JP2007013588A - Program data recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program data recording apparatus whereby a user can automatically register an index image of a scene desired by the user for every program periodically recorded. <P>SOLUTION: When program data are recorded according to periodic recording reservation information (step S12), the program data recording apparatus registers the index image (thumbnail picture) of the program data on the basis of identification information (episode number). That is, the program data recording apparatus searches a matching zone between sound data associated with the identification information and sound data included in the program data (step S20), when the matching zone exists as a result of the searching, the program data recording apparatus determines the image data included in the matching zone as the index image (step S24). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a program data recording apparatus, and more particularly to a program data recording apparatus capable of registering an index image of program data.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a program data recording apparatus that can display an index display of program data by registering an index image as a headline of recorded (recorded) program data. Such an index image is useful, for example, for grasping the content of the program data.

  However, it is troublesome for the user to manually register an index image for each program after recording the program.

Therefore, a technique that can automatically register an index image has been proposed.
For example, in Patent Document 1, when the thumbnail (compressed thumbnail data) of a recorded program at the recording start time is changed to a field image at a timing delayed by a certain time ΔT from the recording start time, the same thereafter. For programs recorded under conditions, it is described that an image with a timing delayed by ΔT from the recording start time is generated as a thumbnail. That is, when a CM (commercial) is broadcast at the recording start time of a certain program, the next time when the thumbnail is changed to a field image at the timing at which the title back of the program is broadcast (timing delayed by time ΔT) Thereafter, thumbnails are generated based on the time ΔT.

In addition, the following techniques exist in relation to such an index image.
Patent Document 2 obtains video data of a scene when a keyword appears by searching a database created by audio data included in a recorded program file based on the input keyword, It is disclosed that this video data is stored in a memory as a thumbnail image. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 describes that the first video that appears after a scene change is displayed as still image data representing the scene.
JP 2004-222268 A JP 2004-289530 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-260521

  According to the technology of Patent Document 1, when it is desired to register a scene broadcast at the same timing from the recording start time every time as an index image, the scene can be registered as an index image (thumbnail).

  However, even if the program is recorded periodically, the scene desired by the user is not always broadcast at the same timing from the recording start time. Therefore, even with this technique, the scene desired by the user is not necessarily registered as an index image.

  In addition, other documents disclose nothing about registering a scene desired by a user as an index image of a program recorded periodically.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to automatically register an index image of a scene desired by a user for each periodically recorded program. It is to provide a program data recording apparatus capable of performing the above.

  A program data recording apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention stores a plurality of program data based on first storage means for storing periodic recording reservation information in association with identification information, and periodic recording reservation information. Second storage means and third storage means for storing management information corresponding to each of the plurality of program data, each of the management information including identification information and based on an instruction from the user And a first registration means for registering the first index image of the first program data stored in the second storage means in association with the identification information, wherein the first registration means comprises: When the position of the first index image is stored in the management information corresponding to the first program data, and the second program data is recorded according to the periodic recording reservation information, the second information is based on the identification information. Program day Further comprising a second registration means for registering the second index image. A second registration unit configured to determine whether or not the position information of the first index image is stored in the management information in which the identification information is already stored; and the first index by the determination unit When it is determined that the position information of the image is registered, a matching section between the first audio data related to the first index image and the second audio data included in the second program data is searched. A first determination unit for determining, as a second index image, image data included in the matching section when there is a matching section as a result of the search by the searching means. In the management information corresponding to the program data, if there is no matching section as a result of the search by the first position storage means for storing the position of the image data and the search means, it is included in the second program data. Second determination means for determining image data at a predetermined position as a second index image, and second position storage means for storing the predetermined position in management information corresponding to the second program data Including.

  A program data recording apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention stores a plurality of program data based on first storage means for storing periodic recording reservation information in association with identification information, and periodic recording reservation information And a second storage means for storing management information corresponding to each of the plurality of program data. Each of the management information includes identification information, and receives instructions from the user. Based on the first registration means for registering the first index image of the first program data stored in the second storage means in association with the identification information, and the second registration according to the periodic recording reservation information. A second registration unit for registering the second index image of the second program data based on the identification information when the program data is recorded, and the second registration unit includes: Identification information and related A search section for searching for a matching section between the first audio data recorded and the second voice data included in the second program data, and a matching section exists as a result of the search by the searching section And first determination means for determining the image data included in the coincidence section as the second index image.

  Preferably, the second registration means further includes first position storage means for storing the position of the image data in the management information corresponding to the second program data.

