JP5089916B2 - Control apparatus and control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device and a control method, and more particularly to a control device and a control method for controlling a server device that provides content and a playback device that plays back the content.

  In recent years, network functions have been added to household electrical appliances, and home networks that can communicate with each other by connecting to personal computers (PCs) and other peripheral devices via a network have become widespread. I am doing. In addition, standards such as UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) are defined, and products corresponding to the standards are also on the market.

  In such a home network, data stored in each device can be shared by performing communication between devices connected via the network. For example, video content recorded by a recording device may be played back by another playback device over a network, or music content stored in a server device may be played back by another music playback device connected via a network. Is possible.

  In addition to the method of performing communication only between the two devices, the server device and the playback device, the mechanism for performing playback using such a network includes a server device that provides content, a playback device that plays back content, There is a method of performing communication between the three devices of the controller for performing these operations. For example, in UPnP, a method for performing communication between a server device, a controller, and a renderer device is defined as a specification. When this mechanism is used, it is possible to select content on the server device by the controller and play it on the designated renderer device.

  By the way, in order to use each device in such a form, it is necessary that all of the three devices are in an activated state when the power is turned on. For example, in UPnP, when a controller transmits an inquiry message and a server device or a renderer responds to the inquiry message, the devices are discovered by the controller. Therefore, if the server device is not activated, the server device cannot be found from the controller. Similarly, if the renderer device is not activated, the renderer device cannot be found from the controller. Thus, work such as turning on the power of each device in advance before using the controller is required.

  The server device is always in the active state due to the nature of the function or the nature of the device, or a standby state in which only the minimum functions are operated so that it can be discovered from other devices connected via the network. Often has become. On the other hand, it can be said that there are relatively many situations in which a playback device serving as a renderer device is basically activated only when it is used and is not activated in advance. Some of these playback devices, called Wakeup On LAN, have a function of starting themselves when receiving an inquiry message from a controller through a network and returning a response, but are limited to a few. .

As a technique for eliminating the above inconvenience, the invention of Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In this invention, instead of a controlled device such as a server device or a renderer device, a dedicated remote control device corresponding to the controlled device responds to an inquiry message from a control device such as a controller, so that the controlled device is activated. It behaves as if it is, and actually activates its controlled device.
This mechanism enables the control device to find the controlled device even if the controlled device has not been activated in advance.
JP-A-2005-5749

  In order to realize the invention of Patent Document 1 as an actual device or system, it is necessary that one remote control device holds information on many controlled devices so that remote control operation by infrared rays can be performed. However, the plurality of controlled devices are not necessarily installed in one place, and may be installed in places where infrared rays do not reach. In order to cope with such a situation, it is necessary to prepare a remote control device for each controlled device, and there is a problem that management and operation of the device become complicated.

  In addition, when the remote control device is activated when the controlled device is already activated, a response is returned from both the controlled device and the remote control device, and the same device is duplicated on the control device side. There is also the problem of being discovered.

  In addition, in order to perform volume operation and channel operation of the controlled device from the control device through the remote control device, control messages corresponding to these operations are transmitted from the control device through the network and control via the remote control device is performed. However, compatibility with an existing general control device that does not support such a control method in the control path cannot be taken, which causes a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to play back content with a content server device that provides content while simplifying operation of the device and maintaining compatibility with other devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device and a control method capable of controlling content reproduction devices in cooperation with each other.

In view of the above problems, the present invention has the following features.
The control device of the present invention includes a content server device that stores content, a content playback device that plays back content, a network communication unit that communicates via a network, a content playback device information storage unit that stores information related to the content playback device, a content selection means for accepting the selection of content stored in the content server, with searches for playable content reproducing apparatus the selected content over the network, can be controlled by a control signal for controlling the operating state there are, the selected playable content reproducing apparatus the contents, the content reproduction apparatus information retrieved from the information stored in the storage unit, the content playback apparatus for selecting a content playback device found by these search Selection means, content reproduction control means for controlling the selected content reproduction device through the network and reproducing the selected content, and a control signal for controlling an operation state of the selected content reproduction device with the network Comprises control signal transmission means for transmitting via different paths, and display means for displaying whether or not the control of the content reproduction apparatus by the control signal transmission means is possible.

