JP2011234392A - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to display a playlist without implementing a server function at a control point.
In response to a request from a control point, a rendering module for acquiring content from a server and rendering the acquired content, a display module having a display screen for displaying video of the content reproduced by the rendering module, and a control point. In response, a communication module 41 for transmitting a service description describing an action indicating that the playlist can be displayed on the display screen to the control point, and a playlist including the name and playback order of the content transmitted from the control point. And a playlist display module 43 that displays the name of the content on the display screen based on the playback order when the playlist document 54 in which the included information is described is received.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device that acquires content from a server via a network and displays the content, and a communication device that controls a device that acquires content from the server and displays the content.

  A function for identifying, managing, and distributing media contents between devices connected to a home network is realized by UPnP AV (Universal Plug and Play Audio and Video).

  DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a standard that adopts UPnP AV. In DLNA, a 3-BOX model including a digital media server that distributes digital media content, a digital media renderer that plays back digital media content, and a digital control point that controls the digital media server and the digital media renderer is considered.

  In Windows (registered trademark) 7, UPnP AV and DLNA will be supported, and it is expected that many home electronic devices connected to Windows 7 will appear on the market in the future.

  Patent Document 1 discloses that when a viewing terminal receives a playlist from a playback information distribution device and plays back the playlist according to the playlist, content data is acquired from the content distribution device via a communication network and played back. Yes.

JP 2008-225783 A

  By the way, although DLNA and UPnP have provisions regarding a playlist of a digital media server (DMS), a playlist created by DMC cannot be notified to DMR. When a playlist created by the DMC is referred to by the DMR, this means that the DMS function must be installed in the DMC, which has a detrimental effect of increasing the product cost.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus capable of displaying a playlist without mounting a digital media server function at a digital media control point.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication device capable of transmitting a playlist to a digital media renderer without implementing the function of the digital media server.

  A communication apparatus according to an example of the present invention acquires a content from a first digital media server selected from a plurality of digital media servers connected to a network, and displays a video of the acquired content on a display screen. And a transmission for transmitting to the digital media control point a service description describing an action indicating that a playlist can be displayed on the display screen in response to a request from the digital media control point connected to the network. And a playlist document in which information including a playlist including the name and playback order of the content transmitted from the digital media control point is received, the content name is based on the playback order. Comprising a display means for displaying on the display screen Te.

  A communication device according to an example of the present invention includes a digital media server and a digital media renderer connected to a network, and a plurality of digital media servers detected by the detection unit. A first acquisition unit that acquires a content list in which a name and a storage location are recorded; and a request for transmitting a service description to the digital media renderer detected by the detection unit, and the service description of the digital media renderer Each of the digital media servers acquired by the first acquisition unit when the second acquisition unit to acquire and an action indicating that it corresponds to display of a playlist are described in the service description. Comprising a transmitting means for transmitting the play list document to the digital media renderer to play order from the content list of the names and content of the content selected / determined by the user is described.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to display a playlist without installing a digital media server function at a digital media control point.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to transmit a playlist to the digital media renderer without implementing the function of the digital media server.

The figure which shows the structure of the content delivery system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital media server, a digital media control point, and a digital media renderer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the service description concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the play list document concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the procedure which produces the play list of content based on one Embodiment of this invention, and reproduces | regenerates content based on a play list.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The (first) communication device is realized by, for example, a personal computer, the second communication device is realized by a personal computer, NAS (Network Attached Storage), and the (third) communication device is realized by a digital broadcast recording / reproducing device, etc. The three communication devices are realized by a digital television or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a digital broadcast recording / reproducing device 10 as a second communication device, a first personal computer (1st_PC) 20 as a second communication device, a second personal computer (2nd_PC) 30 as a second communication device, A digital television 40 (third) communication device and a third personal computer (3rd_PC) 50 (first) communication device are connected to a home network 60.