  Preferably, the second registration unit further includes a determination unit for determining whether or not the first index image is registered in association with the identification information, and the first audio data includes the first audio data The audio data associated with the index image, and the search means searches for a matching section when the determination means determines that the first index image is registered.

  Preferably, the determination means determines whether or not the first index image is registered, whether or not the position information of the first index image is stored in the management information in which the identification information is already stored. This is done by judging.

  Preferably, when there is no matching section as a result of the search by the search means, the second registration means uses the image data at a predetermined position included in the second program data as the second index image. Further included is a second determining means for determining.

  Preferably, the second registration means further includes second position storage means for storing a predetermined position in the management information corresponding to the second program data.

  Preferably, the first registration unit stores the position of the first index image in the management information corresponding to the first program data.

  Preferably, the first audio data is audio data from a position corresponding to the position of the first index image to a position ahead by a predetermined time among the audio data included in the first program data.

  Preferably, the second registration means further includes means for causing the second storage means to store the second index image in association with the second program data.

  Preferably, the first index image is stored in the second storage unit, and the determination unit associates the determination as to whether the first index image exists with identification information in the second storage unit. This is done by determining whether or not the first index image is stored.

  According to the present invention, when program data based on periodic recording reservation information is recorded, an index image can be automatically registered. In addition, since the index image is registered using the audio data, the scene desired by the user can be registered as the index image more reliably.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

  With reference to FIG. 1, a DVD recorder 100 which is an aspect of a program data recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of DVD recorder 100.

  DVD recorder 100 includes a memory 112 for storing various data and programs, a system control unit 110 for executing a predetermined process based on stored data and an instruction input from the outside, An operation unit 122 for receiving an input of a user's instruction, a light receiving unit 124 for receiving a remote control signal and outputting a predetermined control signal to the system control unit 110, and a system control unit for measuring time and signals 110 includes a clock circuit 126 for outputting to 110 and a display unit 128 for displaying information representing the operating state of DVD recorder 100. The operating state displayed on the display unit 128 is, for example, time information in a DVD recorder, program recording status, and the like.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, DVD recorder 100 further includes an antenna 190, a tuner 130 for selecting a predetermined radio wave from the received radio waves, and an external input unit for receiving external video and audio signal inputs. 132, an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) encoder 152 for compressing an input signal based on a predetermined process, and a hard disk device 140 for storing digital data based on an instruction from the system control unit 110 , DVD drive 170 for recording and reproducing video / audio data by driving DVD 172, MPEG decoder 154 for decoding compressed video / audio signal, DVD recorder on video display screen OSD (On Screen Display) for generating signals to display 100 operating states and other information An image generation circuit 114, a synthesis circuit 158 for synthesizing and outputting the signal generated by the OSD image generation circuit 114 and the output signal from the MPEG decoder 154, and converting the input digital signal into an analog signal A D / A (Digital to Analog) converter 160 for outputting and an output unit 168 for connecting a transmission cable 192 and outputting a video / audio signal are included. DVD recorder 100 is connected to television 400 via transmission cable 192. The hard disk device 140 includes a data recording / reproducing head 142 that records and reproduces data, and a hard disk 144 on which data is recorded.

  DVD recorder 100 in the embodiment of the present invention has an episode recording function. “Episode reserved recording” means recording of program data by episode reservation. “Episode reservation” means a periodical recording (recording) reservation, that is, a plurality of recording reservations are made at one time based on each period such as every Monday, every day, every weekday.

  Here, the episode reservation recording will be described. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that program data based on a broadcast program is recorded on the hard disk 144 by the hard disk device 140. The program data may be recorded on another recording medium such as a DVD 172.

  The hard disk 144 includes a data area and a management area. In the data area, program data based on the broadcast program received by the tuner 130 is stored. In the management area, a recording reservation management table and a title management table are stored in a predetermined area.

  The recording reservation management table has recording reservation information (hereinafter referred to as “recording reservation management data”) set by the user. The title management table also includes management information (hereinafter referred to as “title management” for each program data stored in the data area. Data ”).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structural example of a recording reservation management table in the embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, the recording reservation management table has recording reservation management data Ai (i = 1, 2, 3,..., M). The recording reservation management data Ai includes recording date / time data C1, channel data C2, episode number data C3, and period data C4.

  The episode number data C3 is identification information for identifying an episode reservation. In this embodiment, an episode number assigned when an episode reservation is set by the user is stored as identification information. For example, numbers (1, 2, 3,...) Are assigned to the episode numbers in the order of setting episode reservations. Therefore, the episode number is recorded only when the recording reservation management data Ai is management data based on the episode reservation. In addition, when the episode number reaches a predetermined value (for example, 50) during the episode reservation setting, for example, the initial value (1) is returned and a free number is assigned.