  In the present invention, the content reproduction apparatus selected to reproduce the content is instructed to reproduce the content through the network, and the operation state of the content reproduction apparatus is controlled without going through the network.

  The control device of the present invention further includes content playback device information storage means for storing information relating to the content playback device, wherein the content playback device selection means is capable of playing back the selected content through the network. And searching for a content playback device that can be controlled by the control signal based on the information stored in the content playback device information storage means, and selecting the content playback device found by these searches as the selection target It is characterized by doing.

  In this invention, a content playback device that can respond to a message of the search is found by searching through the network, and the content that cannot be responded to the message by searching based on information stored in the content playback device information storage means A content playback device that is a playback device and is included in the stored information is discovered, and a content playback device that plays back content is selected from the content playback devices discovered by the two-stage search.

  In the control device of the present invention, the content reproduction control unit performs control based on information of the selected content reproduction device stored in the content reproduction device information storage unit.

  In the control device according to the present invention, the control signal transmission means transmits the control signal by infrared communication or wireless communication.

  Further, in the control device of the present invention, the control signal transmission means may be configured such that the selected content reproduction device is found by a search based on information stored in the content reproduction device information storage means. A control signal for turning on the power of the content reproduction apparatus is transmitted.

  In the present invention, the power-on instruction is sent from the control signal transmitting means (without going through the network) to the content playback apparatus that is not found in the search through the network and is not turned on.

  Further, in the control device of the present invention, the control signal transmission means may be configured such that the selected content reproduction device is found by a search based on information stored in the content reproduction device information storage means. A control signal for enabling the function of reproducing the content of the content reproduction apparatus is transmitted.

  In the present invention, a control signal transmission means (not via a network) instructs the content playback apparatus that has not been found by a search through the network and whose content playback function is disabled to be enabled.

  In the control device of the present invention, the control signal transmission means transmits a control signal for returning the operation state of the selected content reproduction device to the state before content reproduction based on the operation state of the control device. Features.

  In the control device of the present invention, the control signal transmission means transmits a control signal for turning off the power of the content reproduction device based on an operation state of the control device.

  In the control device of the present invention, the control signal transmission unit transmits the control signal when the content reproduction control unit finishes reproducing the content.

  In the control device according to the present invention, the control signal transmitting means transmits a control signal for setting the selected content reproduction device based on information on the selected content.

  In the control device of the present invention, the setting is a screen setting for luminance, contrast, and brightness, or a sound setting for volume.

The method of the present invention includes a first step of accepting the selection of content stored in the content server apparatus, with searches for playable content reproducing apparatus the selected content via the network, the operating state A content playback device that can be controlled by a control signal to be controlled and that can play back the selected content is searched from information related to the content playback device stored in the content playback device information storage means . A second step of selecting the found content playback device; a third step of transmitting a control signal for controlling the operating state of the selected content playback device through a path different from the network; and the control of the content playback device. Whether control by means of signal transmission is possible A fourth step of displaying, characterized in that it and a fifth step of reproducing the content the selected controls the selected content playback device via the network.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the content server apparatus which provides a content, and the content reproduction apparatus which reproduces | regenerates a content can be linked and controlled, making operation of an apparatus simple and maintaining compatibility with another apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a device configuration example of a home network using a control device (controller) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

On the LAN (local area network) 103, devices having a network communication function are connected. The means for connecting to the network may be either wired or wireless.
The content server device 101 and the content reproduction device 102 are not devices that operate actively, but devices that operate in response to an instruction from the controller 104. The number is not limited to one, and a plurality of content server apparatuses 101 and content reproduction apparatuses 102 may be connected to the LAN 103.

  The content server device 101 is a device that accumulates content such as video, music, and photos and provides them to other devices connected via a network. Specific examples of the content server device 101 include a personal computer, an HDD / DVD recorder, a LAN connection HDD, and a tuner.

  The controller 104 exchanges information with the content server apparatus 101 and the content reproduction apparatus 102 via the network, acquires information regarding the content held by the content server apparatus 101, and requests the content reproduction apparatus 102 to reproduce the content. It has a function. It also has a function of controlling the content playback apparatus 102 by infrared communication. Specifically, the controller 104 is assumed to be a portable device such as a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, or a high-function remote controller that can be carried by hand.

