JP2012004687A - Content playback device, content output device, and content playback system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problems: in a conventional content recommendation system, certain amount of view history is required to specify an object for recommendation, or significant recommendation becomes hard to identify because of a large number of recommended contents; and in another conventional content recommendation system, new content totally unknown to viewers can not be acquired.SOLUTION: On the assumption that, for example, reception of operations such as playback or fast-forwarding in a situation that a playing content reaches ending scene means a desire of a viewer for new content related to following scenes, a content playback device of the invention comprises a function to output identification information of the playing content as a retrieval key to retrieve new related content when the operations are received in the above situation.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing information to a viewer according to a content reproduction operation.

  Conventionally, the user's hobby preferences are analyzed according to the viewer's content viewing history, etc., and new content information (title, acquisition method, etc.) that matches the hobbies preferences is provided to the viewer or automatically recorded, etc. A content recommendation system is provided. In this way, the viewer can obtain and view new content that is suitable for him but not owned. Further, in Patent Document 1, when a viewer makes a playback request for new content not recorded in the recorder, the external video-on is performed so that the content that the viewer does not have can be easily viewed. A moving image display system that inquires a demand server to acquire and reproduce the content is disclosed.

JP 2002-165189 A

  However, the conventional content recommendation system has a problem that a certain amount of viewing history is required. In other words, for example, it is not possible to obtain information about the second movie just by looking at the first movie of a movie. Of course, it is also possible to provide the viewer with related new content information using a single viewing history in system design. However, in that case, the number of recommended contents becomes enormous, resulting in another problem that it is impossible to know which is a significant recommendation.

  In addition, in the moving image display system disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to acquire new content from an external video on demand server, the viewer recognizes the new content and designates it for playback request because of the invention configuration. There is a problem that it is necessary to perform an operation. Therefore, the technology of Patent Document 1 cannot acquire new content that the viewer does not know at all.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, for example, when an operation such as reproduction or fast-forwarding is further received from the viewer in a state where the content being reproduced has reached the end scene, the viewer is related to the new Suppose you want to see more content. Therefore, a content playback apparatus having a function of outputting identification information of content being played back as a search key for searching for new related content when the operation is accepted in the above situation is provided.

  Specifically, a content acquisition unit that acquires content to be played back, a playback unit that plays back the acquired content, a special playback operation reception unit that receives special playback operations such as fast-forwarding, and a special playback operation reception unit An over-return operation determination unit that determines whether the operation received in step S1 is an operation that exceeds the start position of the content being played back by the playback unit, and a special playback operation reception unit And an excess operation determination unit that determines whether the operation accepted in step 2 is an operation that exceeds the end position of the content being played back by the playback unit. If the result of the determination is an excess operation, identification of the content being played back for use as a search key used to construct the provided information that is information to be provided to the viewer Affection An identification information output unit for outputting, to provide a content reproducing apparatus having a. Further, in addition to the above configuration, when the identification information output unit determines that the determination result in the excess operation determination unit is an excess operation, the excess operation is a return excess operation or an advance / excess operation. There is also provided a content reproduction apparatus further comprising classification-attached identification information output means for associating and outputting the return excess operation type information indicating whether there is any information and the identification information output from the identification information acquisition unit according to the excess operation.

  In addition, for example, by holding a database in which identification information of contents related to each other, such as movies of a series or movies of the same director or the same star, is stored, the identification information acquired by the content reproduction apparatus. There is also provided a content output device having a function of specifying related content by using and outputting information related to the content to the content reproduction device.

  Specifically, it is a content output device that outputs content to a content playback device having the above-described configuration, and is information that associates content identification information that can be acquired by the content acquisition unit of the content playback device. Key identification information which is identification information acquired by a related information holding unit that holds content related information, an output identification information acquisition unit that acquires output from an identification information output unit of the content reproduction device, and an output identification information acquisition unit The related identification information acquisition unit that acquires the related identification information that is the identification information associated with the key identification information from the related information holding unit, and the provision information using the acquired related identification information, An output unit that outputs the configured provided information to the content playback apparatus that has output the key identification information. To provide a tool output device. In addition to the above configuration, when the related information holding unit acquires the identification information of the other two when the associated identification information uses the identification information of one as key identification information, the other identification information There is also provided a content output device having a return holding means for holding the identification information and the return excess operation type information in association with each other so that the selection information can be selected in relation to the return excess operation type information. Also provided is a content playback system comprising the content playback device configured as described above and the content device configured as described above.

  In addition to the operation of selecting the playback content using the content list instead of the operation such as fast-forwarding the content being played as described above, for example, the content before the top content in the content list arranged in time order is selected. When a cursor movement operation is accepted, it is assumed that the viewer wants to further see related new contents such as the destination as described above. Therefore, a content playback apparatus having a function of acquiring identification information of the content being played back as a search key for searching for new related content when the operation is accepted in the above situation is also provided.

