JP4098146B2 - Recording / reproducing apparatus and recording / reproducing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method for generating title information effective for a user when recording content data relating to, for example, video.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a television receiver that extracts information about audience rating from a telephone line and automatically selects and records a program with a high audience rating (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a data distribution apparatus has been developed that generates index information listing content scene information from a data section in which standard speed playback rate is higher than a predetermined value during data distribution using the Internet or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 2). .)
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-220667 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-16903
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional apparatus, even if a program with a high audience rating is automatically recorded, it is not effective if the user cannot easily understand what program was recorded. In the conventional apparatus, the data section for creating index information is extracted with a preset threshold value. However, depending on the setting of the threshold value and the standard speed playback rate, many data sections are extracted. May occur, and there is a possibility that a data section that can reflect the viewer's preference can not be obtained.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method that allow a user to easily grasp the contents and highlights of recorded content data.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above Symbol purpose, the recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a recording and reproducing apparatus having a video data storage means for storing the image data, obtaining means for obtaining information about the best viewing rate of the video data the storage Among the video data stored in the video data storage means, the video data information related to the highest audience rating acquired by the acquisition means is associated with a series of information related to the stored video data. a series information storing means for storing a set of information related to the video data stored in the sequence information storage unit, and the value of the highest viewing rate, and the video data associated with the highest viewership, the Output means for outputting display screen information to be displayed together.
[0009]
In order to achieve the above object, a recording and reproducing method of the present invention, in the record reproduction method using the image data storage means for storing image data, to obtain information about the best viewing rate of the video data the storage an acquisition step, from among the image data stored in the video data storage means, associating associating information of the video data associated with the highest viewing rate which is the acquired, a series of information associated with the stored video data steps and the step of outputting a series of information associated with the association has been the video data, and the value of the highest viewing rate, and the video data associated with the highest viewership, together display screen information for displaying It is characterized by having.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a recording / reproducing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 may be a DVD recording / reproducing apparatus for writing video data or the like on a DVD disc, a home server equipped with an HDD, or the like.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, the recording / playback apparatus 1 includes a control unit 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a network connection unit 104, an audience rating data storage unit 105, a recorded program information storage unit 106, a recorded file storage unit 107, and a thumbnail image creation unit. 108, an interface (I / F) unit 121, and the like.
[0012]
Further, in the present embodiment, the display unit 109 is further provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a system configuration connected to the display unit 109 separately provided outside may be used. These components are connected to the control unit 101 via the internal bus 120.
[0013]
The control unit 101 is composed of a CPU (not shown), and controls each component of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. The control unit 101 stores an operation system and application programs / utility programs stored in the ROM 102, and a program shown in a flowchart described later. Execute.
[0014]
The RAM 103 is a storage unit used for temporary storage of various data when the control unit 101 executes a program. Various initial settings by the user (for example, setting that thumbnail image data to be displayed together with title information is a still image or a slide-type image as described later) are stored in the RAM 103.
[0015]
The audience rating data DB 111 is composed of an external information providing organization that stores a series of information (date and time, title, etc.) relating to the broadcasted program and audience rating data. From the audience rating data DB 111, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, time-series audience rating data that changes with time (for example, in minutes) is provided.
[0016]
The network connection unit 104 is connected to an external audience rating data DB (database) 111 via the Internet network 110, and requests various information related to a recorded program, for example, to obtain various information and audience rating data of a desired program. Can be downloaded. The audience rating data provided from the audience rating data DB 111 is stored in the audience rating data storage unit 105 via the network connection unit 104.
[0017]
Then, under the control unit 101, title information to be described later is created based on various types of information of the downloaded program, or based on the downloaded audience rating data, the highest audience rating time and audience rating peak (viewing audience rating). It is possible to grasp information such as the time when a portion protruding to the higher side) occurs.
[0018]
The recorded file storage unit 107 is a storage unit that stores a video of a recorded program or the like input via the I / F unit 121 as a recorded file, and constitutes a video data storage unit. The recorded program information storage unit 106 is a storage unit that stores a series of information related to a recorded program as recorded program information in association with a corresponding recording file.