  The content playback device 102 is a device having a function of receiving and playing back content such as video, music, and photos from the content server device 101 connected via a network in response to an instruction from the controller 104. The instructions from the controller 104 include playback stop, pause, fast forward / rewind, etc. in addition to playback. Specific examples of the content reproduction apparatus 102 include a television, an audio reproduction apparatus, and a printer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of the controller 104 described above.
The controller 104 includes a network communication unit 201, a content selection unit 202, a content reproduction device selection unit 203, a content reproduction control unit 204, a control signal transmission unit 205, a content reproduction device information storage unit 206, and a display unit 207.

  The network communication unit 201 transmits / receives a message for searching the content server device 101 and the content reproduction device 102, a control message instructed by the content reproduction control unit 204, and the like, and content stored in the content server device 101 It is a means for acquiring the information regarding. Communication by the network communication unit 201 is performed through the LAN 103.

  The content selection unit 202 is a unit for the user to select content to be played back from content stored in the content server device 101.

  The content playback device selection unit 203 is a unit for the user to select the content playback device 102 that plays back the content selected by the content selection unit 202. The content playback device selection unit 203 can play back the content and is connected to the network (LAN 103). It has a function of searching for the connected content playback apparatus 102. There are two types of search: a search performed on the network and a search performed on the content reproduction apparatus information storage unit 206.

  The content playback control unit 204 is a unit that instructs the content playback device 102 selected by the content playback device selection unit 203 to play, stop, pause, fast forward, rewind, etc. the content and control its operation.

  The control signal transmission unit 205 transmits, via infrared communication, a remote control signal for controlling the power source and input switching of the content reproduction device 102 selected by the content reproduction device selection unit 203, screen settings such as brightness and contrast, sound settings such as volume, and the like. It is a means to transmit.

  The content reproduction device information storage unit 206 is a unit that stores information on the content reproduction device 102 and information related to its operation.

  The display unit 207 is a unit that displays the content server apparatus 101, the content reproduction apparatus 102, content information, and the like, and displays a selection screen of the content server apparatus 101, the content reproduction apparatus 102, an operation screen of the content reproduction apparatus 102, and the like. To do. Specifically, the display device is configured by a commonly used display device such as a liquid crystal panel.

  FIG. 3 shows information held in the content reproduction apparatus information storage unit 206. This information includes a device name 301, a device address 302, a device icon 303, a playback capability 304, and infrared control information 305 for each content playback device 102.

  The device address 302 is device-specific address information uniquely assigned to each device, and for example, a MAC (Media Access Control) address can be used.

  The device icon 303 is a file name of a file that holds an icon image representing the appearance and characteristics of the device, and is used when the display unit 207 displays a selection screen of the content reproduction device 102. For example, an icon indicating a picture of a personal computer is generally used for a personal computer, and an icon indicating a television picture is generally used for a television.

  The reproduction capability 304 is information indicating what media format content the apparatus can reproduce. Examples of media formats include video MPEG2 format, music MP3 format, and photo JPEG format.

  The infrared control information 305 is information for identifying whether the device is compatible with infrared remote control operation and designating a file defining a remote control signal when it is compatible. Remote control signals include those related to power on / off, volume control, input switching, and the like, and generally include remote control signals that can be controlled by a dedicated remote control of each device.

  Among these pieces of information, information on the device name 301, the device address 302, the device icon 303, and the playback capability 304 is information provided from the content playback device 102 and can be acquired through the LAN 103. . Therefore, it is not necessary to be previously registered in the content reproduction apparatus information storage unit 206 at the shipping stage of the controller 104. When the content reproduction apparatus 102 on the LAN 103 is discovered, the controller 104 automatically obtains the above information from the apparatus and stores it in the content reproduction apparatus information storage means 206. In this way, even when a new content reproduction apparatus 102 is added to the LAN 103, the information can be automatically held. In addition to this method, data can be stored through the Internet or an external memory.

  On the other hand, the infrared control information 305 is not generally information provided by the content playback device 102, and is therefore registered in the content playback device information storage unit 206 in advance at the stage of shipment of the controller 104. As for the new content reproduction apparatus 102, a mechanism is used in which information is acquired through the Internet, an external memory, or the like and additionally registered as needed. As with the other four pieces of information described above, it is also possible to provide a mechanism for receiving provision from the content reproduction apparatus 102 via the LAN 103.