  Specifically, a content acquisition unit that acquires content to be played back, a content list generation unit that generates a content list in which a plurality of contents arranged based on a predetermined condition are arranged in time order, and content in the content list The selection movement operation accepting unit that accepts a movement operation such as a cursor for selecting and the operation accepted by the selection movement operation accepting unit is an operation to move to the content before the first content in the content list Pre-excess move operation determining unit that determines whether the operation is a pre-excess move operation, and the operation accepted by the selective move operation accepting unit is an operation that attempts to move to content after the last content in the content list. The determination result in the excess movement operation determination unit and the excess movement operation determination unit that determines whether the movement operation If the result of the determination is an operation, the identification information of the content being reproduced is output for use as a search key used for the configuration of the provided information that is information to be provided to the viewer. And a content reproducing apparatus having an identification information output unit. In addition to the above configuration, when the second identification information output unit determines that the determination result of the excess movement operation determination unit is an excess movement operation, the excess movement operation is a previous excess movement operation. Or a second type-specific identification information output means for outputting the front / rear excess movement operation type information indicating whether the operation is a rear excess operation and the identification information output from the identification information acquisition unit according to the excess movement operation in association with each other. Furthermore, the content reproduction apparatus which has is also provided.

  In addition, for example, by holding a database in which identification information of related content such as series movies is related, the related content is identified using the identification information acquired by the content reproduction device, and the content A content output device having the same configuration as described above is also provided. Also provided is a content playback system comprising the content playback device configured as described above and the content device configured as described above.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, a viewer can obtain information on a new moving image related to the content by viewing the content once without using a certain amount of viewing history. In addition, for example, a fast-forward operation input at the content end position is required, so that the number of recommended contents does not become enormous. In addition, the viewer can obtain information about new content that is completely unknown by reproducing one content and performing the above operation there.

Conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a content recommendation using the content reproduction apparatus according to the first embodiment. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the content reproduction apparatus of Example 1. Conceptual diagram for explaining an example of an excess return operation in the content reproduction apparatus according to the first embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in a content reproduction apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the content reproduction apparatus according to the first embodiment. Conceptual diagram for describing an example of output processing of provided information to a content reproduction device in the content output device according to the second embodiment. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the content reproduction apparatus of Example 2. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a related information holding mode in a related information holding unit of the content reproduction apparatus of the second embodiment. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the content reproduction apparatus according to the second embodiment. Conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a content recommendation using the content reproduction apparatus according to the third embodiment. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the content reproduction apparatus of Example 3. The figure showing an example of the judgment of the excess movement operation in the content reproduction apparatus of Example 3. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the content reproduction apparatus according to the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the first embodiment, claims 1 and 2 will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, claims 3, 4 and 5 will be mainly described. In the third embodiment, claims 6 to 10 will be mainly described.

Example 1
<Overview>
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a content recommendation using the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1A, the movie “Ulysses 1” is played back by the content playback apparatus of the present embodiment. Then, when playback of the last scene (frame) of “Ulysses 1” is finished, for example, when it is in a paused state, an operation input such as a “fast forward button” from the viewer is given as shown in FIG. Accept. Then, the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment assumes that “the viewer wants to see this continuation”, and as shown in FIG. 1C, the identification information of this content, such as the title name and the director name, etc. To get. Then, a search request is output using the acquired identification information as a search key, and as shown in FIG. 1 (d), information related to the new content “Ulysses 2” including the same title name returned in response to the request is displayed. Or play it.

  In this way, the viewer can view and view information on new content related to the reproduced content by viewing “Ulysses 1” and performing an operation input such as fast-forwarding at the end of the reproduction. it can.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the content reproduction apparatus according to the present embodiment. Note that the functional blocks of each device and system described below can be realized as a combination of hardware and software. Specifically, if a computer is used, a CPU, a main memory, a bus, or a secondary storage device (a hard disk, a non-volatile memory, a storage medium such as a CD or a DVD, a read drive for the medium, etc.), information User input devices used for input, printing equipment, display devices, other hardware components such as external peripheral devices, interfaces for external peripheral devices, communication interfaces, and driver programs for controlling these hardware And other application programs and user interface applications. Then, by CPU processing according to the program developed on the main memory, the data input from the input device or other interface, etc., and stored in the memory or hard disk is processed and accumulated, An instruction for controlling the software is generated.

  Alternatively, the functional blocks of each device and system may be realized by dedicated hardware. In addition, the present invention can be realized not only as an apparatus or a system but also as a method. A part of the invention can be configured as software. Further, a software product used to cause a computer to execute such software and a recording medium on which the product is fixed are naturally included in the technical scope of the present invention (the same applies throughout the present specification). .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the “content playback device” (0200) of this embodiment includes a “content acquisition unit” (0201), a “playback unit” (0202), and a “special playback operation reception unit” ( 0203), “return excess operation determination unit” (0204), “advance excess operation determination unit” (0205), and “identification information output unit” (0206).

  The “content acquisition unit” (0201) has a function of acquiring content to be reproduced. For example, a broadcast reception tuner, a reading drive for various information recording media, an information input / output port with an external device, a CPU, and a main memory It can be realized by a content acquisition program. The content acquisition mode in the content acquisition unit is not particularly limited. For example, the broadcast program content modulated by the broadcast wave is received by the broadcast reception tuner, and the content data generated by demodulating and decoding the content data is received. The form acquired by storing in the main memory is mentioned. In addition, the content data recorded on the internal hard disk, the external portable flash memory, the optical recording disk, or the like is read by a corresponding reading drive, and the content data generated by decoding is acquired. A form of acquiring content data obtained by decrypting data received from an external device such as a server device via an information input / output port may also be used.