[0019]
A series of information regarding a recorded program is, for example, title information (for example, recording date and time, channel number, program name, etc.) 130 of a recording file as shown in FIG. As will be described later, the title information 130 is created automatically after the recording is completed or manually by the user. After recording, the user selects a program (recording file) to be viewed based on the title information 130.
[0020]
The thumbnail image creating unit 108 extracts a recording file from the recording file storage unit 107 based on the audience rating data (particularly the highest audience rating part or the peaked part) stored in the audience rating data storage unit 105, and this extraction is performed. A thumbnail image (reduced still image) data of a reduced size set in advance for the recorded file is created, and this thumbnail image data is stored in association with the corresponding title information 130 of the recorded program information storage unit 106.
[0021]
That is, the thumbnail image creation unit 108 calculates the time of the highest audience rating or peak audience rating from the audience rating data of the recorded program stored in the audience rating data storage unit 105, and records the recording file of this calculated time. The thumbnail image data is extracted from the file storage unit 107 and is stored in association with the title information 130 of the recorded program information storage unit 106. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the thumbnail image 131 can be displayed together with the title information 130.
[0022]
Further, the thumbnail image creation unit 108 stores information (for example, time information, start address information, etc.) related to the recorded file at the peak audience rating in association with the corresponding title information in the recorded program information storage unit 106. It is.
[0023]
That is, the thumbnail image creating unit 108 calculates the time of the peak audience rating (including the highest audience rating) from the audience rating data of the recorded program stored in the audience rating data storage unit 105, and this time information (or The corresponding start address information in the recorded file storage unit 107) is stored in association with the title information 130 in the recorded program information storage unit 106. This allows the user to view the recommended video linked with the audience rating data.
[0024]
Also, the thumbnail image creating unit 108 uses the audience rating data 132 of the recorded program stored in the audience rating data storage unit 105 (for example, data such as the maximum audience rating and the average audience rating) 132 as title information in the recorded program information storage unit 106. It can also be stored in association with 130. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the audience rating data 132 can be displayed together with the title information 130, and information about which program is recommended can be provided to the user in conjunction with the audience rating data. It becomes.
[0025]
Next, a method for creating / displaying title information linked with audience rating data in the recording / playback apparatus 1 and a method for creating / viewing a recommended portion of a recorded program will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0026]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a method of associating thumbnail image (still image) information with title information in conjunction with audience rating data in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 6, first, when there is a recorded TV program, such as after the recording of a TV program or the like has ended (step ST200), the control unit 101 stores the contents stored in the recorded program information storage unit 106. Is confirmed (step ST201), and it is determined whether there is title information corresponding to the recorded program (step ST202).
[0028]
As a result of this determination, if it is determined that the title information does not exist (No in step ST202), the control unit 101 is manually instructed or initially set by the user when data is acquired from the network (step ST203). Yes), data related to the recorded program is acquired from the external audience rating data DB 111 via the network 110 from the network connection unit 104 and stored in the RAM 103. As a method for designating a recorded program at this time, there is a designation by the EPG (electronic program guide) function automatically from the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 or by a manual operation by the user.
[0029]
Then, control unit 101 creates title information 130 based on the acquired data relating to the recorded program, and stores the created title information 130 in recorded program information storage unit 106 (step ST204). Here, if data is not acquired from the network and the user manually instructs or is initially set (No in step ST203), the series of processes is terminated.
[0030]
When it is determined in step ST202 that the title information exists (Yes in step ST202) or after the title information 130 is created in step ST204, the control unit 101 further uses the network connection unit 104 to perform external viewing via the Internet network 110. The audience rating data relating to the recorded program is acquired from the rating data DB 111, and this audience rating data is stored in the audience rating data storage unit 105 (step ST205).
[0031]
Next, the control unit 101 performs processing for creating thumbnail image data linked to the audience rating data by the thumbnail image creating unit 108 and storing the thumbnail image data in association with the title information 130. First, the thumbnail image creation unit 108 extracts the highest audience rating and the peak time from the audience rate data stored in the audience rate data storage unit 105 in step ST205 (step ST206).