  The cycle data C4 is cycle information representing the episode reservation cycle. In the cycle data C4, according to the contents of the episode reservation set by the user as the cycle information, for example, “0” if the cycle is daily, “1” if the cycle is every Sunday, and the cycle is every Monday. For example, a number such as “2” is stored.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that one recording reservation management data is generated when an episode reservation is set by the user. Therefore, only the recording date / time data C1 in the generated recording reservation management data is updated according to the cycle indicated by the cycle data C4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure example of the title management table in the embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, the title management table includes title management data Bj (j = 1, 2, 3,..., N) for managing program data recorded in the data area for each program (also referred to as “title”). ).

  The title management data Bj includes recording date / time data D1, channel data D2, start address data D3, end address data D4, episode number data D5, and image position data D6 as information for specifying the corresponding program data.

  The episode number data D5 is identification information for identifying program data recorded by the episode reservation. In the present embodiment, the same episode number as the episode number data C3 included in the recording reservation management data Ai of the recording reservation management table is stored as identification information. The episode number in the episode number data C3 of the recording reservation management data Ai and the episode number in the episode number data D5 of the title management data Bj are not necessarily limited if the episode number data C3 and the episode number data D5 are associated with each other. It does not have to be the same. In addition, here, all are described as being managed by episode numbers, but may be managed by other identification information such as a program title name.

  The image position data D6 is position information indicating the position of the index image of the program data managed by the title management data Bj. This position information may be address information of the image or time information. In the present embodiment, time information indicating the elapsed time from the recording start time is stored as the position information. That is, the elapsed time from the recording start time is stored in the image position data D6.

  The “index image” is an image showing a specific scene included in the program data, and preferably an image showing a scene representing the program data (being a headline). This index image is displayed as information indicating the contents of the title when, for example, a title (program data) list is displayed. In this embodiment, when displaying the title list, the index images are displayed as thumbnails. Therefore, hereinafter, the index image is also referred to as “thumbnail image”.

  As described above, the index image is displayed as the title of the title when the title list is displayed. Therefore, the user desires to display an index image that can understand the content of the title, for example, an opening image.

  Here, a procedure for manually registering an index image (thumbnail image) from recorded program data will be described. The DVD 100 also has a function of manually registering thumbnail images in addition to automatic thumbnail image registration processing described later.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing thumbnail image manual registration processing in the embodiment of the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 4 is a process that is started when the thumbnail image setting menu is selected by the user, for example. 4 is stored in advance in the memory 112 as a program, and the function of the thumbnail image manual registration process is realized by the system control unit 110 reading and executing this program. The procedure shown below is a general (known) thumbnail image registration process.

  Referring to FIG. 4, first, system control unit 110 displays a thumbnail image registration screen (step S2). Next, it is determined whether or not an image has been designated by the user (step S4). Until it is determined that an image has been designated by the user (NO in step S4), the determination in step S4 is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S4 that the user has designated an image (YES in step S4), the system control unit 110 registers the position of the designated image as the position of the thumbnail image (step S6). More specifically, the elapsed time from the recording start time of the target program data to the time of the designated image position is registered in the image position data D6 of the title management data Bj.

This is the end of the thumbnail image manual registration process.
As described above, when manually registering thumbnail images, a user-desired scene can be used as an index image. However, in the case of program data recorded by episode reservation, it is troublesome to register the same scene, for example, an image of the opening screen as an index image every time.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the scheduled episode recording is executed, the thumbnail image is automatically registered by the following method. In order to execute the thumbnail image automatic registration process shown below, it is necessary to register a thumbnail image of one program data by the thumbnail image manual registration process shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the thumbnail image automatic registration process according to the embodiment of the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 5 is a process executed by the system control unit 110 while recording by episode reservation is started. The processing shown in FIG. 5 is stored in advance in the memory 112 as a program, and the system control unit 110 reads and executes this program, thereby realizing the function of the thumbnail image automatic registration processing.

  Referring to FIG. 5, first, system control unit 110 determines whether or not episode reserved recording has ended (step S12). Wait until the episode reservation recording is completed (NO in step S12).

  If it is determined in step S12 that the scheduled episode recording has ended (YES in step S12), the system control unit 110 searches for title management data having the same episode number as the episode number of the program for which recording has ended (step S14). . More specifically, the episode number data D5 in the title management data B1 to Bn stored in the title management table is searched, and the episode number data C3 of the recording reservation management data Ai of the program data for which the current episode reserved recording has ended. The title management data in which the same episode number as the episode number stored in is stored is searched.