  The digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10 functions as a digital media server standardized by UPnP AV, and holds content AAA. The first personal computer 20 operates as a digital media server standardized by UPnP AV and holds content BBB. The second personal computer 30 operates as a digital media server standardized by UPnP AV and holds content CCC.

  The digital television 40 operates as a digital media renderer standardized by UPnP AV. The digital television 40 renders content stored in the digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10, the first personal computer 20, and the second personal computer 30 that operate as a digital media server based on control from a digital media control point. Do.

  The third personal computer 50 operates as a digital media control point standardized by UPnP AV. The third personal computer 50 acquires a list of contents stored from a digital media server on the network when the digital television 40 supports a playlist action described later. The third personal computer 50 can create a playlist document for sequentially reproducing contents selected / determined by a user input operation from contents stored in a plurality of digital media servers.

  For example, the third personal computer 50 has created a playlist that is played back in the order of content AAA in the digital broadcast recording / playback apparatus 10, content BBB in the first personal computer 20, and content CCC in the second personal computer 30. To do.

  In addition, the third personal computer 50 can search for a digital media renderer on the network, and controls playback performed by the digital television 40 that is the digital media renderer. Under this reproduction control, the digital television 40 acquires the content AAA from the digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and renders it.

  In addition, the third personal computer 50 further sends the created playlist document to the digital television 40 here. The digital television 40 receives the playlist document and can display the playlist by an action from the user, for example.

  Next, the configuration of the digital television 40 and the third personal computer 50 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital television (digital media renderer) 40 and a third personal computer (digital media control point) 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The digital television 40 includes a communication module 41, a rendering module 42, a playlist display module 43, a display module 44, and the like.

The communication module is a communication device that communicates with the first personal computer 20, the second personal computer 30, and the digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10. The rendering module 42 acquires the content instructed from the second personal computer 30 as a digital media control point from the digital media server, reproduces the content in accordance with the instruction from the second personal computer 30, and sends it to the display module 44. indicate. The playlist display module 43 displays the playlist 47 on the display module 44 as shown in FIG. 1 based on the data transmitted from the second personal computer 30. The display module 44 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Further, the digital television 40 has a device description 45 in which a service and the like possessed is described in an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format, and a service description 46 in which an action and the like possessed by each service are described in an XML format.
Next, the configuration of the third personal computer 50 will be described.
The third personal computer 50 includes a communication module 51, a control module 52, a playlist creation module 53, and the like.

  The communication module 51 is a communication device that communicates with the digital television 40, the digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10, the first personal computer 20, and the second personal computer 30. The control module 52 is a module in which a function as a digital media control point is mounted. The playlist creation module 53 creates a playlist document 54 described in the XML format in accordance with a user input operation. In addition, the playlist creation module 53 transmits the playlist document 54 to the digital television 40 in accordance with a user input operation.

  Further, the digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10 has content AAA, the first personal computer 20 has content BBB, and the second personal computer 30 has content CCC.

  A playlist transmission means will be described. The digital television 40 that operates as a digital media renderer notifies the third personal computer 50 that operates as a digital media control point of actions that can be provided by using the service description 46.

  An example of a service description 46 transmitted by the digital television 40 is shown in FIG. A plurality of functions (actions) that can be provided by the digital television 40 are defined and defined between <actionList> and </ actionList> in the service description 46. In FIG. 2, a service (SetPlayList action) capable of displaying a playlist is described in a portion surrounded by a broken line frame 46A.

  Also, action information is described between <serviceStateTable> and </ serviceStateTable>. A broken line 46B describes a state variable (stateVariable) that defines a lower limit value and an upper limit value of the number of contents that can be described in the playlist. In the broken line frame 46B, it is described that ten titles can be received. The playlist display module 43 creates a playlist document within the range of the number of titles.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the playlist document 54 sent from the digital media control point. In FIG. 4, information on the content AAA (name, URI (storage location), and playback time) is described in the broken line frame 54A, and information (name, URI (storage location), and playback) of the content BBB in the broken line frame 54B. Time) is described, and information (name, URI (storage location), and playback time) of the content CCC is described in the broken line frame 54C. Further, the N value of <item id = N (N is a positive number)> in the frames 54A, 54B, and 54C in which information of each content is described indicates the playback order. Text sandwiched between <dc: title> and </ dc: title> in frames 54A, 54B, and 54C in which information of each content is described indicates the name of the content. Text sandwiched between <uri> and </ uri> in frames 54A, 54B, and 54C in which information of each content is described indicates the storage location of the content. Text sandwiched between <duration> and </ duration> in frames 54A, 54B, and 54C in which information of each content is described indicates the playback time of the content.