  In addition, the content in the present invention is not particularly limited, and examples include moving image content such as movies in the above example, still image content, text content, audio / music content, and the like, and the acquisition form also matches the type of content. If it is good.

  The “playback unit” (0202) has a function of playing back the acquired content, and includes a CPU, a main memory, a playback program, a display device including a video processing circuit according to the type of content, an audio processing circuit, and the like. It can be realized by a speaker device or the like. Specifically, if the acquired content is a display-type content such as a moving image, a still image, or text, the drawing data of the content is transferred to the VRAM via the video processing circuit, and the content is displayed on the display. In the case of audio system content, the content is output as audio from a speaker via an audio processing circuit.

  In the content playback apparatus according to the present embodiment, the viewer wants to see the continuation of the content using the operation input from the viewer to the content acquired and played as described above. It is characterized by determining whether or not it is assumed.

  The “special playback operation accepting unit” (0203) has a function of accepting an operation for special playback such as fast-forwarding, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a remote control device, an operation panel, a user input device such as a mouse or a keyboard, It can be realized by a special reproduction operation reception program. Note that “operation for special reproduction” includes fast forward and rewind operations as described above. In addition to fast-forward and rewind operations, the skip / rewind interval is a fixed interval such as 30-frame skip or 10-second skip. For example, content may be divided at indefinite intervals such as chapters (chapter) or playback points. For example, an operation such as a chapter skip to skip to the division point can be given. In the content playback apparatus according to the present embodiment, the following configuration is used, for example, when a special playback operation such as fast forward is received after the last frame of the content is played back, and the viewer views the continuation of the content. It is characterized by judging whether it is assumed that it wants (it wants to hear).

  The “excessive return operation determination unit” (0204) has a function of determining whether the operation received by the special reproduction operation accepting unit is an excessive return operation. For example, the CPU, the main memory, the excessive return operation determination program, and the like. Can be realized. The “return excess operation” refers to an operation for returning to a position before the start position of the content being played back by the playback unit. Specifically, if the content is a moving image, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), even though the first frame (which cannot be rewound) is being played back and displayed, further rewind is instructed from there. The operation to do is mentioned. Also, if the content is a text electronic book, as shown in FIG. 3B, a turning operation for instructing the display of the previous page is performed even though the first page is being displayed. Can be mentioned. The excess return operation determination unit is configured to acquire information indicating a processing result executed in response to an operation input, for example. Then, depending on the acquired information, “the rewinding operation (because the playback position of the content was the start position) could not execute the rewinding of the frame” or “the skipping operation to the previous chapter In the case where the processing content “only the playback position that is the same as the current playback position can be skipped” is indicated, it is determined that the operation is an excess return operation. Of course, this determination process is an example, for example, information indicating the current playback position and the received operation content is acquired, the current playback position is the “content start position”, and the operation content is “rewind operation”. Or “skip operation to previous chapter” may be processing such as determining that the operation is an excess return operation.

  The “advance excess operation determination unit” (0205) has a function of determining whether the operation received by the special reproduction operation reception unit is an excess advance operation, for example, by a CPU, a main memory, an excess operation determination program, etc. Can be realized. Further, the “excess advance operation” refers to an operation of trying to advance to a position after the end position of the content being reproduced in the reproduction unit. Specifically, contrary to the above-described excess return operation, for example, if the content is a moving image, there is an operation for instructing a fast-forward from there even though the last frame is being reproduced and displayed. In addition, when the content is a recorded content of a broadcast program and is recorded as a single content file across a plurality of programs, it may be processed as a single content in units of programs instead of in units of files. Specifically, the program break is determined by referring to the electronic program guide and the header data of the content file, etc., and it is determined whether the content file is in the middle or the program content is the start / end position, For example, it is determined whether the operation is the return excess operation or the advance excess operation based on the position.

  In the content playback apparatus of the present embodiment, in response to an input of an excess return operation or an excess advance operation that specifies a playback position that should not be originally played, such as before the start position of the content or after the end position, For example, the following processing is executed on the assumption that the viewer desires playback of the content before or after the playback, that is, the playback of the previous work or sequel of the content.

  The “identification information output unit” (0206) is being reproduced for use as a search key used for the configuration of the provided information when the determination result of the excess operation determination unit is a determination result that the operation is an excess operation. For example, a CPU, a main memory, an identification information output program, and the like. The “provided information” refers to information to be provided to the viewer, and the content is not particularly limited here as long as it is information that allows the viewer to know matters related to the content. As an example, the title or author name of the content (related to the content subject to the excess return operation or the like), the name of the leading actor / actress in the case of a movie, or the content itself can be cited. If the provided information is information such as a title, the content reproduction apparatus according to the present embodiment acquires the information and displays it on the display. You can inform the title of the next work. Alternatively, if the acquired provided information is the content itself (another content related to the content that has been the target of the excess return operation), the content that is currently being reproduced may be reproduced.

