to realize being integrated and experiencing at the same time.

Second Embodiment
A second embodiment according to the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the content reproduction system according to the second embodiment of the present invention having the same concept as in FIG.

The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the connection method between the content processing device 1, the content reproduction device 2 and the video output device 3, and the arrangement form thereof are different. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the description overlapping with that of the first embodiment is omitted, and common portions on the drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only fundamentally different points are described with reference to FIG. explain.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the content reproduction system, the content processing device 1, the content reproduction device 2, and the video output device 3 are arranged in a common casing or frame 201, that is, as one system product. Function. The audio output devices 4 such as left and right speakers are arranged outside the casing or the frame 201 and are appropriately arranged via a dedicated cable. The image signal, audio signal, and image noise level information transmission / reception system between these devices does not necessarily use a digital interface such as an HDMI cable, and the AV content signal including the image signal and the audio signal and the noise of the image sound signal. Send and receive level information.

According to this configuration, the balance between the noise level of the image signal and the noise level of the audio signal is improved, and the number of necessary parts is reduced by integrating the system product. It becomes possible. Moreover, it is extremely advantageous to further reduce the load on assembly.

<Third Embodiment>
A third embodiment according to the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the content reproduction method according to the third embodiment of the present invention having the same concept as in FIG.

The third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the video processing unit 32 of the video output device 3 performs a reduction process on the noise of the image signal according to the noise level of the audio signal. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the same step numbers in FIG. 6 are assigned to the same steps as in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, steps S101 to S104 are performed as in the case of the first embodiment.

Next, as an example of “digital signal reduction processing of audio signal” according to the present invention, the audio signal received from the first communication unit 11 is subjected to digital noise reduction processing by the audio DNR processing unit. (Step S201).

Thereafter, Steps S114 to S116 are performed as in the case of the first embodiment.

In parallel with or before or after the step of reproducing the content information (step S101), the content processing apparatus 1 includes the audio noise level information as an example of “generating the audio noise level information” according to the present invention. Since it is generated by the sound noise level detected from the sound noise reduction process of the sound signal processing unit 15 and the process of determining the next matching method is performed, it is transmitted to the determination unit 14 (step S202).

Next, as an example of “determining a matching method” according to the present invention, any one of a plurality of matching methods set in advance according to the sound noise level information received from the sound signal processing unit 15 is matched. The degree of noise reduction processing applied to the image signal is determined by the method (step S203).

Next, as an example of “send image signal and audio DNR condition adjustment information from the processing side” according to the present invention, the image signal subjected to the through process and the sound indicating the determined condition of the audio signal noise reduction process The DNR application condition adjustment information is transmitted by the second communication unit 12 (see FIG. 1) to the video side communication unit 31 of the video output device 3 through the HDMI cable 52 which is a digital interface (step S204).

Next, the video output device 3 adjusts the image signal and audio DNR application condition transmitted from the content processing apparatus 1 as an example of “receiving the image signal and audio DNR application condition adjustment information on the output side” according to the present invention. Information is received and transmitted to the next video processing unit 32 (step S205).

Subsequently, as an example of “digital image reduction processing of an image signal” according to the present invention, noise reduction processing is performed on the image signal according to the audio DNR condition adjustment information received from the content processing device 1. For example, when a high-noise image signal and an audio signal are reproduced, the noise is deeply attenuated by the audio signal noise reduction process, so that the image signal is reduced by the image signal noise reduction process so as to match the audio signal. Attenuates noise deeply. Conversely, when a low-noise image signal and audio signal are reproduced, the audio signal is reduced by the audio signal noise reduction process, so that the noise is attenuated shallowly. Therefore, the image signal is reduced by the image signal noise reduction process so as to match the audio signal. Is attenuated shallowly (step S206).

Finally, step S108 is performed as in the case of the first embodiment.

Through the above series of processing, video and audio noise is attenuated, and the balance between the video noise level and the audio noise level during playback allows the viewer to emit video and audio from the video playback device. It is possible to realize that the sounds emitted from the voices are more integrated and experienced at the same time.

Further, the image processing unit 32 of the video output device 3 performs digital noise reduction processing so that the noise level of the image signal matches the noise level of the audio signal, so that the assembly of the system product is flexible. Become bigger. Moreover, the freedom to select parts increases.

<Fourth embodiment>
A fourth embodiment according to the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the content reproduction method according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention having the same meaning as in FIGS. 4 and 6.