  In the playlist document 54, the content is a playlist document in a broken line frame 54D. In the playlist document 54, the number of contents included in the list is described between <NumberOfPlayList> and </ NumberOfPlayList> in the broken line frame 54E. In the present embodiment, it is described that the number of contents is three.

Next, a procedure for creating a playlist of contents and reproducing the contents based on the playlist will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a content playlist and reproducing the content based on the playlist according to an embodiment of the present invention.
First, when the third personal computer (DMC) 50 is activated, the control module 52 multicasts an M-SEARCH message defined by SSDP to the home network 60 using the communication module 51 (step S11). The digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus (DMS) 10, the first personal computer (DMS) 20, and the digital television (DMR) 40 corresponding to UPnP that has received the M-SEARCH message have a URI (IP address and port) indicating their position. Number), information such as the URI of the device description 45 is included in the response message, and the M-SEARCH message is transmitted to the device that has transmitted using the communication module 51 (step S12). The control module 52 detects the digital broadcast recording / reproducing device (DMS) 10, the first personal computer (DMS, DMR) 20, and the digital television (DMR) 40 connected to the home network 60 by receiving the response message. To do.

  The control module 52 transmits an HTTP GET message to the URI of the device description 45 included in the response message (step S13). The communication module 41 of the digital television 40 that has received the HTTP GET message transmits a device description 45 to the third personal computer 50 (step S14).

  The control module 52 transmits an HTTP GET message to the URI of the service description 46 included in the device description 45 (step S15). The communication module 41 of the digital television 40 that has received the HTTP GET message transmits the service description 46 to the third personal computer 50 (step S16).

  The control module 52 of the third personal computer 50 determines whether or not it is described in the service description 46 that it corresponds to the playlist action (step S17).

  When it is determined that the playlist action is described (Yes in step S17), the control module 52 of the third personal computer 50 uses the communication module 51 to detect all of the detected digital media servers. An HTTP GET message is transmitted to each URI included in the response message returned by the digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10, the first personal computer 20, and the second personal computer 30 (step S18). Upon receiving the HTTP GET message, the digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10, the first personal computer 20, and the second personal computer 30 transfer the device description and service description in the XML format in which device information and service information are described to the third personal. It transmits to the computer 50 (step S19). Instead of acquiring DIDL-Lite documents from all digital media servers, DIDL documents may be acquired from digital media servers selected by the user.

  Using the communication module 51, the control module 52 of the third personal computer 50 transmits a Browse action according to CDS (Content Directory Service) to the first personal computer 20 and the second personal computer 30 (step S20). Upon receiving the Browse action, the digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and the first personal computer 20 transmit an XML format DIDL-Lite document including information on a list of contents stored in the storage device to the third personal computer 50. (Step S21). Instead of acquiring DIDL-Lite documents from all digital media servers, DIDL-Lite documents may be acquired from digital media servers selected by the user.

  The order in which the user reproduces the content is selected / determined from the content list of each DMS 10, 20, 30. The playlist creation module 53 creates a playlist document 54 based on the selected / determined order (step S22).