Also, the “identification information” that is the search key for the content provided to the viewer here is not particularly limited. For example, the title, the author's name, the main actor / An actress name or a uniquely assigned number or character string can be listed. Then, a search request including the identification information acquired in this way is made to a content output apparatus including a database that associates series contents as described later in the second embodiment, for example. The content output device searches the database using the identification information, specifies the title or content itself of another work in the same series, for example, and sends it back as a response.
The acquisition timing of the identification information output here is not particularly limited. For example, it is possible to obtain the identification information of the content being reproduced at the time of content reproduction by the reproduction unit, and acquire the identification information acquired in advance in response to reception of the excess operation. Or it is good also as a structure which acquires and outputs the identification information of the content currently reproduced | regenerated at the timing when the judgment result that excess operation was received was made.

  Further, the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment is configured to output the identification information as a search request to the content output apparatus described later in the second embodiment when the operation input is made without distinguishing between the excess return operation and the excess advance operation. You may do it. Alternatively, by distinguishing both operations and outputting the identification information as a search request, for example, in the case of an excess return operation, the content produced before in time, such as the previous work of the content, is searched, and in the case of an excess advance operation, You may comprise so that the content produced later in time, such as the next work of content, may be searched.

  Specifically, the identification information output unit may include “type identification information output means” (not shown). Then, this “classified identification information output means” indicates whether the excess operation is a return excess operation or an advance excess operation when the determination result in the excess operation determination unit is determined to be an excess operation. It is characterized in that it has a function of associating and outputting the return excess operation type information indicating the information and the identification information output from the identification information acquisition unit according to the excess operation.

  The search and output of provided information using the identification information as a search key, or the search and output of provided information using the identification information associated with the above-exceeding reverse operation type information as a search key will be described in detail in the second embodiment. Describe.

  As described above, in response to the input of the excess return operation or the advance advance operation for the content by the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment, search for another related content such as the previous work or the next work of the content. It is possible to output identification information that serves as a search key. Then, by executing a search request including the identification information and acquiring the response, the content playback apparatus of the present embodiment allows a new content to be changed to the viewer according to the playback of the one content and the return excess / advance operation. Can provide information about the content.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the content reproduction device when the functional components are realized as hardware. The operation of each hardware component in the identification information acquisition process will be described using this figure.

  As shown in this figure, the content reproduction apparatus implements a return excess operation determination unit, an advance excess operation determination unit, and an identification information output unit, and “CPU” (0401) for executing various other arithmetic processes. , “Main memory” (0402). Also, a “user input device” (0403) that is a special playback operation accepting unit, a “video processing circuit” (0404) and a “display” (0405) that are playback units, a “speaker” (0406), and a content acquisition unit. An “HDD” (0407) to be realized is provided. In addition, a “reception tuner”, “(recording medium) reading drive”, “external device connection port”, etc. (not shown) may be provided as the content acquisition unit. They are connected to each other via a data communication path such as a “system bus” to transmit / receive information and process information.

  A program is read out to the “main memory”, and the “CPU” refers to the read out program and executes various arithmetic processes according to the procedure indicated by the program. In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to the “main memory” and “HDD”, respectively, and in the arithmetic processing of the “CPU”, the stored data is accessed by specifying the address. It is possible to perform the calculation processing.

  Here, first, for example, a recording list in which the recorded program content recorded in the “HDD” is converted into a thumbnail list is displayed on the “display”, and the “user input device” is determined using the recording list. The selected content ID is stored in the “main memory”. Then, the “CPU” interprets the content acquisition program, and reads the specified content data from the “HDD” according to the interpretation result. Subsequently, the “CPU” interprets the reproduction program, outputs the read content data to a “decoder” (not shown) according to the interpretation result, and executes the decoding process. The decrypted content data is output to the “video processing circuit”, and the recorded program content is displayed on the “display” through various processes such as image quality adjustment and transfer to the VRAM.

  After that, when the final frame of the recorded program content is output to the “video processing circuit” and displayed on the “display”, the “CPU” stops the reproduction process for a certain period of time, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the other process (reproduction process is performed). Finish and re-display the recording list). In such a state that the playback processing is paused (the content playback position is at the content end position), “fast forward” or “skip to the next chapter” via the “user input device”. If an operation input such as this is made, the operation process cannot be executed. Therefore, the “CPU” interprets the return excess operation determination program and the advance excess operation determination program, and acquires information indicating the result of the operation processing when, for example, an operation input is received in the above state, according to the interpretation results. Then, if it is determined that the acquired information indicates that “the operation process could not be executed correctly”, the “CPU” outputs a determination result that the excessive advance operation has been input. Alternatively, even when the content reproduction position is at the start position, it is similarly determined whether or not an excess return operation has been input.

  When the determination result that the excess operation has been input is output in this way, the “CPU” interprets the identification information output program as a trigger, and according to the interpretation result, for example, the header information of the content and various contents The identification information such as the title is acquired by referring to the data that lists the identification information. The acquisition of the identification information may be performed in advance at the time of content reproduction. At this time, information indicating whether the excess operation is the return excess operation or the advance excess operation may be generated and associated with the acquired identification information. For example, the acquired identification information is output from a “Internet output circuit” (not shown) or the like to a content output apparatus having a configuration described later.