[0032]
That is, in the case of the audience rating data as shown in FIG. 3, the thumbnail image creation unit 108 has the same peak time as the highest audience rating, and the time “19 when the highest audience rating reaches 15.2%. "Time 27 minutes 21 seconds" is calculated. In the case of audience rating data as shown in FIG. 4, the times T1, T2, T3, and T4 that are peaks including the highest audience rating are calculated.
[0033]
If it is set in advance to acquire the time of the highest audience rating, for example, if it is set to add a still image at the highest audience rating to the title information (Yes in step ST207), the process of step ST208 Proceed to
[0034]
First, the thumbnail image creation unit 108 accesses the recording file storage unit 107, extracts the video data of the time information extracted in step ST206 (step ST208), and extracts a reduced still image set in advance from the extracted image data. Thumbnail image data is created (step ST210) and stored in association with the title information 130 of the recorded program information storage unit 106 (step ST211).
[0035]
In addition, when it is set in step ST207 to acquire the time when the audience rating is peaked in advance, for example, when it is set to add a plurality of still images when the audience rating is peaked to the title information (No in step ST207), the process proceeds to step ST209.
[0036]
First, the thumbnail image creation unit 108 accesses the recording file storage unit 107, extracts video data corresponding to the peak time information extracted in step ST206 (step ST209), and is preset from the extracted image data. The thumbnail image data in the slide format in which the reduced still image is switched at a predetermined time is created (step ST210), and stored in association with the title information 130 of the recorded program information storage unit 106 (step ST211).
[0037]
At this time, the thumbnail image creation unit 108 stores the thumbnail image data in the recorded program information storage unit 106 in association with the title information 130 in ST211 and also stores the peak time information calculated in ST206 in association with the standby. A state is entered (step ST212).
[0038]
Next, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are diagrams for explaining a method of viewing a recommended video linked with audience rating data in the recording / playback apparatus 1 when a user views a recorded program.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 7, in the recording / playback apparatus 1 in the standby state, the control unit 101 receives an instruction to display a title list on the display unit 109 by an input device (not shown) by a user (in steps ST301 and ST302). Title list display), title information and thumbnail image data corresponding to the title information are read from the recorded program information storage unit 106, and a title list display including title information 130 and thumbnail image data 131 is displayed as shown in FIG. Display on unit 109 (step ST303).
[0040]
Further, the control unit 101 displays a specific recorded program from the title list display screen by an input device (not shown) by the user while the title list display screen as shown in FIG. Is selected, the display screen is switched to a display screen that displays information related to a specific recorded program using the entire display unit 109.
[0041]
For example, in the title list display screen shown in FIG. 5, when a recorded program of the type “movie” having “thumbnail image B” is selected as the screen, for example, as shown in FIG. The title information section 150 such as the recording date / time, channel number, and program name is displayed, and at least one thumbnail image 153 stored in the recorded program information storage section 106 in association with the title information, and instructions Icons 151, 152, and 154 are displayed.
[0042]
Then, when a specific thumbnail image is selected from a plurality of displayed thumbnail images 153 on the display screen shown in FIG. 8 and then “playback mark” 152 is instructed (jumps of steps ST301 and ST302). 8, the control unit 101 accesses the recording file storage unit 107, sequentially reads the subsequent (rear) recording files from the time of the selected specific thumbnail image, and plays them on the display unit 109. It is displayed (step ST304).
[0043]
In addition, when a specific thumbnail image is selected from a plurality of displayed thumbnail images 153 on the display screen shown in FIG. 8 and then “playback mark of thumbnail image portion” 154 is designated (step ST301). , ST302 thumbnail reproduction), the control unit 101 accesses the recording file storage unit 107, as shown in FIG. 8, and advances a preset time from the time corresponding to the selected specific thumbnail image (for example, The recorded files from two minutes ago until the time corresponding to the specific thumbnail image are sequentially read out and reproduced and displayed on the display unit 109 (step ST305).
[0044]
In this way, in this embodiment, in the audience rating data of the recorded program, a thumbnail image is created using the video data having the highest audience rating, and the highest audience rating is obtained on the list screen displaying the title information. Still image data is also displayed. In addition, the possibility of becoming a meaningless video even when this still image data is automatically extracted is very low. In the present embodiment, in the audience rating data, slide-type thumbnail image data in which video portions that are peaks can be displayed together with title information.