  The control module 52 of the third personal computer 50 uses the communication module 51 to instruct the digital broadcast recording / playback apparatus 10 to prepare for connection to the digital television 40 by transmitting a PrePareForConnection action to the digital broadcast recording / playback apparatus 10. (Step S23). If there is a response from the digital broadcast recording / reproducing device 10 to the PrePareForConnection action, the control module 52 transmits the PrePareForConnection action to the rendering module 42 of the digital television 40, so A connection preparation is instructed (step S24). Then, when there is a response to PrePareForConnection from the digital television 40, the control module 52 transmits SetAVTransportURI to the rendering module 42 of the digital television 40 (step S25). The URI of the content AAA is embedded in the parameter of SetAVTransportURI. Here, the description is made to control PrePareForConnection, but the steps related to PrePareForConnection may be skipped.

  Then, the control module 52 transmits Play to the digital television 40 (step S26). When the digital television 40 receives Play, the rendering module 42 transmits an HTTP :: GET action to the digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10 (step S27). In the HTTP :: GET action, the URI of the content AAA is embedded as a parameter. The digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus 10 transmits the content AAA data selected by the user according to the parameter of the HTTP :: GET action to the digital television 40 (step S28).

  Then, the digital television 40 acquires the data of the content AAA selected by the user by HTTP and performs stream reproduction. The digital television 40 starts reproduction (rendering) of the content AAA when the data acquisition of a certain amount of content AAA is completed (step S29).

  Based on the user's input operation during reproduction, the third personal computer 50 transmits the playlist document 54 to the playlist display module 43 of the digital television 40 (step S30). The playlist display module 43 displays the playlist on the display module 44 based on the playlist document 54 (step S31). The playlist is displayed as an overlay on the video being played by the rendering module 42.

  When the reproduction of the content AAA is finished, the rendering module 42 transmits a message indicating that the reproduction is finished to the control module 52 of the third personal computer 50 (step S32).

  The control module 52 of the third personal computer 50 uses the communication module 51 to instruct the first personal computer 20 to prepare for connection to the digital television 40 by transmitting a PrePareForConnection action to the first personal computer 20 ( Step S33). Then, when there is a response to the PrePareForConnection action from the first personal computer 20, the control module 52 transmits the PrePareForConnection action to the rendering module 42 of the digital television 40, thereby connecting the first personal computer 20 to the digital television 40. Preparation is instructed (step S34). Then, when there is a response to PrePareForConnection from the digital television 40, the control module 52 transmits SetAVTransportURI to the rendering module 42 of the digital television 40 (step S35). The URI of the content BBB is embedded in the parameter of SetAVTransportURI. Here, the description is made to control PrePareForConnection, but the steps related to PrePareForConnection may be skipped.

  Then, the control module 52 transmits Play to the digital television 40 (step S36). When the digital television 40 receives Play, the rendering module 42 transmits an HTTP :: GET action to the first personal computer 20 (step S37). In the HTTP :: GET action, the URI of the content BBB is embedded as a parameter. The first personal computer 20 transmits the data of the content BBB to the digital television 40 in accordance with the HTTP :: GET action parameter (step S38).

  Then, the digital television 40 acquires the data of the content BBB selected by the user by HTTP and performs stream reproduction. The digital television 40 starts reproduction (rendering) of the content BBB at the time when data acquisition of a certain amount of the content BBB is completed (step S39).

  When the reproduction of the content BBB is finished, the rendering module 42 transmits a message indicating that the reproduction is finished to the control module 52 of the third personal computer 50 (step S40).

  The control module 52 of the third personal computer 50 instructs the second personal computer 30 to prepare for connection to the digital television 40 by transmitting a PrePareForConnection action to the second personal computer 30 using the communication module 51 ( Step S41). Then, when there is a response to the PrePareForConnection action from the second personal computer 30, the control module 52 transmits the PrePareForConnection action to the rendering module 42 of the digital television 40, thereby connecting the second personal computer 30 to the digital television 40. Preparation is instructed (step S42). Then, when there is a response to PrePareForConnection from the digital television 40, the control module 52 transmits SetAVTransportURI to the rendering module 42 of the digital television 40 (step S43). The URI of the content CCC is embedded in the parameter of SetAVTransportURI. Here, the description is made to control PrePareForConnection, but the steps related to PrePareForConnection may be skipped.