  FIG. 4 shows list information related to the contents stored in the content server apparatus 101. This information is acquired by transmitting a request to the content server apparatus 101. The content name (title) 401, the address 402 indicating the storage location of the content, the media format 403 of the content, and the type of content (Category) 404, which is composed of information such as resolution 405 when the content is video.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the selection screen of the content server apparatus 101 displayed on the display unit 207 of the controller 104.
On this selection screen, the device name and icon of each content server device 101 are displayed as information related to each content server device 101. FIG. 5 shows a state where four content server apparatuses 101 are displayed as an example. The displayed content server apparatus 101 can be selected by the user by a predetermined operation button.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a content selection screen displayed on the display unit 207 of the controller 104.
On the selection screen, the title 401 and the type 404 of each content are displayed as information on each content. It is also possible to display thumbnail images of each content. FIG. 6 shows a state where nine contents are displayed as an example. The displayed content can be selected by the user with a predetermined operation button.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the selection screen of the content reproduction apparatus 102 displayed on the display unit 207 of the controller 104.
On this selection screen, the device name 301 and the icon 303 of each content playback device 102 are displayed as information about each content playback device 102. FIG. 7 shows an example in which three content playback apparatuses 102 are displayed. The displayed content reproduction apparatus 102 can be selected by the user with a predetermined operation button.

FIG. 8 shows another example of the selection screen of the content reproduction apparatus 102.
On this screen, in addition to the display of FIG. 7, a display indicating that the content reproduction apparatus 102 can be controlled by infrared remote control operation is performed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an operation screen displayed on the display unit 207 of the controller 104 for playing back content on the content playback device 102.
This operation screen includes a button display 901 for changing the display state of the controller 104, such as displaying a menu screen or a content list display screen or returning to the previous screen, and play, stop, pause, It comprises a button display 902 for operations for controlling the content reproduction apparatus 102 through the LAN 103 such as fast forward and rewind. When the content playback apparatus 102 that cannot be controlled by infrared remote control operation is selected on the selection screen of FIG. 8, the operation screen of FIG. 9 is displayed.

FIG. 10 shows another example of the operation screen for content playback, and shows an example of the operation screen when the content playback device 102 that can be controlled by infrared remote control operation is selected.
This operation screen is composed of the same button displays 901 and 902 as in FIG. 9, and button displays 1001 for controlling the content reproduction apparatus 102 by remote control operation by infrared communication such as power on / off and volume adjustment. .

Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 to 14, an operation until content is reproduced by the control using the controller 104 in the home network will be described.
First, in FIG. 11, the controller 104 transmits a predetermined search message from the network communication unit 201 to the LAN 103, whereby the content server apparatus 101 on the LAN 103 is searched (step S1101). The active (power-on) content server device 101 connected to the LAN 103 returns a response to the search message, and the controller 104 finds the content server device 101 by receiving this response through the network communication unit 201. To do. At this time, the controller 104 also acquires information about the device (device name displayed on the selection screen in FIG. 5).

  The controller 104 displays the found content server device 101 on the display unit 207 as shown in FIG. 5 and accepts selection of the content server device 101 from the user. The user views the display means 207, selects the desired content server apparatus 101, and inputs it using a predetermined operation button. In this way, the content server apparatus 101 is selected (step S1102).

  Next, the controller 104 transmits a predetermined request from the network communication unit 201 to the selected content server apparatus 101, thereby acquiring information about the content held by the apparatus from the content server apparatus 101 ( Step S1103). Thereby, for example, information as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

  The controller 104 displays the information related to the acquired content on the display unit 207 as shown in FIG. 6, and accepts selection of the content from the user. The user views the display means 207, selects content to be reproduced, and inputs it with a predetermined operation button. In this way, content selection is performed (step S1104).

  In the processing up to this point, the content server device 101 is specified in steps S1101 and S1102, and the content is not limited to the content in the device, but all the content on the LAN 103 (all content server devices hold it). It is also possible to select all the content) as the selection target in step S1104.

  Subsequently, the controller 104 searches the content reproduction apparatus 102 that can reproduce the selected content (step S1105; detailed in FIG. 12), and selects the content reproduction apparatus 102 that actually reproduces the content from the search result (step S1105). S1106 (detailed in FIG. 13) and content reproduction control for the selected content reproduction apparatus 102 (step S1107, detailed in FIG. 14) are sequentially executed. These processes will be described below.