  As described above, in response to the input of the excess return operation or the excess advance operation for the content, the content reproduction apparatus according to the present embodiment is an identification serving as a search key for searching for another content related to the content. Information can be acquired and a search request including the identification information can be executed.

<Process flow>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow in the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care. As shown in this figure, first, content to be reproduced is acquired (step S0501), and the acquired content is reproduced (step S0502). When an operation for special reproduction such as fast-forwarding is accepted during the reproduction execution (step S0503), it is determined whether the operation accepted in step S0503 is a return excess operation (step S0504). Alternatively, it is determined whether the operation is an excessive advance operation (step S0505). When the determination result in step S0504 or S0505 is a determination result indicating that the operation is an excess operation, the determination result is used as a search key used for the configuration of provision information that is information to be provided to the viewer. The identification information of the content being reproduced is output (step S0506). Then, a search request including the output identification information is executed, information on another content returned and acquired as a response to the search is displayed, or another content itself is reproduced.
As described above, the acquisition timing of the identification information output in step S0506 is not particularly limited. For example, the identification information of the content being reproduced may be acquired at the time of content reproduction in step S0502, or the identification information may be acquired according to the determination result in step S0504 or S0505.

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, in response to the input of the excess excess operation or the advance excess operation for the content by the content reproduction apparatus according to the present embodiment, another content related to the content such as the previous work or the next work is searched. Identification information as a search key can be output. Then, by executing a search request including the identification information and acquiring the response, the content playback apparatus of the present embodiment provides a new content to the viewer in accordance with the playback of the one content and the return excess / advance operation. Information about other content can be provided.

<< Example 2 >>
<Overview>
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of output processing of provided information to the content reproduction device in the content output device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6A, the identification information “Ulysses 1” output from the content reproduction apparatus and transmitted as a search request is received. Then, the content output apparatus searches its own database using the “Ulysses 1” as a search key. Here, as shown in FIG. 6B, for example, the titles of movies that are series titles are associated with each other in this database, and thereby identification information of “Ulysses 2” that is a sequel to “Ulysses 1” is acquired. Is done. Then, the content output apparatus of the present embodiment returns the content identification information such as the title name acquired in this way and the content data itself as return information to the content reproduction apparatus.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the content output apparatus according to the present embodiment. Note that the “content output device” of the present embodiment has a function of outputting content to the content playback device of the above embodiment, but the content output device and the content playback device combine to form a content playback system. It may be configured. Also, the form of transmission / reception of information including content between both apparatuses may be various. For example, the content playback device and the content output device of the present embodiment may be connected via an electronic communication network to transmit and receive information, or both devices may be incorporated in one device and connected to a system bus or the like. It is also possible to configure such that information is transmitted and received by being internally connected via the network. As shown in FIG. 7, the “content output device” (0700) of this embodiment includes a “related information holding unit” (0701), an “output identification information acquisition unit” (0702), and a “relevant identification”. An “information acquisition unit” (0703) and an “output unit” (0704).

  The “related information holding unit” (0701) has a function of holding content related information, and can be realized by various recording and holding devices such as a flash memory and an HDD. “Content-related information” refers to information associating pieces of content identification information that can be acquired by the content acquisition unit of the content reproduction apparatus. For example, as shown in FIG. The information which linked each title titles, such as titles and continuous drama, etc. is mentioned. Or even if it is a completely different work, as shown in FIG.8 (b), the identification information of the works by the same director or the works by the same star may be linked | related, for example. Of course, the associated identification information may be, for example, identification information composed of a uniquely assigned character string in addition to the title and the director name as shown in the above figure. Then, by referring to the content related information, it is possible to specify the identification information (of another content) associated with the identification information acquired from the content reproduction apparatus.

  The “output identification information acquisition unit” (0702) has a function of acquiring an output from the identification information output unit of the content reproduction apparatus of the above-described embodiment. For example, an information input / output port with a CPU, a main memory, an external device, It can be realized by a system bus connection port with an internal device and an output identification information acquisition program. Specifically, the output identification information acquisition unit may acquire the identification information from the content reproduction device via an electronic communication network such as the Internet, or the content reproduction device and the content output device are incorporated in one device. If so, the identification information may be acquired via a system bus or the like.

  The “related identification information acquisition unit” (0703) uses the key identification information, which is the identification information acquired by the output identification information acquisition unit, to display the related identification information, which is the identification information associated with this key identification information. For example, it can be realized by a CPU, a main memory, a related identification information acquisition program, and the like. Specifically, with reference to the table data as shown in FIG. 8, for example, when the identification information of “Ulysses 2” is acquired, the related identification information of “Ulysses 3” associated with the identification information is acquired. , And so on.

  Also, for example, if the operation received during playback of “Ulysses 2” is an excess return operation, “Ulysses 1”, which is the previous work, is acquired, while if it is an excess advance operation, the next work “ You may comprise so that "Ulysses 3" may be acquired. With this configuration, for example, the user's operational feeling (whether it has been returned or advanced) can be associated with the temporal context of the recommended work. Specifically, the related information holding unit may include a “return holding unit” (not shown). The “returning holding means” is configured such that when two pieces of associated identification information use one of the identification information as key identification information to acquire the other identification information, the other identification information is the excessive return operation type. It has a function of associating and holding identification information and return excess operation type information so that selection can be made in relation to information. In this way, for example, when the identification information of “Ulysses 2” is acquired in association with the return excess operation type information indicating “excess return operation”, it is associated with Ulysses 2 and further associated with an excess return operation. The previous work “Ulysses 1” is acquired as related identification information.

