JP2008071419A - Music reproducing device, program, and music reproducing method in music reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a music reproducing device in which display of a music list being more suitable for retrieving of music can be performed. <P>SOLUTION: In the music reproducing device in which list display displaying the prescribed information is performed for respective music included in a selected album, selection of music is received, while, in list display, pictures related to respective music are displayed simultaneously, the device includes a discriminating means (step 73, 74) discriminating whether pictures related to respective music in the selected album are same or not, when list display is performed and it is discriminated by the discriminating means that pictures related to respective music are same, the picture is displayed at the prescribed one place as a representative picture (step 75), when it is discriminated that it is not same, pictures related to respective music are displayed accompanying display of the prescribed information (step 76). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a music playback device that displays a list of predetermined information for each selectable music in a selected album and accepts music selection, a program that realizes the function of the device, and the device The present invention relates to a music playback method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique for improving a user interface in a portable music player, there is known a technique capable of searching for a reproduction target by tracing a predetermined category hierarchy. For example, a genre, an artist, an album, a playlist, etc. can be adopted as a category forming a hierarchy. The genre, artist, album, and music included in each album form a hierarchical structure in this order, for example. For example, the user can search for a reproduction target starting from any one of albums, artists, genres, and playlists displayed on the home screen and moving toward a lower category.

  For example, the user can display a list of albums recorded in the apparatus by selecting an album category on the home screen. Furthermore, any album can be selected and a list of music included in the album can be displayed. Similarly, by selecting an artist on the home screen, a search can be performed from the upper level to the lower level in the order of artist, album, and music. When a genre is selected on the home screen, a search can be performed while descending the hierarchy in the order of genre, artist, album, and music. When a playlist is selected, it is possible to search for albums and music that the user has registered in the playlist in advance.

  On the other hand, a music playback device that displays an image of an album jacket of the music or an image related to the genre of the music during playback of the music is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 8 shows a music list display screen in a music reproducing apparatus according to another prior art. The music list display is used as a music selection menu. When the album is selected, the music list is displayed on the music included in the album as a lower screen. In this music reproducing apparatus, the search according to the hierarchical structure by the category similar to the technique in the above-mentioned user interface improvement technique is enabled. Also, each song in the song list is associated with a jacket image of the album to which the song belongs, and when displaying the song list, an image associated with the song is displayed in association with the display of the name of each song. Is displayed.

  That is, in the music list display screen 80 shown in FIG. 8, “album A” that is the name of the selected album is displayed in the uppermost album display field 81. In the music display column 82 below, “music 1”, “music 2”,... Are displayed as the names of the music included in the album A. In addition, an album jacket image 83 associated with each song is also displayed in association with the display of each song name. Basically, the same jacket image is associated with each piece of music included in the same album. However, different images may be associated.

  In the display column 82a for the selected song in the song list, that is, in the display column 82a where the cursor is positioned, the display is enlarged so that it can be seen that the characters are different in color scheme from the other display columns 82. Information is displayed. In the expanded display field 82a, in addition to the music name, information on the artist name “artist α” and performance time “3:38” is additionally displayed. Regarding the music being selected, reproduction is started when a predetermined user operation is performed.

JP 2006-216201 A

  However, according to the conventional example of FIG. 8 described above, since the same jacket image is repeatedly displayed in the display columns 82 and 82a of each musical piece, it gives a troublesome impression as a feeling of watching. Further, when the jacket image has a bright color scheme, the character information is relatively difficult to see, and the visibility of information about each piece of music may be lowered. Furthermore, when moving the cursor to select music, there is a problem that even if an attempt is made to increase the moving speed, the moving speed does not increase smoothly due to the load for rewriting the image display.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a music reproducing apparatus capable of displaying a music list that is more suitable for searching for music in view of such problems of the prior art.

  In order to achieve the above object, a music playback device according to a first aspect of the present invention performs a list display in which predetermined information is displayed for each selectable music in a selected album, accepts a music selection, and the list When displaying, the present invention relates to a music reproducing device provided with an interface means for displaying an image associated with each music together. The apparatus includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the images associated with each song in the selected album are the same, and the interface unit uses the determination unit to display each song in the list display. When it is determined that the images associated with each music are not the same, the images associated with each music are displayed in association with the display of the predetermined information of each music.