The fourth embodiment is the same as the third embodiment except that the image signal processing unit 13 of the content processing apparatus 1 performs a reduction process on the noise of the image signal according to the noise level of the audio signal. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, in FIG. 7, the same steps as those in FIGS. 4 and 6 are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 7, steps S101 to S103 are performed as in the case of the first embodiment.

Next, step S201 is performed as in the case of the third embodiment, and steps S114 to S116 are performed as in the case of the first embodiment.

Next, steps S202 and S203 are performed in the same manner as in the third embodiment in parallel with or in parallel with the step of reproducing the content information (step S101).

Subsequently, as an example of “digital image reduction processing of an image signal” according to the present invention, any one of a plurality of matching methods set in advance according to the audio noise level received from the audio signal processing unit 15. With this matching method, noise reduction processing is performed on the image signal. For example, when a high-noise image signal and an audio signal are reproduced, the noise is deeply attenuated by the audio signal noise reduction process, so that the image signal is reduced by the image signal noise reduction process so as to match the audio signal. Attenuates noise deeply. Conversely, when a low-noise image signal and audio signal are reproduced, the audio signal is reduced by the audio signal noise reduction process, so that the noise is attenuated shallowly. Therefore, the image signal is reduced by the image signal noise reduction process so as to match the audio signal. Is attenuated shallowly (step S301).

Next, steps S105 and S106 are performed as in the case of the first embodiment.

Subsequently, as an example of “signal processing of the image signal” according to the present invention, the image signal received from the content processing apparatus 1 is processed by signal processing such as through processing, image quality improvement processing or interpolation processing, thinning processing, rounding processing, or the like. (Step S302).

Finally, step S108 is performed as in the case of the first embodiment.

Further, the image signal processing unit 15 of the content processing apparatus 1 performs digital noise reduction processing so that the noise level of the image signal matches the noise level of the audio signal, thereby allowing flexibility in assembly of system products. Becomes larger. Moreover, the freedom to select parts increases.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the invention or the concept that can be read from the entire claims and the specification, and content accompanying such changes. Playback systems and methods are also within the scope of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a content reproduction system for outputting, for example, an image signal and an audio signal reproduced by an optical disc player or an image signal and an audio signal received by a broadcast receiver from a video device such as a display or a speaker, an audio device, etc. It can be used in the technical field of methods.