  In addition, the above example is an example. For example, if the director name is associated as identification information, the production contents by the director may be arranged in order of time, and the association may be performed by the excess return operation and the excess advance operation.

  The “output unit” (0704) has a function of configuring the provided information using the acquired related identification information and outputting the configured provided information to the content reproduction apparatus that has output the key identification information, For example, it can be realized by a CPU, a main memory, a communication circuit, an output program, or the like. Specifically, provided information is not particularly limited as long as it uses related identification information, and may have various information contents. For example, the “title name” itself, which is related identification information, may be output as provision information to the content reproduction apparatus. Then, the content playback apparatus displays the title name on the display and notifies the user that there is related content. Further, the provision information may be configured to include the URL of the content acquisition (purchase destination) website identified by the related identification information, and output to the content reproduction apparatus. The URL information may be included in the provided information by associating it with related identification information as one of the table data items shown in FIG. Alternatively, the content data itself may be acquired using the related identification information, and the content data may be output to the content playback apparatus as provided information.

  As described above, the content output apparatus according to the present embodiment acquires identification information of another content related to the identification information output by the content reproduction apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, and uses the acquired identification information, for example, It is possible to provide the viewer with the source of the content or the content itself.

<Process flow>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the content output apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care. As shown in this figure, first, content related information, which is information that associates content identification information that can be acquired by the content reproduction apparatus of the above-described embodiment, is held in a related information holding unit configured by an HDD or the like. Therefore, recording is performed (step S0901), and a database as shown in FIG. 8 is constructed. Thereafter, the identification information output from the content reproduction apparatus of the above embodiment is acquired (step S0902). Then, the related information holding unit is searched using the key identification information that is the acquired identification information, and the related identification information that is the identification information associated with the key identification information is acquired (step S0903). Then, the provided related information is configured using the acquired related identification information, and the configured provided information is output to the content reproduction apparatus that has output the key identification information (step S0904).

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, the content output apparatus according to the present embodiment acquires the identification information of another content related to the identification information acquired by the content reproduction apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, and uses the content identification information, for example, the name of the related content. Can be provided to viewers.

  Therefore, the viewer can perform an “excess return operation” or an “advance excess operation” in one content viewing without using a certain amount of viewing history by the content playback system including the content playback device and the content output device. Then, it is possible to obtain information on a new moving image related to the content. In addition, for example, a fast-forward operation input at the content end position is required, so that the number of recommended contents does not become enormous. In addition, the viewer can obtain information about new content that is completely unknown by reproducing one content and performing the above operation there.

Example 3
<Overview>
This embodiment is provided with a function for recommending related content according to a selection operation of a playback content using a content list, instead of an operation such as fast-forwarding the content being played back as described above. A content playback device, a content output device, and a content playback system.

  FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a content recommendation using the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment. Here, the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment is a TV program recorder, for example, and records a certain series drama D. Then, as shown in FIG. 10A, when selecting the playback content, a content list in which each story of the continuous drama D is listed in the recording order is displayed. The user moves, for example, a cursor in the content list, and selects content to be reproduced.

  Then, in the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment, for example, when a cursor movement operation for selecting a previous content from the top content in the list is input, “the viewer is asked to confirm the previous story or previous work. I want to see more. " Then, as in the content reproduction apparatus of the first embodiment, content identification information included in this list, for example, a drama title name or a director name, is acquired, and related content titles are searched using this information as a search key. Then, as shown in FIG. 10B, for example, information relating to the drama C of the previous work of the drama D that matches the search is displayed or the drama C itself is reproduced. As described above, also in the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to acquire or view information of another content related to a certain content, as in the first embodiment.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the content reproduction apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “content reproduction device” (1100) of this embodiment includes a “content acquisition unit” (1101), a “content list generation unit” (1102), and a “selective movement operation reception unit” ( 1103), “front excess movement operation determination unit” (1104), “rear excess movement operation determination unit” (1105), and “second identification information output unit” (1106).

  The “content acquisition unit” (1101) has a function of acquiring content to be played back, and the detailed description thereof is the same as that of the component having the same name in the first embodiment, and will not be repeated.

  The “content list generation unit” (1102) has a function of generating a content list, and can be realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a content list generation program, or the like. The “content list” refers to a list in which a plurality of contents collected based on a predetermined condition are arranged in time order. In addition, the “predetermined conditions” for collecting the contents are not particularly limited, but considering the operation of this embodiment of providing information on other contents related to the contents of the contents list, for example, the same series, the same genre, the same Content identification information when searching for another content such as a director, a leading actor, or the same author may be set as a predetermined condition. Various times can be set as a reference time for “arranged in time order”. For example, recording time and acquisition time may be set as a reference, and content production time (year / month / day) may be set based on external information or content. If they can be obtained from tag information, they may be arranged in the order of their production time.