  Here, as a music reproducing device, for example, a portable device with a built-in hard disk is applicable. As predetermined information about each musical piece, for example, a musical piece name corresponds. The selection of music is performed, for example, in order to specify the music to be played back or deleted. As an image associated with each music, for example, a jacket image of an album including each music corresponds. Images associated with music pieces in the same album may or may not be the same.

  In this configuration, when an album is selected, a list display in which predetermined information is displayed for each selectable song in the album is performed, and selection of a song from the list is accepted. At that time, if the determination means determines that the images associated with each song are not the same, the images associated with each song are displayed so as to accompany the display of the information of each song. Therefore, when images related to each music are different, an image corresponding to each music can be displayed in association with display of information of each music.

  In the music reproducing device according to a second invention, in the first invention, when the interface means determines that the images associated with each music are the same by the determination means during the list display, The image is displayed as a representative image at a predetermined location.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for reading out predetermined information from a storage unit for each piece of music included in a selected album, displaying the information on a display unit, and displaying the list on the basis of an input by the input unit. The present invention relates to a program for accepting selection of music from each music and for causing the music playback device to function as interface means for reading out and displaying an image associated with each music from the storage means when displaying the list. This program determines whether or not the images associated with each song in the album are the same based on information relating to the image association with each song in the album stored in the storage unit When the list display shows that the image associated with each song is the same, the interface means displays the image at a predetermined location. If the images are displayed as representative images and are determined not to be the same, the images associated with each song are displayed in association with the display of the predetermined information of each song.

  A music playback method in a music playback device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention performs a list display in which predetermined information is displayed for each selectable music in the selected album, accepts the selection of music, and at the time of the list display The present invention also relates to a music playback method in a music playback device including an interface process for displaying an image associated with each music together. The music reproduction method includes a determination step of determining whether or not the images associated with the respective songs in the selected album are the same, and in the interface step, the determination step includes: When it is determined that the images associated with each song are the same, the image is displayed as a representative image at a predetermined location. When it is determined that the images are not the same, the image is associated with each song. Each image is displayed in association with the display of information on each music piece.

  According to the present invention, when displaying the list for each song included in the selected album, if the images associated with each song are not the same, the image associated with each song is displayed as information on each song. Since the image associated with each song is different, the image corresponding to each song can be displayed in association with the display of the information of each song.

  In addition, when displaying the list for each song included in the selected album, if the image associated with each song is the same, the image is displayed as a representative image at a predetermined location. Can be prevented from being repeatedly displayed along with the display of each music piece.

  Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the annoyance of the feeling of viewing due to the repeated display of the same image accompanying the display of each song, and when the images related to each song are different, the characteristics of each song Etc. can be expressed by related images.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable music player according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, this apparatus includes a control unit 11 that controls each part of the apparatus and processes various information, a hard disk 12 that is accessed by the control unit 11, and a display unit 13 that displays various information under the control of the control unit 11. An input unit 14 for a user to input an operation to the control unit 11 and an audio output unit 15 that converts an audio signal from the control unit 11 into a sound wave and outputs the sound wave. The hard disk 12 stores music files used for music playback and image data associated with each music. The control unit 11 performs a user interface function using the input unit 14 and the display unit 13, reproduction of music specified through the function, and the like while referring to data in the hard disk 12 according to a predetermined program.

  FIG. 2 shows the front of the device of FIG. In the figure, 21 is a screen of a liquid crystal display constituting the display unit 13, 22 is an operation key constituting the input unit 14, 23 is a menu key similarly constituting the input unit 14, and 24 is a voice output unit 15. Headphones. The operation key 22 includes five keys: a center key M located at the center, an upper key U located above, a lower key D located below, a right key R located on the right side, and a left key L located on the left side. . Each is composed of tact switches. In particular, the upper key U and the lower key D are each constituted by a tact switch that operates in two steps by lightly pressing lightly and pressing strongly. That is, the upper key U and the lower key D can perform two types of operation inputs by light pressing and strong pressing with one key, respectively.