  Subsequently, the system control unit 110 determines whether there is title management data with the same episode number in the title management table (step S15). If it is determined that there is title management data of the same episode number (YES in step S15), the process proceeds to step S16. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no title management data with the same episode number (NO in step S15), the thumbnail image automatic registration process is terminated. When a plurality of title management data are retrieved, for example, the latest title management data is selected.

  In step S16, the system control unit 110 determines whether the thumbnail image of the corresponding title management data has been registered. More specifically, it is determined whether or not the thumbnail image position information is stored in the image position data D6 of the title management data. If it is determined that the thumbnail image has already been registered (YES in step S16), the process proceeds to step S18. On the other hand, if it is determined that the thumbnail image has not been registered (NO in step S16), the thumbnail image automatic registration process is terminated.

  In step S18, the system control unit 110, based on the position information stored in the image position data D6, for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) among the audio data included in the program data managed by the corresponding title management data. ) Minutes of audio data is read. That is, based on the time information of the thumbnail image stored in the image position data D6, audio data for a predetermined time is read from the time indicating the position of the thumbnail image.

  Subsequently, the system control unit 110 searches for the section that matches the read audio data among the audio data included in the program data for which the scheduled episode recording has been completed (step S20). Then, the system control unit 110 determines whether there is matching data (step S22). If it is determined that there is matching data (YES in step S22), the process proceeds to step S24. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no matching data (NO in step S22), the process proceeds to step S26. Note that the determination in step S22 is made based on, for example, whether or not the degree of coincidence between both exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  In step S24, the system control unit 110 determines and stores the image data in the section in which the audio data matches, for example, the first I-picture encoded in the frame in the section as the thumbnail image. That is, the position information (elapsed time from the recording start time) of the I picture determined as the thumbnail image is stored in the image position data D6 of the title management data created this time.

  In step S26, the system control unit 110 determines and stores, as a thumbnail image, image data at a predetermined position in the program data recorded in the current episode reservation recording, for example, the first I-picture encoded in the frame in the program data. . That is, the position information (elapsed time from the recording start time) of the I picture determined as the thumbnail image is stored in the image position data D6 of the title management data created this time.

This is the end of the thumbnail image automatic registration process in the present embodiment.
As described above, in the present embodiment, once the thumbnail image of the program data recorded by the episode reservation recording is registered once in the thumbnail image setting menu, the program data of the same episode number is recorded from the next time. , You can register thumbnail images automatically.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the thumbnail image is determined using the audio data for a predetermined time from the position of the thumbnail image once registered, it is possible to register the image desired by the user more reliably than in the past. In other words, for example, once the user registers the image on the opening screen as a thumbnail image, the thumbnail image can be determined from the next time using the audio data at the beginning of the theme song that flows during the opening. . Therefore, even if the opening screen is broadcast at different times, the thumbnail image is determined by the theme song that flows every time, so that a desired thumbnail image can be accurately registered without a temporal error. As a result, when the opening screen includes the number of times such as “first time”, information on the number of programs is included in the thumbnail image. Then, the user can easily grasp how many times the broadcast has been performed by simply viewing the thumbnail images.

  Also, for example, when a user manually registers a climax thumbnail image of a program, the thumbnail image is automatically registered from the next time onward based on (part of) a specific song that flows every time at the end of the program. The Thus, the user can more specifically grasp the contents of the program when displaying the thumbnail image.

  Note that the audio data may not be music (songs) but may be words (voices) of people who flow every time.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the thumbnail image and the audio data used for matching determination are specified by including the position (time) information of the thumbnail image in the title management data. . Thereby, even when the user wants to change the scene to be the thumbnail image, it can be easily handled. That is, the audio data that is the object of the match determination is not separately stored, and the audio data is read based on the registered thumbnail image position, so that no special processing is required. From this, the user can change the image of a desired scene to a thumbnail image thereafter without performing any special process other than changing the thumbnail image.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the thumbnail image and the audio data used for matching determination are specified by including the position (time) information of the thumbnail image in the title management data. It may not be a form. For example, a thumbnail image and audio data used for matching determination may be stored in the data area of the hard disk 144 in association with each program data.

  In the present embodiment, the registered index image is described as a still image. However, the index image is not necessarily a still image.

  In addition, a menu for displaying the registered index image for each episode number on the DVD 100 may be provided. Thereby, the usefulness of an index image can be improved.