  In this embodiment, the operation of moving the selection cursor or the like on the content list generated in this way is, for example, an operation in which it is assumed that “the viewer wants to see more of the previous story or previous work”. It is characterized by determining whether or not.

  The “selective movement operation accepting unit” (1103) has a function of accepting a movement operation such as a cursor for selecting a content in the content list. For example, a CPU, a main memory, a remote control device, an operation panel, a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. It can be realized by a user input device such as a selection movement operation reception program. The “cursor” refers to a display item indicating content that is a selection candidate in the content list. For example, in addition to an arrow cursor, a frame cursor, etc., a GUI that indicates the content of the selection candidate with a visual effect that blinks the thumbnail of the content. In the case of (graphical user interface), the blinking thumbnail is also included in the cursor. The selective movement operation accepting unit accepts a movement operation of such a cursor in the content list.

  The “previous excess movement operation determination unit” (1104) has a function of determining whether the operation received by the selective movement operation reception unit is a previous excessive movement operation. For example, the CPU, the main memory, and the previous excessive movement operation determination It can be realized by a program. The “previous excess movement operation” refers to an operation for moving to a content preceding the first content in the content list. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12A, for example, if the content list is a list in which the content names are arranged in the vertical direction and are arranged in ascending order from the oldest, the top of the list is displayed. An operation that further indicates the upward movement of the cursor can be given in a state where the cursor is on the content name at the top. Also, as shown in FIG. 12B, if the content list is a grid-like list and is arranged in the chronological order from the top left of the grid, the cursor is at the top left content and the cursor An operation indicating movement or upward movement can be given.

  In an ordinary content list, when an operation such as that described above is accepted, the cursor is often looped and the cursor is moved to the bottom (last) content name. In view of this, the content reproduction apparatus of this embodiment may be configured to switch these operation modes by a user switching operation.

  The “rear excess movement operation determination unit” (1105) has a function of determining whether it is a rear excess movement operation, and can be realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a rear excess movement operation determination program, or the like. Further, the “rear excess movement operation” refers to an operation in which the operation received by the selection movement operation reception unit attempts to move to a content after the last content in the content list. Specifically, contrary to the previous excess movement operation, in the state where the cursor is on the content name at the bottom of the content list in FIG. In the state where the cursor is positioned on the content at the bottom right of the content list in b), an operation for further moving the cursor to the right or down is given.

  In the content playback apparatus according to the present embodiment, in response to an input of such a cursor movement operation in the content list, the viewer, for example, before or after the content in the content list, that is, the previous work or sequel of the content. It is assumed that the viewer desires reproduction such as the above, and content identification information for retrieving it is acquired.

  The “second identification information output unit” (1106) is used as a search key used for the configuration of the provided information when the determination result of the excess movement operation determination unit is a determination result that the excess movement operation is performed. Therefore, it has a function of outputting identification information of the content being reproduced, and can be realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a second identification information output program, or the like. Since “provided information” has already been described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In addition, since “identification information” serving as a search key for content provided to the viewer is already described in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. However, if the content list to be operated is a list in which contents are collected in “same series work” as described above, it is preferable that the content identification information acquired there is information for identifying the series. .

  Also, in the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment, as described in the first embodiment, the front excess movement operation and the rear excess movement operation are not distinguished, and identification information is output when these operation inputs are made. Good, distinguishing both operations, for example, if it is a pre-excess move operation, the content that was previously produced such as the previous work of the content is searched, and if it is a post-excess move operation, the next work of the content is time Alternatively, it may be configured such that content produced later is searched.

  Specifically, the second identification information output unit may include a “second-type identification information output unit” (not shown). Then, when the determination result in the excess movement operation determination unit is determined to be an excess movement operation, the “second type identification information output means” is, if the excess movement operation is a previous excess movement operation, For example, the front / rear excess movement operation type information indicating whether the operation is a rear excess operation and the identification information output from the identification information acquisition unit according to the excess movement operation are output in association with each other.

  As described above, the content playback apparatus of the present embodiment is also content identification information for searching for related content in accordance with the previous excess movement operation and the subsequent excess movement operation of the cursor on the content list, as in the first embodiment. Can be output.

  Then, by outputting the content identification information to the content output device as described in the second embodiment, related content identification information that is identification information of another content related to the previous work or sequel of the content in the content list is acquired. In addition, the content can be easily obtained and played back. Note that the content output device and the content playback system including the content playback device and the content output device are the same as those described in the second embodiment, such as the basic configuration and processing, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

<Process flow>
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow in the content reproduction apparatus of the present embodiment. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care. As shown in this figure, first, the content to be reproduced is acquired (step S1301), and a content list in which a plurality of contents collected based on a predetermined condition are arranged in time order is generated (step S1302). Then, when a moving operation such as a cursor for selecting content in the content list is received by displaying the generated content list on the display (step S1303), it is determined whether the received operation is a pre-excess moving operation. (Step S1304). Alternatively, it is determined whether the accepted operation is a rear excess movement operation (step S1305). If the determination result in step S1304 or S1305 is a determination result indicating that the operation is an excess movement operation, the determination result is used as a search key used for the configuration of provision information that is information to be provided to the viewer. The identification information of the content being reproduced is output (step S1306). Then, a search request including the acquired identification information is executed, information of another content acquired as a response to the search is displayed, or another content itself is reproduced.
Similar to the first embodiment, the acquisition timing of the identification information output in step S1306 is not particularly limited. For example, content identification information related to the list may be acquired when the content list is generated in step S1302, or the identification information may be acquired according to the determination results in steps S1304 and S1305.