  In FIG. 12, first, the controller 104 searches for the content reproduction device 102 on the LAN 103 in accordance with the same procedure as the processing in step S1101 described above for searching the content server device 101 (step S1201). As a result of this search, a content playback device 102 connected to the LAN 103 is activated (powered on). Note that this search may be performed in advance in step S1101.

  Next, the controller 104 searches the content reproduction apparatus 102 that is controllable by infrared remote control operation and is not found in step S1201 from the information of FIG. (Step S1202). By this search, a content reproduction apparatus 102 that is connected to the LAN 103 but is not activated (power off) and can be operated by a remote controller is found.

  Then, the controller 104 selects a content playback apparatus 102 that can play back the content selected in step S1104 of FIG. 11 described above from those found by the search in steps S1201 and S1202, and the result is shown in FIG. 8 on the display means 207 (step S1203). Here, whether or not the content can be reproduced is determined from the information regarding the selected content and the information regarding each content reproduction device 102. For example, the determination is made by matching the media format 403 of the content in the information of FIG. 4 acquired in step S1103 with the reproduction capability 304 in the information of FIG. I do.

  Further, when the selection screen of FIG. 8 is displayed in step S1203, a display indicating that the content playback apparatus 102 can be controlled by infrared remote control operation is performed. As a result, the user consciously points the controller 104 in the direction of the content reproduction apparatus 102, and a reliable remote control operation is possible.

  Next, in FIG. 13, the controller 104 accepts selection of the content reproduction apparatus 102 from the user. The user sees the selection screen shown in FIG. 7 or 8 displayed on the display means 207, selects the content reproduction apparatus 102 that actually reproduces the content, and inputs it with a predetermined operation button. In this way, the content reproduction apparatus 102 is selected (step S1301).

  Subsequently, the controller 104 determines whether the selected content reproduction apparatus 102 has been found in the above-described search in steps S1201 and S1202, that is, whether the selected content reproduction apparatus 102 has been found in the search through the network or the content reproduction. Whether or not the playback function of the content playback device 102 can be used is determined according to whether or not the device is found by the search in the device information storage unit 206 (step S1302). In this determination, it is determined that the playback function is usable in the former case, and it is determined that the playback function is not usable in the latter case.

If it can be used, the process proceeds to the next process (step S1107 in FIG. 11).
If it cannot be used, the playback function is enabled and made available (step S1303). The case where the playback function cannot be used includes a case where the power source of the content playback apparatus 102 is not turned on and a case where the power source is turned on but the playback function is not activated. The case where the playback function is not activated even though the power is turned on includes, for example, a state where an application having a content playback function is not activated. In such a case, the controller 104 receives an infrared remote control signal corresponding to a control signal for turning on the power of the content playback apparatus 102 or a control signal for starting a content playback application in order to validate the playback function. It is automatically transmitted from the control signal transmission means 205. In this way, the content playback function of the content playback device 102 can be used by remote control operation.

  Next, in FIG. 14, before the actual reproduction of the content is started, the content reproduction apparatus 102 is set to a state suitable for the content to be reproduced by the controller 104 (step S1401). Specifically, the controller 104 sends a control signal for setting the screen to brightness, contrast, and brightness suitable for the content to be played based on the information regarding the content shown in FIG. 4 acquired from the content server device 101. It is transmitted from the control signal transmission means 205 as an infrared remote control signal. In addition, some content playback devices 102 have a mode function that enables optimal video adjustment according to the content, such as “movie mode” and “sport mode”. It is also possible to change the mode to an optimal one by transmitting a control signal designating the mode. In such setting of the content playback apparatus 102, the media format 403, the content type 404, the resolution 405, etc. are used among the information shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, the controller 104 requests the start of content reproduction by providing the content reproduction apparatus 102 with the information of the address 402 shown in FIG. 4 of the content to be reproduced by the network communication unit 201 (step S1402). Upon receiving the request, the content reproduction apparatus 102 accesses the content of the corresponding content server apparatus 101 in accordance with the information of the acquired content address 402, and acquires and reproduces the content data (step S1403).