  Instead of the DVD 172, for example, an optical medium or the like in which a program is recorded can be read by a drive device, and the program in the memory 112 can be updated.

  In addition, an index image (thumbnail image) registration method performed by the program data recording apparatus of the present invention can be provided as a program. Such a program can be recorded on an optical medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-ROM) or a computer-readable recording medium such as a memory card and provided as a program product. A program can also be provided by downloading via a network.

  The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed. The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a block diagram showing the hardware constitutions of the DVD recorder in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the video recording reservation management table in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the title management table in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the thumbnail image manual registration process in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the thumbnail image automatic registration process in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  100 DVD recorder, 110 system control unit, 112 memory, 114 OSD image generation circuit, 122 operation unit, 124 light receiving unit, 126 timing circuit, 128 display unit, 130 tuner, 132 external input unit, 140 hard disk device, 142 data recording / playback Head, 144 Hard disk, 152 MPEG encoder, 154 MPEG decoder, 158 synthesis circuit, 160 D / A converter, 168 output, 170 DVD drive, 172 DVD, 190 antenna, 400 TV.

Claims (11)

First storage means for storing periodic recording reservation information in association with identification information;
A second storage means for storing a plurality of program data based on the periodic recording reservation information;
A third storage means for storing management information corresponding to each of the plurality of program data;
Each of the management information includes the identification information,
First registration means for registering the first index image of the first program data stored in the second storage means in association with the identification information based on an instruction from the user is further provided. ,
The first registration means stores the position of the first index image in management information corresponding to the first program data,
A second registration means for registering a second index image of the second program data based on the identification information when the second program data is recorded in accordance with the periodic recording reservation information; In addition,
The second registration means includes:
A determination means for determining whether or not the position information of the first index image is stored in the management information in which the identification information is already stored;
When it is determined by the determining means that the position information of the first index image is registered, the first audio data related to the first index image and the second program data are included. Search means for searching for a matching section with the second audio data;
If a matching section exists as a result of the search by the search means, a first determining means for determining the image data included in the matching section as the second index image;
First position storage means for storing the position of the image data in management information corresponding to the second program data;
If the matching section does not exist as a result of the search by the search means, a second position for determining the image data at a predetermined position included in the second program data as the second index image. And means for determining
A program data recording apparatus comprising: management information corresponding to the second program data; and second position storage means for storing the predetermined position. First storage means for storing periodic recording reservation information in association with identification information;
A second storage means for storing a plurality of program data based on the periodic recording reservation information;
A third storage means for storing management information corresponding to each of the plurality of program data;
Each of the management information includes the identification information,
First registration means for registering the first index image of the first program data stored in the second storage means in association with the identification information based on an instruction from the user;
Second recording means for registering a second index image of the second program data based on the identification information when the second program data is recorded in accordance with the periodic recording reservation information; Further comprising
The second registration means includes:
Search means for searching for a matching section between the first audio data associated with the identification information and the second audio data included in the second program data;
A program data recording apparatus comprising: a first determination unit configured to determine image data included in the matching section as the second index image when the matching section exists as a result of the search by the searching unit; .   3. The program data recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second registration unit further includes a first position storage unit that stores a position of the image data in management information corresponding to the second program data. 4. The second registration means further includes a determination means for determining whether or not the first index image is registered in association with the identification information,
The first audio data is audio data associated with the first index image;
The program data recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the search unit searches for a matching section when the determination unit determines that the first index image is registered.   The determination means determines whether or not the first index image is registered. Whether or not the position information of the first index image is stored in the management information in which the identification information is already stored. The program data recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the program data recording apparatus is performed by determining whether the   If there is no matching section as a result of the search by the search means, the second registration means converts the image data at a predetermined position included in the second program data into the second index image. The program data recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising second determining means for determining as.   The program data recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second registration unit further includes a second position storage unit that stores the predetermined position in management information corresponding to the second program data.   The program data recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first registration unit stores the position of the first index image in management information corresponding to the first program data.   The first audio data is audio data from a position corresponding to a position of the first index image to a position ahead by a predetermined time among audio data included in the first program data. 4. The program data recording apparatus according to 3.   The program data recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second registration unit further includes a unit that causes the second storage unit to store the second index image in association with the second program data. . The first index image is stored in the second storage means,
The determination means determines whether or not the first index image exists, and determines whether or not the first index image is stored in the second storage means in association with the identification information. 5. The program data recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the program data recording apparatus is performed by making a determination.

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