[0045]
As a result, the user can see together with the title information an image related to the content, and also the portion that is particularly linked with the recorded content that has obtained the highest audience rating, and can grasp the recorded content reliably and easily. .
[0046]
Also, in this embodiment, a display screen is prepared for selecting the reproduction of the peak portion (that is, the recommended video portion) including the highest audience rating in the audience rating data of the recorded program, and in response to a reproduction instruction from the user. The video is reproduced from a video slightly before (for example, several minutes before) the highest audience rating or peak. As a result, it is possible to immediately provide the user with an image of the highlight that has reached the highest audience rating or the peak audience rating.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the user can easily grasp the contents and highlights of the recorded content data.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system including a recording / playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a list of recorded titles in which title information is displayed as a list.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining audience rating data and a maximum audience rating.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining audience rating data and peaks.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a list of recorded titles displaying a list of corresponding thumbnail image data together with title information.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a method of associating thumbnail image (still image) information with title information in conjunction with audience rating data in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a method of viewing a recommended video linked with audience rating data when a user views a recorded program.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display screen for viewing a recommended video linked with audience rating data when a user views a recorded program.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording / reproducing apparatus 101 Control part 104 Network connection part 105 Audience rating data storage part 106 Recorded program information storage part 107 Recording file storage part 108 Thumbnail image creation part 130 Title information

Claims (10)

In a recording / reproducing apparatus having video data storage means for storing video data,
Obtaining means for obtaining information on the maximum audience rating of the stored video data;
Of the video data stored in the video data storage means, the video data information related to the highest audience rating acquired by the acquisition means is stored in association with a series of information related to the stored video data. A series of information storage means;
Output a set of information related to the video data stored in the sequence information storage unit, and the value of the highest viewing rate, and the video data associated with the highest viewership, together display screen information for displaying Output means for
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: Control means for controlling to output from video data a predetermined time before the video data related to the highest audience rating when receiving instruction information for instructing reproduction of the video data related to the highest audience rating from the outside The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: In a recording / reproducing apparatus having video data storage means for storing video data,
An acquisition means for acquiring information about a time when a peak is formed by projecting toward a higher audience rating among audience rating data of the recorded video data;
Of the video data stored in the video data storage means, information on video data related to the peak audience rating acquired by the acquisition means is stored in association with a series of information related to the stored video data. A series of information storage means,
Output means for outputting display screen information for displaying together a series of information related to the video data stored in the series information storage means and video data related to the peak of the audience rating;
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: Control that controls to output video data from a predetermined time before the video data related to the peak audience rating when instruction information for instructing playback of the video data related to the audience rating peak is received from the outside recording reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises means. It said acquisition means, after completing the storage of the image data entirely, the recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the is to obtain information about the audience rating of the stored video data. In record reproduction method using the image data storage means for storing image data,
An obtaining step for obtaining information on the maximum audience rating of the stored video data;
An association step of associating information of the video data related to the acquired highest audience rating with a series of information related to the stored video data among the video data stored in the video data storage means;
And outputting the set of information associated with the association has been the video data, and the value of the highest viewing rate, and the video data associated with the highest viewership, together display screen information for displaying,
A recording / reproducing method comprising: When instruction information for instructing reproduction of video data related to the highest audience rating is received from the outside, there is a step of controlling to output video data of a predetermined time before the video data related to the highest audience rating. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 6 . 7. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 6 , wherein the acquiring step acquires information relating to the audience rating of the stored video data after the video data has been completely stored. The association step is
Extracting the video data related to the acquired maximum audience rating from the record in the video data storage means, and creating preset reduced still image information from the extracted video data;
Associating the reduced still image information related to the highest audience rating created in this creating step with a series of information related to the stored video data;
The recording / reproducing method according to claim 6, comprising : The association step is
Extracting video data related to the acquired audience rating peak from the record in the video data storage means;
Creating preset reduced still image information from the extracted video data;
A step of associating with the series of information related to the recorded video data so that each of the created reduced still image information is switched to the slide method and displayed in a certain time when there are a plurality of the extracted video data. When,
Recording and reproducing method according to claim 6, characterized in that it consists of.

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