  When content reproduction is started, the controller 104 displays the operation screen of FIG. 10 when the content reproduction apparatus 102 can be controlled by infrared remote control operation, and the operation screen of FIG. 9 when control is impossible. Is displayed. In response to a user operation, a request for transmission stop, pause, fast forward, rewind, and the like is transmitted from the network communication unit 201 via the LAN 103, and the remote control is performed by infrared rays such as volume adjustment. For those that can be operated, a control signal transmission means 205 transmits a request by an infrared control signal. If the content playback apparatus 102 is compatible, volume adjustment and the like may be controlled via the LAN 103.

  In this way, operations that have been performed using two control devices, the controller that is controlled via the LAN 103 and the remote control dedicated to the content playback device 102 that is controlled by infrared light, are changed according to the control contents. The controller 104 can perform all of the above.

  Thereafter, when the user ends the operation of the controller 104 by turning off the power, the controller 104 controls the content playback apparatus 102 to return to the state before the content playback by operating the infrared remote controller prior to the end operation. Is performed (step S1404). For example, if the content playback apparatus 102 is not turned on before the content is played back, a control signal transmission unit 205 transmits a power-off control signal using infrared rays to turn off the content playback apparatus 102. If the content reproduction application has not been activated before the content reproduction, a corresponding control signal is transmitted from the control signal transmission unit 205 and the application is terminated.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the first embodiment described above, the procedure of acquiring information related to content from the selected content server device 101 after searching and selecting the content server device 101 holding the content is performed. In the embodiment, information related to the content held by the content server apparatus 101 on the LAN 103 is stored in the controller 104 in advance so that the above procedure can be omitted.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a functional schematic configuration of the controller 105 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to FIG. 2 described above. The controller 105 in FIG. 15 includes content information storage means 1501 for storing information related to content held in the content server apparatus 101 connected on the LAN 103 in addition to the configuration in FIG.

  The information stored in the content information storage unit 1501 has the contents as shown in FIG. 4 described above, and includes information directly acquired from the content server apparatus 101 before and information acquired from other than the content server apparatus 101. . As an example of the latter, information stored in an external memory (flash memory or the like) or information received by mail can be input and stored.

Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 16, an operation until content is reproduced on the home network using the controller 105 will be described.
First, the controller 105 checks whether or not information related to content is stored in the content information storage unit 1501 (step S1601). If no information is stored, the process according to this flowchart is terminated, and the process according to the flowchart of FIG. 11 described above is executed. And when the information regarding a content is acquired from the content server apparatus 101 by step S1103 of FIG. 11, the said information is memorize | stored in the content information storage means 1501. FIG. As a result, in step S1601 after the next time, it is determined that information is stored.

  If information is stored in the content information storage unit 1501, the controller 105 further checks whether there are a plurality of contents included in the information (step S1602). If there are a plurality of contents, the controller 105 displays them on the display means 207 as shown in FIG. 6 and accepts selection of contents from the user (step S1603). Thus, if information about the content is stored in advance, the content that has been viewed once, for example, can be viewed again in a simple procedure without searching and selecting the content server device 101 and acquiring information about the content again. Is possible.

  If a content is selected in step S1603 or if there is only one content in step S1602, the content reproduction apparatus 102 that reproduces the content is searched (step S1604). The processes after step S1604 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is possible to
For example, it is possible to control the remote control operation using wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) instead of the remote control operation using infrared rays.

In the above-described embodiment, a network configuration in which devices are connected to each other via the LAN 103 is assumed. However, as long as the devices are connected to be communicable with each other, the configuration is not limited to the LAN 103, and the form is not limited.
Further, the number of the content server apparatus 101, the content reproduction apparatus 102, and the controller 104 may be either one or a plurality, respectively.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, in the controller 104 that causes the content reproduction apparatus 102 to reproduce the content held in the content server apparatus 101, the communication using the infrared rays is used together with the communication through the LAN 103. Since the content playback apparatus 102 is controlled in accordance with communication with the server apparatus 101, it is possible to realize simple operations relating to apparatus startup, settings, and playback while maintaining compatibility with other existing apparatuses. It is.