  The menu key 23 can be used for displaying a menu screen in which selection items for setting various operation modes are arranged in the vertical direction. The up key U and the down key D can be used to select a selection item on various menu screens. When the up key U or the down key D is pressed, the playback device moves the cursor indicating the currently selected item upward or downward in the menu. At this time, if the number of selection items is large, the menu display is scrolled up and down as necessary. The speed of cursor movement and menu display scrolling by pressing the up key U or down key D is slow when lightly pressed and fast when strongly pressed. The right key R can be used to display a lower screen related to the currently selected item.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a method for sorting music recorded on the hard disk 12. Based on information such as album name, artist name, and genre name attached to the music file of each song, each song can be classified for each album as shown in FIG. Each album can be classified by artist, and each artist can be classified by genre. That is, it is possible to form a hierarchical structure in which genres, artists, albums, and songs are categories in each hierarchy. As the hierarchical structure, in addition to the example of FIG. 3, various forms that can be formed using information such as album names, artist names, and genre names attached to music files can be adopted. For example, a hierarchical structure consisting of only a music category including all songs as a category element, an artist category hierarchy including all artists as a category element, and a music category divided for each artist as a lower hierarchy You may employ | adopt the hierarchical structure which consists of a hierarchy of.

  FIG. 4 shows the home screen displayed on the screen 21. On this screen, category names such as “artist”, “album”, “genre”, etc. are displayed. By selecting one of the categories and pressing the right key R, starting from the category hierarchy, In accordance with the hierarchical structure as described above, it is possible to search for an element in a desired hierarchical category.

  For example, when the cursor is positioned on “Artist” on the home screen of FIG. 4 and the right key R is pressed in a state where “Artist” is selected, the music reproducing device, according to the example of FIG. An artist list screen with “Artist A”, “Artist B”... As selection items is displayed. In this screen, when “Artist B” is selected by the operation of the upper key U and the lower key D and the right key R is pressed, albums having “album b” and “album c” belonging to artist B as selection items are selected. Display the list screen. In this screen, when the album c is selected by the operation of the up key U and the down key D and the right key R is pressed, the music having “music 12”, “music 13”. Display the list screen. On this screen, one of the displayed music pieces can be selected by operating the up key U and the down key D.

  In addition, by searching for and selecting an element in a desired hierarchical category in this way, it is possible to specify a playback range and playback start position. For example, when artist B is selected and the center key M is pressed, the music playback device plays back all the music of all albums belonging to artist B or the first album b belonging to artist B, depending on the setting. Playback starts from song 6.

  FIG. 5 shows a music list screen that is displayed when the album a in the example of FIG. 3 is selected and the right key R is pressed, that is, a music selection menu screen. However, the jacket image of album a is associated with any of songs 1 to 5 included in album a. That is, the same image is associated with the music pieces 1 to 5. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, a jacket image 51 of album a is displayed at the top of the menu screen. The album name “album a”, artist name “artist α”, number of songs “10 songs”, total performance It is displayed together with information 52 such as time “50:43”. On the lower side of this display, the song names “Song 1”, “Song 2”,. In FIG. 5, the cursor 53 is positioned at the selection item position of the music piece 3 and the state where the music piece 3 is selected is shown. For the selected music 3, the music name is displayed in a color different from that of other music, and information related to the performance time is additionally displayed, but an associated image is not displayed.

  FIG. 6 shows a menu screen for music selection displayed when album b in the example of FIG. 3 is selected and the right key R is pressed. However, different images are associated with the music pieces 6 to 11 included in the album b. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, on the menu screen, the music names “music 6”, “music 7”,... Is displayed along with. However, in the figure, the song name “Song 11” and the image 91 do not appear on the screen 21, but can be seen by scrolling the menu screen. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the music piece 8 is selected. As described above, for the selected music piece, an accompanying image is enlarged and displayed, characters such as a music title are displayed in a bright color scheme, and information on performance time is additionally displayed. The album name “album b” of album b and an album jacket image 92 associated therewith are displayed at the top.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of processing by the control unit 11. This process is started in a state where any album is selected. When the process is started, the control unit 11 first waits for the right key R or another key to be pressed in steps 71 and 72. If the pressing of another key is detected, the processing of FIG. 7 is immediately terminated. In this case, processing corresponding to another pressed key is performed.