Claims

A content playback system including a content playback device, a content processing device, a video output device, and an audio output device,
The content reproduction apparatus includes a reproduction unit that reproduces a content signal including an image signal and an audio signal, and a reproduction-side communication unit that transmits the reproduced image signal and audio signal.
The content processing device includes: a first communication unit that receives the transmitted image signal and audio signal; an image signal processing unit that performs signal processing on the received image signal; and an image signal transmitted from the video output device. Second communication means for receiving the image noise level information indicating the noise level of the image signal and transmitting the signal processed image signal, and the received noise level of the image signal indicated by the received image noise level information. Determining means for determining whether the received audio signal is subjected to noise reduction processing by any one of a plurality of preset matching methods so as to match the noise level of the received audio signal with each other; Voice signal processing means for noise reduction processing of the received voice signal by the determined one matching method , And a third communication means for transmitting the noise reduction processing audio signals,
The video output device
Video-side communication means for transmitting the image noise level information and receiving the image signal that has been processed and transmitted, noise reduction processing of the received image signal, and a noise level of the received image signal A video processing means for generating the image noise level information by detection and passing it to the video side communication means; and a video output means for outputting the image signal subjected to the noise reduction processing.
The audio output device includes audio-side communication means for receiving the noise signal that has been subjected to the noise reduction process and transmitted, and audio output means for outputting the received audio signal as audio. .
The determining means determines the degree of noise reduction processing applied to the audio signal in accordance with the image noise level, so that noise reduction processing is performed using any one of the preset matching methods. Decide what to do,
The audio signal processing means adjusts a gain in noise reduction processing for the audio signal in a form corresponding to the determined degree of application by the determined one matching method. The content reproduction system according to item 1.
Whether the determination means performs noise reduction processing on the received audio signal in any one of a plurality of preset image noise digital noise reduction modes as the one matching method. The content reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction system is determined.
The content reproduction system according to claim 3, wherein the determination means determines one of the plurality of image sound digital noise reduction modes as an initial setting.
The content signal and the image noise level information can be transmitted and received through the digital interface between the content reproduction device and the content processing device, and between the content processing device and the video output device,
The content reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the digital interface is an HDMI cable.
2. The content reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction device, the content processing device, and the video output device are arranged in a common housing or frame, or overlap each other or are arranged side by side. Content playback system.
A content playback system including a content playback device, a content processing device, a video output device, and an audio output device,
The content reproduction apparatus includes a reproduction unit that reproduces a content signal including an image signal and an audio signal, and a reproduction-side communication unit that transmits the reproduced image signal and audio signal.
The content processing apparatus performs signal processing on the received audio signal, first communication means for receiving the transmitted image signal and audio signal, image signal processing means for signal processing the received image signal, Audio signal processing means; second communication means for transmitting the signal processed image signal; third communication means for transmitting the signal processed audio signal; and a noise level of the received or transmitted image signal; At least one of the received audio signal and image signal in any one of a plurality of preset matching methods so as to match the noise level of the received or transmitted audio signal with each other Determining means for determining whether the signal is subjected to noise reduction processing,
The video output device includes video side communication means for receiving the signal signal that has been processed and transmitted, and video output means for outputting the received image signal as a video,
The audio output device includes audio side communication means for receiving the signal-processed and transmitted audio signal, and audio output means for outputting the received audio signal as audio.
At least one of the image signal processing means, the audio signal processing means, and the video processing means that is further provided in the video output device and that processes the image signal received by the video side communication means is signal processing. As part of the content reproduction system, a noise reduction process is performed on the at least one signal by the determined one matching method.
A content playback method in a content playback system including a content playback device, a content processing device, a video output device, and an audio output device,
In the content reproduction apparatus, a reproduction step of reproducing a content signal including an image signal and an audio signal, and a reproduction side communication step of transmitting the reproduced image signal and audio signal are executed,
In the content processing device, a first communication step for receiving the transmitted image signal and audio signal, an image signal processing step for signal processing the received image signal, and an image signal transmitted from the video output device A second communication step of receiving the image noise level information indicating the noise level of the image signal and transmitting the signal processed image signal; and the noise level of the image signal indicated by the received image noise level information and the received signal A determination step of determining whether to perform noise reduction processing on the received audio signal in any one of a plurality of preset matching methods so as to match the noise level of the received audio signal with each other; An audio signal processor for noise reduction processing of the received audio signal by the determined one matching method When a third communication step of transmitting the noise reduction processed speech signal is performed,
In the video output device, the image noise level information is transmitted and the signal processing and the transmitted image signal are received. The video side communication step, the received image signal is subjected to noise reduction processing and the received image signal is received. A video processing step of generating the image noise level information by detecting a noise level of the image signal and passing it to the video side communication means, and a video output step of outputting the noise reduced image signal as a video are executed. ,
In the audio output device, the audio-side communication step of receiving the noise signal that has been subjected to the noise reduction process and transmitted, and the audio output step of outputting the received audio signal as audio are executed. Playback method.
A content playback method in a content playback system including a content playback device, a content processing device, a video output device, and an audio output device,
In the content reproduction apparatus, a reproduction step of reproducing a content signal including an image signal and an audio signal, and a reproduction side communication step of transmitting the reproduced image signal and audio signal are executed,
In the content processing apparatus, a first communication step of receiving the transmitted image signal and audio signal, an image signal processing step of signal processing the received image signal, and signal processing of the received audio signal An audio signal processing step, a second communication step of transmitting the signal-processed image signal, a third communication step of transmitting the signal-processed audio signal, and a noise level of the received or transmitted image signal; At least one of the received audio signal and image signal in any one of a plurality of preset matching methods so as to match the noise level of the received or transmitted audio signal with each other A decision step is performed to determine whether the signal is noise reduced;
In the video output device, a video side communication step of receiving the signal processed and transmitted image signal, and a video output step of outputting the received image signal as a video are executed,
In the audio output device, an audio side communication step of receiving the signal-processed and transmitted audio signal and an audio output step of outputting the received audio signal as audio are executed,
At least one of the image signal processing step, the audio signal processing step, and the video processing step of performing signal processing on the image signal received by the video side communication step and executed by the video output device is signal processing. As a part of the method, a noise reduction process is performed on the at least one signal by the determined one matching method.