It is the figure which showed the apparatus structural example of the home network where the controller by the 1st Embodiment of this invention was utilized. It is the block diagram which showed the functional schematic structure of the controller in FIG. It is the figure which showed the information hold | maintained at a content reproduction apparatus information storage means. It is the figure which showed the information regarding the content accumulate | stored in the content server apparatus. It is the figure which showed an example of the selection screen of the content server apparatus displayed on the display means of a controller. It is the figure which showed an example of the selection screen of the content displayed on the display means of a controller. It is the figure which showed an example of the selection screen of the content reproduction apparatus displayed on the display means of a controller. It is the figure which showed an example of the selection screen of the content reproduction apparatus displayed on the display means of a controller. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen for the content reproduction | regeneration displayed on the display means of a controller. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen for the content reproduction | regeneration displayed on the display means of a controller. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation until content is reproduced by control using a controller in the home network of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart explaining the detail of the process which searches a content reproduction apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the detail of the process which selects the content reproduction apparatus which reproduces | regenerates a content. It is a flowchart explaining the detail of the process regarding control of reproduction | regeneration of the content with respect to a content reproduction apparatus. It is the block diagram which showed the functional schematic structure of the controller by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining an operation until content is reproduced by control using the controller of FIG. 15. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

101 content server device 102 content playback device 103 LAN
104, 105 Controller 201 Network communication means 202 Content selection means 203 Content playback device selection means 204 Content playback control means 205 Control signal transmission means 206 Content playback device information storage means 207 Display means 301 Device name 302 Device address 303 Device icon 304 Playback capability 305 Infrared control information 401 Content name 402 Content address 403 Media format 404 Content type 405 Content resolution 901, 902, 1001 Button display 1501 Content information storage means

Claims (12)

A network server for communicating with a content server device for storing content and a content playback device for playing back content via a network;
Content reproduction device information storage means for storing information relating to the content reproduction device;
Content selection means for accepting selection of content stored in the content server device;
With Search for reproducible content reproducing apparatus the selected content via the network, be controllable by a control signal for controlling the operating state, a reproducible content reproducing apparatus the selected content, the Content reproduction device selection means for searching from the information stored in the content reproduction device information storage means and selecting the content reproduction device found by these searches;
Content reproduction control means for controlling the selected content reproduction device through the network and reproducing the selected content;
Control signal transmitting means for transmitting a control signal for controlling the operation state of the selected content reproduction device through a path different from the network;
Display means for displaying whether or not control by the control signal transmission means for the content reproduction device is possible;
A control device comprising:   2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction control unit performs control based on information of the selected content reproduction apparatus stored in the content reproduction apparatus information storage unit. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control signal transmission unit transmits the control signal by infrared communication or wireless communication.   The control signal transmitting means turns on the power of the content reproduction apparatus when the selected content reproduction apparatus is found by a search based on information stored in the content reproduction apparatus information storage means The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device transmits a control signal.   The control signal transmission unit is configured to reproduce the content of the content reproduction device when the selected content reproduction device is found by a search based on information stored in the content reproduction device information storage unit. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a control signal for enabling the control is transmitted.   2. The control signal transmitting unit according to claim 1, wherein the control signal transmitting unit transmits a control signal for returning the operation state of the selected content reproduction device to a state before content reproduction based on the operation state of the control device. Control device.   7. The control device according to claim 6, wherein the control signal transmission unit transmits a control signal for turning off the power of the content reproduction device based on an operation state of the control device.   7. The control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control signal transmission unit transmits the control signal when the content reproduction control unit finishes reproducing the content.   2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control signal transmission unit transmits a control signal for setting the selected content reproduction device based on information on the selected content. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the setting is a screen setting for luminance, contrast, and brightness, or a sound setting for volume. A control method for controlling a content server device for storing content and a content playback device for playing back content via a network,
A first step of accepting selection of content stored in the content server device;
With Search for reproducible content reproducing apparatus the selected content over the network, be controllable by a control signal for controlling the operating state, a reproducible content reproducing apparatus the selected content, content A second step of searching from information related to the content playback device stored in the playback device information storage means and selecting a content playback device found by the search;
A third step of transmitting a control signal for controlling an operation state of the selected content reproduction device through a path different from the network;
A fourth step of displaying whether or not the control by the control signal transmitting means for the content reproduction device is possible;
A fifth step of controlling the selected content playback device through the network to play back the selected content;
A control method comprising:   The third step is a control for turning on the power of the content reproduction device when the selected content reproduction device is found by a search based on information stored in the content reproduction device information storage means. The control method according to claim 11, which is a step of transmitting a signal.

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