  If it is detected that the right key is pressed, the process proceeds to step 73 to check whether the images associated with the respective songs included in the selected album are the same. This investigation can be performed based on information stored in the hard disk 12 relating to the association of images with each piece of music in each album. Next, in step 74, based on the investigation result, it is determined whether or not the images associated with each music are the same. If it is determined that they are the same, the process proceeds to step 75 to display a music selection menu in a manner as shown in FIG. If it is determined that they are not the same, the process proceeds to step 76 and a menu for music selection is displayed in the manner as shown in FIG. When the process of step 75 or 76 is completed, the process of FIG. 7 is terminated. In this case, the user can select a music piece by operating the up key U and the down key D based on the music selection menu display according to the mode of FIG. 5 or FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, when the selection menu for each song included in the selected album is displayed, if the images associated with each song are the same, the image is represented as a representative image at a predetermined location. If the images are not the same, the images associated with each song are displayed in association with the display of the song name of each song, so the same image is attached to the display of the song name of each song. When the images related to each music are different, the images corresponding to each music can be displayed in association with the display of the music name of each music. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the annoyance of the feeling of viewing due to the repeated display of the same image accompanying the display of each song, and when the images related to each song are different, the characteristics of each song Etc. can be expressed by related images.

  In addition, when the images associated with each music are the same, the burden of rewriting the image accompanying the movement of the cursor and the screen scrolling is reduced, so that the user can quickly perform the selection operation. In addition, even if the same jacket image associated with each song is of a bright color scheme, it is not displayed along with the display of the information of each song. Visibility is improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and implemented. For example, in the above description, a hard disk is used to store music files and related graphics, but a semiconductor memory may be used instead.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the portable music reproducing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the front of the apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows a mode that the music recorded on the hard disk of the apparatus of FIG. 1 was divided by the predetermined method. It is a figure which shows the home screen in the apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the menu screen for the music selection displayed when the album a in the example of FIG. 3 is selected and the right key R is pressed down. It is a figure which shows another menu screen for the music selection displayed when the album a in the example of FIG. 3 is selected and the right key R is pressed. It is a flowchart which shows a part of process by the control part in the apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the screen which displayed the list | wrist of the music contained in one album in the conventional music reproduction apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  11: Control unit, 12: Hard disk, 13: Display unit, 14: Input unit, 15: Audio output unit, 21: Screen, 22: Operation key, 23: Menu key, 24: Headphone, M: Center key, R: Right key, L: Left key, U: Up key, D: Down key, 51: Jacket image, 52: Information, 53: Cursor, 86-90: Image, 92: Album jacket image, 80: Display screen, 81: Album display field, 82a: enlarged display field, 83: image.

Claims (4)

An interface means for displaying a list displaying predetermined information for each song included in the selected album, accepting the selection of the song, and displaying the image associated with each song together with the list display is provided. A music playback device,
Determining means for determining whether or not the images associated with each song in the selected album are the same;
In the list display, when the determination unit determines that the images associated with each song are not the same, the interface unit displays the image associated with each song as the predetermined information of each song. A music reproducing apparatus characterized by being displayed in association with a display.   The interface means displays the image as a representative image at a predetermined place when the determination means determines that the images associated with each music are the same when the list is displayed. The music reproducing device according to claim 1. Predetermined information is read from the storage means for each piece of music included in the selected album, displayed on the display means, and displayed as a list. Based on the input by the input means, the music is selected from each music displayed in the list. And at the time of displaying the list, a program that causes the music playback device to function as an interface unit that reads and displays an image associated with each song from the storage unit,
The music reproduction as a determination means for determining whether or not the images associated with each song in the album are the same based on information relating to the image association with each song in the album stored in the storage means Make the device work,
The interface means displays the image as a representative image at a predetermined one place when the image associated with each song is judged to be the same by the judging means when the list is displayed. If it is determined that there is no such program, an image associated with each song is displayed in association with the display of the predetermined information of each song. An interface process for displaying a list displaying predetermined information for each selectable song in the selected album, accepting the selection of the song, and displaying an image associated with each song together with the list display A music playback method in a music playback device comprising:
A determination step of determining whether or not the images associated with each song in the selected album are the same;
In the interface step, when the list is displayed and the determination step determines that the images associated with each music are the same, the image is displayed as a representative image at a predetermined location. If it is determined that there is no music, the music playback method in the music playback device is characterized in that an image associated with each music is displayed in association with the display of information on each music.

Images