  Then, the control module 52 transmits Play to the digital television 40 (step S44). When the digital television 40 receives Play, the rendering module 42 transmits an HTTP :: GET action to the third personal computer 50 (step S45). In the HTTP :: GET action, the URI of the content CCC is embedded as a parameter. The third personal computer 50 transmits the data of the content CCC to the digital television 40 according to the HTTP :: GET action parameter (step S46).

  Then, the digital television 40 acquires the data of the content CCC selected by the user by HTTP and performs stream reproduction. The digital television 40 starts reproduction (rendering) of the content CCC when the data acquisition of a certain amount of content CCC is completed (step S47).

  When the reproduction of the content CCC is finished, the rendering module 42 transmits a message indicating that the reproduction is finished to the control module 52 of the third personal computer 50 (step S48).

  Through the above processing, the playlist can be confirmed on the display screen of the television 40 as a renderer. Also, a playlist can be created without installing the digital media server function in the third personal computer 50.

  Note that a download module may be provided in which other content being played back is downloaded in advance based on the content storage location described in the playlist document and recorded in a storage medium such as a local hard disk drive. By downloading the content in advance, it is possible to reduce the load on the network and to play it quickly.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital broadcast recording / reproducing apparatus (2nd communication apparatus), 20 ... 1st personal computer (2nd communication apparatus), 30 ... 2nd personal computer (2nd communication apparatus), 40 ... Digital television ((3rd) communication) Device), 41 ... communication module, 42 ... rendering module, 43 ... playlist display module, 44 ... display module, 45 ... device description, 46 ... service description, 47 ... playlist, 50 ... third personal computer (( 1) Communication device), 51 ... Communication module, 52 ... Control module, 53 ... Playlist creation module, 54 ... Playlist document, 60 ... Home network.

Claims (10)

Playback means for acquiring content from a server connected to the network and displaying the video of the acquired content on a display screen;
In response to a request from a control device connected to the network, a transmission unit that transmits a service description describing an action indicating that a playlist can be displayed on the display screen to the control device;
When a playlist document in which information including a playlist including the content name and playback order transmitted from the control device is received, the content name is displayed on the display screen based on the playback order. Display means to
A communication apparatus comprising:   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the service description in which a variable indicating the number of contents that can be described in the playlist document is described.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rendering unit acquires the content from the server and displays the content based on a command from the control device.   2. The communication according to claim 1, further comprising means for acquiring information indicating the storage location of the content in the playlist document, and acquiring the content based on the information indicating the storage location. apparatus.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the service description is described in an XML format and corresponds to the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard. Detecting means for detecting a server and a playback device connected to the network;
First acquisition means for acquiring a content list in which the names and storage locations of the contents of each server are recorded from the servers detected by the detection means;
Second acquisition means for requesting the playback apparatus detected by the detection means to transmit a service description and acquiring the service description of the playback apparatus;
Content selected / determined by the user from the content list of each server acquired by the first acquisition means when an action indicating that it corresponds to display of a playlist is described in the service description And a transmission means for transmitting a playlist document in which the name and the content playback order are described to the playback device. In the service description, a variable indicating the number of contents that can be described in the playlist document is described.
The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transmission unit transmits the playlist document based on the number of contents.   The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transmission unit transmits the playlist document in which information indicating a storage location of the content is described.   The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transmission unit transmits the playlist document during display of content described in the playlist document. Detecting the second communication device and the third communication device on the network by the first communication device;
Requesting transmission of a service description from the first communication device to the third communication device;
Sending the service description from the third communication device to the first communication device;
Obtaining a content list in which the name and storage location of the content of each second communication device is recorded from the second communication device detected by the detection means;
When an action indicating that a playlist action is displayed is described in the service description, the content selected / determined by the user from the acquired content list of each second communication device Transmitting a playlist document in which a name and a playback order of contents are described from the first communication device to the third communication device;
The display control method, wherein the third communication device displays a playlist based on the playlist document on the display screen.

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