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, according to the content reproduction apparatus and the content reproduction system of the present embodiment, information on other related content is presented to the user according to the selection operation of the reproduction content using the content list, or the other content itself is reproduced. You can do it.

0200 Content playback device 0201 Content acquisition unit 0202 Playback unit 0203 Special playback operation reception unit 0204 Return excess operation determination unit 0205 Progression excess operation determination unit 0206 Identification information output unit 0700 Content output device 0701 Related information holding unit 0702 Output identification information acquisition unit 0703 Related identification information acquisition unit 0704 Output unit

Claims (10)

A content acquisition unit for acquiring content to be reproduced;
A playback unit for playing back the acquired content;
Special playback operation accepting unit that accepts special playback operations such as fast-forwarding,
An excess return operation determination unit that determines whether the operation received by the special playback operation reception unit is a return excess operation that is an operation to return to a position before the start position of the content being played back by the playback unit;
An excess advance operation determination unit that determines whether the operation received by the special playback operation reception unit is an advance advance operation that is an operation to advance to a position after the end position of the content being played back by the playback unit; ,
When the determination result in the excess operation determination unit is a determination result that the operation is an excess operation, it is being played back for use as a search key used for the configuration of provided information that is information to be provided to the viewer An identification information output unit for outputting the identification information of the content of
A content reproduction apparatus having   The identification information output unit, when it is determined that the determination result in the excess operation determination unit is an excess operation, indicates whether the excess operation is a return excess operation or a return excess operation. The content reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a typed identification information output unit that associates and outputs the type information and the identification information output from the identification information acquisition unit according to the excess operation. A content output device that outputs content to the content reproduction device according to claim 1,
A related information holding unit that holds content related information that is information that associates content identification information that can be acquired by the content acquisition unit of the content reproduction device;
An output identification information acquisition unit for acquiring an output from the identification information output unit of the content reproduction device;
A related identification information acquisition unit that acquires related identification information that is identification information associated with the key identification information using the key identification information that is identification information acquired by the output identification information acquisition unit;
The provision information is configured using the acquired related identification information, and the output unit configured to output the configured provision information to the content reproduction apparatus that has output the key identification information;
A content output device. The related information holding unit
When two related identification information is acquired using one identification information as key identification information and the other identification information is acquired, the other identification information can be selected in relation to the excessive return operation type information. The content output device according to claim 3, further comprising a return holding unit that holds the identification information and the excess return operation type information in association with each other.   A content reproduction system comprising the content reproduction device according to claim 2 and the content output device according to claim 3 or 4. A content acquisition unit for acquiring content to be reproduced;
A content list generation unit that generates a content list in which a plurality of contents arranged based on a predetermined condition are arranged in time order;
A selection movement operation reception unit that receives a movement operation such as a cursor for selecting content in the content list;
A pre-excess movement operation determination unit that determines whether the operation received by the selective movement operation reception unit is a pre-excess movement operation that is an operation to move to content before the first content in the content list;
A post excessive movement operation determining unit that determines whether the operation received by the selective movement operation receiving unit is a post excessive movement operation that is an operation to move to a content after the last content in the content list;
When the determination result in the excess movement operation determination unit is a determination result that the movement operation is an excess movement operation, it is used as a search key used for the configuration of the provided information that is information to be provided to the viewer A second identification information output unit for outputting identification information of the content being reproduced;
A content reproduction apparatus having   The second identification information output unit, when it is determined that the determination result in the excess movement operation determination unit is an excess movement operation, whether the excess movement operation is a front excess movement operation or a rear excess operation. The identification information output means with a 2nd type which further outputs in association with the back-and-front excess movement operation type information which shows, and the identification information output from an identification information output part according to the excess movement operation of Claim 6 is provided. Content playback device. A content output device that outputs content to the content playback device according to claim 6 or 7,
A related information holding unit that holds content related information that is information that associates content identification information that can be acquired by the content acquisition unit of the content reproduction device;
An output identification information acquisition unit for acquiring an output from the second identification information output unit of the content reproduction device;
A related identification information acquisition unit that acquires related identification information that is identification information associated with the key identification information using the key identification information that is identification information acquired by the output identification information acquisition unit;
The provision information is configured using the acquired related identification information, and the output unit configured to output the configured provision information to the content reproduction apparatus that has output the key identification information;
A content output device. The related information holding unit
When two associated identification information uses one identification information as key identification information and obtains the other identification information, the other identification information can be selected in relation to the forward / backward movement operation type information. The content output apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising front and rear holding means for holding identification information and front and rear excess movement operation type information in association with each other.   A content reproduction system comprising the content reproduction device according to claim 7 and the content output device according to claim 8 or 9.

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